By:  | February 27, 2022 4:57 pm

Ji Yeon Kim appeared to clearly get the better of Priscila Cachoeira at UFC Vegas 49. But the judges somehow saw the fight differently with all three somehow awarding victory to her Brazilian opponent.

Cachoeira came out swinging at the start of the fight forcing the Korean to backtrack. Towards the end of the round the Brazilian shot for a takedown which was stuffed but her earlier aggression was probably enough to put her in the lead at this point.

But the tide turned in the second stanza as Kim started to score with straight punches while evading her opponent’s power shots. The Brazilian wanted to turn it into a brawl but her opponent was staying out of trouble and using her jab to good effect.

Switching strategy

It meant the fight was probably even heading into the third and final round. Both picked up the pace immediately but it was Kim who clearly got the better of the opening exchanges and Cachoeira would have been relieved that the Korean looked to close the distance and clinch when she seemed to be hurt.

Cachoeira switched strategy and started trying to land elbows but the accurate striking was coming from Kim who kept scoring with one-twos. The Brazilian eventually connected with an elbow but not before finding herself on the wrong end of a barrage of punches.

https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1497747183893897221?s=21

Surprising scorecards

Kim appeared to have taken the final two rounds but all three judges saw it differently. The scorecards read 29-28 in favour of Cachoeira who moves up to 11-4 while the Korean drops to 9-5.

Both received a $50,000 bonus for the performance but it will be scant consolation to Kim. The Korean appeared to be the clear winner and must have been very disappointed to walk away with a loss on her record.

Best of the rest

Hong Kong’s Ramona Pascual (6-3) had a disappointing UFC debut. She dropped a decision to Josiane Nunes (9-1) in a featherweight fight that was put together at very short notice.

UFC Vegas 49, Las Vegas, February 27th
Islam Makhachev def. Bobby Green via TKO at 3:23 of Round 1
Wellington Turman def. Misha Cirkunov via submission (armbar) at 1:29 of Round 2
Priscila Cachoeira def. Ji Yeon Kim via Decision (Unanimous)
Arman Tsarukyan def. Joel Alvarez via TKO at 1:57 of Round 2
Armen Petrosyan def. Gregory Rodrigues via Decision (Split)
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Rong Zhu via Submission (Guillotine choke) at 1:40 of Round 3
Josiane Nunes def. Ramona Pascual via Decision Unanimous)
Terrance McKinney def. Fares Ziam via Submission (Rear-naked choke) at 2:11 of Round 1
Jonathan Martinez def. Alejandro Perez via Decision (Unanimous)
Ramiz Brahimaj def. Micheal Gillmore via Submisison (Rear-naked choke) at 2:02 of Round 1
Carlos Hernandez def. Victor Altamirano via Decision (Split)