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The UFC Fight of the Month for September 2024 was Esteban Ribovics vs. Daniel Zellhuber. The two men clashed in a memorable lightweight contest at Noche UFC 306 and more than showed out.
From the opening round, both men made their intentions clear: to keep grappling to a minimum. They engaged each other in a hard-hitting striking affair that saw each of them unleash every weapon in their kickboxing arsenal.
Ribovics unloaded with punishing combinations punctuated by crippling low kicks. He alternated his targets, attacking the head and legs as much as the body. Zellhuber, not to be outdone, responded in kind, giving just as good as he got, stinging Ribovics with counterpunches to the body and step-in knees.
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It was a difficult round to score, with neither man lacking in output. Ribovics, however, may have been just a shade more intense. Nevertheless, round two unfolded hardly any differently than round one, with both men throwing the kitchen sink at each other.
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Punches, kicks, elbows, and knees came in flurries, with nary a takedown from either man. The bout was a whirlwind of striking offense, with not a single dull second. But with the amount of damage being dealt, something had to give, and cracks formed in the armor in round three.
Check out Daniel Zellhuber dropping Esteban Ribovics:
Zellhuber caught a lunging Ribovics with an intercepting knee that sat him down. Zellhuber pounced, but Ribovics quickly regained his wits, initiating a scramble that returned them to their feet in a brief clinch. After a knee strike, Zellhuber inadvertently poked Ribovics in the eye.
However, upon recovering, Ribovics was still game. The two lightweights traded, setting the UFC octagon alight with furious exchange after furious exchange. A seismic overhand right from Ribovics rocked Zellhuber badly, causing him to stumble across the octagon.
Check out Esteban Ribovics rocking Daniel Zellhuber:
Like Zellhuber had done with him moments earlier, Ribovics pounced, blasting Zellhuber with combinations, buckling his knees until his foe fell to them. Still, Zellhuber refused to surrender, springing to his feet and fighting to the bitter end.
Who won at Noche UFC 306, Esteban Ribovics or Daniel Zellhuber?
Ultimately, the judges raised Esteban Ribovics' hand, awarding him the lightweight win via split decision over Daniel Zellhuber to extend his record to 14-1, while his foe's was worsened to 15-2. It was the most thrilling bout at Noche UFC 306, even if it lacked a finish, with the event only featuring two.
It won both men 'Fight of the Night' honors and stands out as not just Noche UFC 306's best fight, but September's most entertaining bout in 2024.
