AJ Fletcher
The Ghost
USA
Falls to 1-3 in UFC
Fletcher lost to Bryan Battle via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:32 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was a very disappointing result for Fletcher in a fight in which he was performing well prior to the finish. AJ did a terrific job of negating the massive size and reach edge Battle possessed in the opening frame, but he found himself being controlled on the mat the majority of Round 2 and eventually allowed Battle to sneak around and clamp on the rear-naked choke that closed the show. Fletcher is a solid athlete with legitimate power, and still young at age 26, but he's running out of time with the company, having lost three of his first four UFC bouts.
This was a very disappointing result for Fletcher in a fight in which he was performing well prior to the finish. AJ did a terrific job of negating the massive size and reach edge Battle possessed in the opening frame, but he found himself being controlled on the mat the majority of Round 2 and eventually allowed Battle to sneak around and clamp on the rear-naked choke that closed the show. Fletcher is a solid athlete with legitimate power, and still young at age 26, but he's running out of time with the company, having lost three of his first four UFC bouts.
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Scheduled to fight ex-middleweight
Fletcher will fight Bryan Battle at UFC Vegas 79 on Sept. 23, according to Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Fletcher has the opportunity to build a winning streak less than eight months after submitting Themba Gorimbo. Battle won Season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter's middleweight bracket but is going down one division after missing weight for his previous fight.
Fletcher has the opportunity to build a winning streak less than eight months after submitting Themba Gorimbo. Battle won Season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter's middleweight bracket but is going down one division after missing weight for his previous fight.
Secures first UFC victory
Fletcher defeated Themba Gorimbo via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:37 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
A product of Dana White's Contender Series and a loser of back-to-back unanimous decisions to begin his UFC run, Fletcher likely saved his job with this performance. Fletcher's takedown defense has been an issue early in his UFC run, and he allowed Gorimbo to land on his only two attempts in this brief fight, but AJ deserves credit for working hard on the mat to get back to a dominant position of his own. He ended up with plenty of top control time late in Round 1 before choking Gorimbo out in Round 2. Fletcher needs to work on his defensive wrestling, but at just 26 years of age, he has some long-term potential.
A product of Dana White's Contender Series and a loser of back-to-back unanimous decisions to begin his UFC run, Fletcher likely saved his job with this performance. Fletcher's takedown defense has been an issue early in his UFC run, and he allowed Gorimbo to land on his only two attempts in this brief fight, but AJ deserves credit for working hard on the mat to get back to a dominant position of his own. He ended up with plenty of top control time late in Round 1 before choking Gorimbo out in Round 2. Fletcher needs to work on his defensive wrestling, but at just 26 years of age, he has some long-term potential.
Steps in at UFC Vegas 69
Fletcher will face Themba Gorimbo in a welterweight matchup at UFC Vegas 69 on Feb. 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Fletcher has lost his first two fights under the UFC banner, most recently losing to Ange Loosa via unanimous decision at UFC 278 in August. He'll step in on short notice against a newcomer to the promotion after Billy Goff was removed from the card for an undisclosed reason. Gorimbo has a 10-3 record as a professional and earned a UFC contract after a victory in Dana White's Contender Series. Gorimbo carries a height advantage.
Fletcher has lost his first two fights under the UFC banner, most recently losing to Ange Loosa via unanimous decision at UFC 278 in August. He'll step in on short notice against a newcomer to the promotion after Billy Goff was removed from the card for an undisclosed reason. Gorimbo has a 10-3 record as a professional and earned a UFC contract after a victory in Dana White's Contender Series. Gorimbo carries a height advantage.
Gasses out after big flurry
Fletcher lost to Ange Loosa via unanimous decision (27-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 278 on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Fletcher likely lost Round 1 after falling in the significant striking battle 39 to 21 and conceding a takedown to Loosa. He bounced back in a big way in Round 2, but the 62 significant strikes he connected on weren't enough to put Loosa away, and Fletcher essentially gassed himself out while looking for the finish. He had nothing left in Round 3, losing the significant striking battle 38 to 4. A product of Dana White's Contender Series, Fletcher is now 0-2 to begin his UFC run.
Fletcher likely lost Round 1 after falling in the significant striking battle 39 to 21 and conceding a takedown to Loosa. He bounced back in a big way in Round 2, but the 62 significant strikes he connected on weren't enough to put Loosa away, and Fletcher essentially gassed himself out while looking for the finish. He had nothing left in Round 3, losing the significant striking battle 38 to 4. A product of Dana White's Contender Series, Fletcher is now 0-2 to begin his UFC run.
Scheduled for UFC 278
Fletcher will take on Ange Loosa at UFC 278 on Aug. 20, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Fletcher is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Matthew Semelsberger back in March in his UFC debut. He will hope to bounce back in his second appearance in the Octagon.
Fletcher is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Matthew Semelsberger back in March in his UFC debut. He will hope to bounce back in his second appearance in the Octagon.