Close bout in Mile High City
(Long Island, NY., January 30, 2017) – UFC Denver, held on Saturday at the Pepsi Center, included action packed fights and finishes. While no title fights were on the line, Long Island was fully invested as Aljamain Sterling took on Raphael Assuncao in a featured bantamweight bout on the card’s prelims.
It was as an evenly contested three-round fight as possible, as the two 135 pound highly ranked opponents gave it their all for all three rounds. After the third round ended, the judges had a very tough call to make. It was clear that Sterling won the third round, but high anticipation reigned throughout the arena as the judges tallied up their votes to see who won the first and second round.
As veteran voice of the Octagon, Bruce Buffer, read the results, everyone knew the fight was headed to a split decision as both fighters stood there in the middle of the Octagon with their MMA fate on the line.
It was Assuncao (24-5 MMA, 8-2 UFC) who got the nod by the narrowest of margins winning via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28).
It was no surprise that the outcome was tough to call as round one and two were extremely close, and with Sterling (12-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) clearly winning the last round, one of two judges had to see Sterling win either round one or two.
It was not to be as Sterling dropped to his knees after the results were read.
In typical Sterling fashion, he took to his Instagram page to write a message on the bout.
“I tried to break my foot off on that leg tonight. Thought I did enough to win, but unfortunately the judges saw it the other way. BIG thank you to my coaches, family, friends and all my true MMA fans that support me! Like anything in life, there are ups and downs, and we have to learn and adapt to whatever comes our way. I LOVE what I do for a living, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Gonna ice this foot up and try to get back to the Octagon as soon as I can! Hats off to Assuncao for bringing a big test to me tonight. I think I showed what I’m capable of, and can't wait to get back after it. Thank you for all the love Denver!! I promise I will be back better! Only way up from here is up baby! #UFCDenver #SerraLongo #UFC #MMA #Denver #CO #FunkMaster #LongIsland #NY”
Sterling might have lost the fight, but the future is bright!
MMA Long Island Magazine is published by MMA New York Media Corporation. For more information please visit www.mmalongislandmagazine.com or call (516) 318-2418.
Photo credit: Newsday
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