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Poor Round 3 leads to draw
Yahya and Enrique Barzola fought to a majority draw (28-29, 28-28, 28-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Brasilia, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
It was the correct call and one that's going to give Yahya plenty of sleepless nights in the near future. Clearly up on the judge's scorecards heading to the final frame, Yahya no-showed Round 3. Everything that made him successful over the course of the first ten minutes -- pace, takedowns, and some well-placed strikes -- vanished over the course of the final five minutes. This was an easily winnable fight for the 35-year-old Yahya and he simply gave it away. An aging fighter who entered as a +205 underdog simply cannot make such a mistake. This has the potential to be a result Yahya is unable to recover from.
It was the correct call and one that's going to give Yahya plenty of sleepless nights in the near future. Clearly up on the judge's scorecards heading to the final frame, Yahya no-showed Round 3. Everything that made him successful over the course of the first ten minutes -- pace, takedowns, and some well-placed strikes -- vanished over the course of the final five minutes. This was an easily winnable fight for the 35-year-old Yahya and he simply gave it away. An aging fighter who entered as a +205 underdog simply cannot make such a mistake. This has the potential to be a result Yahya is unable to recover from.
Fighting again at UFC Brasilia
Yahya will take on Enrique Barzola in a flyweight matchup at UFC Brasilia on March 14, Guilherme Cruz of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Yahya has recorded wins at both of the UFC events in Brasilia in the past, and he will get another chance against Barzola in March. Yahya's most recent fight ended in a loss to Ricky Simon via unanimous decision at UFC 234 in February, ending his three-fight win streak. Barzola will be making his flyweight debut after going 5-3 in the featherweight division, most recently suffering a loss to Movsar Evloev via unanimous decision at UFC Singapore in October. Barzola has struggled in both wrestling and striking, while Yahya has shown to be adept in his grappling in past fights. Barzola carries a height advantage heading into the matchup.
Yahya has recorded wins at both of the UFC events in Brasilia in the past, and he will get another chance against Barzola in March. Yahya's most recent fight ended in a loss to Ricky Simon via unanimous decision at UFC 234 in February, ending his three-fight win streak. Barzola will be making his flyweight debut after going 5-3 in the featherweight division, most recently suffering a loss to Movsar Evloev via unanimous decision at UFC Singapore in October. Barzola has struggled in both wrestling and striking, while Yahya has shown to be adept in his grappling in past fights. Barzola carries a height advantage heading into the matchup.
Faces tough style match
Yahya lost to Ricky Simon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-25) at UFC 234 on Saturday in Melbourne.
ANALYSIS
Yahya needed to find a way to put this fight on the ground, but he was never really able to do it. Simon did a good job of keeping the fight on the feet and staying in solid position on the ground. Yahya tried to stay in the fight with some desperation striking, but that is not really his game. Coming into this fight, Yahya had won three-straight fights in the UFC, but Simon stopped that momentum.
Yahya needed to find a way to put this fight on the ground, but he was never really able to do it. Simon did a good job of keeping the fight on the feet and staying in solid position on the ground. Yahya tried to stay in the fight with some desperation striking, but that is not really his game. Coming into this fight, Yahya had won three-straight fights in the UFC, but Simon stopped that momentum.
Matched against Ricky Simon at UFC 234
Yahya will take on Ricky Simon at UFC 234 in Melbourne, Australia on Feb. 9, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Yahya is riding a three-match win streak, with all three victories coming via submission. He most recently submitted Luke Sanders just 1:31 into the first round at UFC Fight Night 135 in August. His opponent, Simon, has a streak of seven wins of his own, including victories in each of his first two UFC fights.
Yahya is riding a three-match win streak, with all three victories coming via submission. He most recently submitted Luke Sanders just 1:31 into the first round at UFC Fight Night 135 in August. His opponent, Simon, has a streak of seven wins of his own, including victories in each of his first two UFC fights.
Sinks early heel hook on Luke Sanders
Yahya defeated Luke Sanders via submission (heel hook) at 1:31 of Round 1 at UFC Lincoln on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Yahya has now won 10 of his last 13 professional fights, and though he won't get the title shot he called for after the bout, it wouldn't be out of the question for UFC brass to give him a ranked bantamweight opponent. In this matchup, Yahya landed an early body kick that clearly affected Sanders, and led to him getting a takedown. Though Yahya was unsuccessful on his first heel hook attempt, he remained persistent and forced Sanders to tap on the second. It was the third consecutive submission victory for the 33-year-old Brazilian.
Yahya has now won 10 of his last 13 professional fights, and though he won't get the title shot he called for after the bout, it wouldn't be out of the question for UFC brass to give him a ranked bantamweight opponent. In this matchup, Yahya landed an early body kick that clearly affected Sanders, and led to him getting a takedown. Though Yahya was unsuccessful on his first heel hook attempt, he remained persistent and forced Sanders to tap on the second. It was the third consecutive submission victory for the 33-year-old Brazilian.