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Other than a scare late within the first spherical, former champion Robert Whittaker turned in an outstanding efficiency in an all-out placing affair towards Paulo Costa.
The middleweight bout was one full of motion from two highly effective top-tier fighters. When time expired after three rounds, Whittaker (25-7 MMA, 16-5 UFC) claimed victory over Costa (14-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) by incomes scores of 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27.
COSTA ROCKED WHITTAKER TO END ROUND 1 😳 #UFC298 pic.twitter.com/rILE5NajcQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 18, 2024
From the start, it was clear this struggle can be full of hard-hitting motion.
Highly effective kicks from each began the struggle, with Whittaker investing assaults to the legs, whereas Costa went excessive. Left hand jabs had been additionally on show early. The tempo was quick as Whittaker managed from the middle. The previous champ managed the motion by darting out and in with punches, inflicting Costa to play his counter recreation or anticipate possibilities between Whittaker’s choices.
Within the closing seconds, Costa uncorked a spinning heel kick that caught Whittaker proper on the jaw, wobbling him badly. In some way, Whittaker made it to the second spherical.
Whittaker got here out in Spherical 2 with the identical plan of assault. Costa smiled as Whittaker cracked him with a tough shot. In response, Costa peppered his jab and circled as blood started to trickle from Whittaker’s nostril. Costa’s thumb by chance poked Whittaker’s eye inflicting a short pause, however when the struggle resumed, they went proper again into the firefight.
Onerous leg kicks dug in from Whittaker, affecting Costa’s motion. Whittaker’s counterpunching started to shine within the second half of Spherical 2 as properly.
BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER 😮💨@RobWhittakerMMA takes house the UD in our #UFC298 co-main occasion! pic.twitter.com/S41tTqNWQv
— UFC (@ufc) February 18, 2024
Simply 5 minutes remained, and the high-paced motion continued. Costa selected leg kicks whereas Whittaker linked with punches upstairs. Costa known as for Whittaker to face within the heart of the cage and throw down, however Whittaker saved to his plan. Whittaker’s darting strikes scored properly, whereas Costa loaded up for extra highly effective strikes. Onerous leg kicks from Whittaker additionally gave Costa bother because the struggle got here to a detailed.
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