A bantamweight scrap between Jimmie Rivera and Thomas Almeida kicked off tonight’s UFC on FOX 25 main card from Long Island, New York.
Round one begins and Rivera misses with a low kick to start things off. Almeida fires off one of his own that connects. Another low kick from Almeida finds a home. Rivera charges forward with a right hand. Almeida circles off the cage and lands another low kick. The fighters engage in the center of the octagon and Rivera connects with a low kick and then a left hand. Almeida with a low kick and then lands a nice right hand. Rivera counters with a left to the body. Rivera with a right hand that knocks Almeida to the floor. Thomas stands up grabs a hold of the clinch. Thomas is holding on here. The referee steps in and breaks them up. Jimmie immediately charges forward with punches. Almeida survives and circles out. Thomas with a low kick. Rivera responds with a combination. Another good right hand floors Almeida. Jimmie jumps on him with punches but Thomas survives, gets back to his feet, and circles out. Almeida is pressing forward now. He lands a front kick to the body. Round one comes to an end.
WOW! @JimmieRivera135 gets the first knockdown! #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/IU5rMpVqA5
— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2017
AND ANOTHER ONE! @JimmieRivera135 with the strong right! #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/M8yuorjWPs
— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2017
Round two begins and Rivera ducks under a punch and attempts to shoot in for a takedown. He cannot secure the takedown and Almeida circles off the fence. Rivera with a low kick and then a right hand. Both men connect with left hooks. Almeida with an inside low kick but Rivera counters with a hard right hand. Almeida circles and then leaps in with left hand. He charges after Jimmie with a combination but Rivera is able to avoid the attempted strikes. Rivera throws a low kick but Almeida counters with a straight left hand. Almeida with another strike that clips Rivera and appears to hurt him as he drops down. Almeida comes forward with a combination but Rivera appears to be ok. Thomas is picking up the pace now while Rivera appears to be slowing down. A good left jab from Thomas. Rivera misses with a counter right. Almeida with a kick to the body. Round two comes to an end.
They are going at it in the second! @ThomasalmeidaCB gets his own knockdown! #UFCLongIsland pic.twitter.com/nh7FaqpwU2
— UFC (@ufc) July 23, 2017
Round three begins and Rivera instantly rushes in for a takedown attempt. He gets it, slamming Almeida to the canvas in the process. Thomas scrambles and is able to get back up to his feet. Rivera with a left hand. Almeida returns fire with an inside low kick but gets countered nicely by a Rivera right hand. Another good left hook scores for Rivera. Almeida eats the shots and charges forward. He lands a right but Rivera ducks under a second punch and grabs a hold of Thomas. Jimmie presses his opponent against the cage. Almeida scrambles free and lands a hard kick. He throws a double knee but Rivera shoots in and scores another key takedown. Almeida gets back to his feet almost instantly. He lands a left hook and then just misses with a front kick. A good knee lands for Almeida. The fighters trade bombs to end round three.