#3. Dan Ige vs. Edson Barboza (Featherweight)
Round 1: Ige didn't waste time as he went for the big shots right off the gate. He got aggressive and got into Barboza's face.
Barboza, however, dropped Ige with a huge elbow over the top followed by a right. Dan survived and welcomed Barboza into his guard on the mat. He briefly attempted an armbar before settling for full guard.
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Barboza baited the armbar before seeing the opening, exploiting it and delivering a string of nasty hammer fists in the ground and pound. Both men got up and circled the centre. Ige dug in for a nice straight right to the body. Barboza's switch kicks weren't being used as he relied on his hands. Ige put in a lot into his attempted shots but Barboza's head movement was smooth.
Edson looked for the knee and his kicks began to come to the fore. Ige waited for his opportunity before making inroads into the pocket for a right. Edson, however, began to control the Octagon as he cut the angles.
10-9 Barboza
Round 2: Ige came in hot swinging hands and he cracked Barboza with two hard shots. Ige kept up the pressure as he cut the distance and clinched.
Edson ripped Ige with a hard knee to the body before the break. They both exchanged solid lefts and continued to circle the Octagon. Two big shots got through Barboza's guard and that may have hurt him. Ige had the advantage in the striking department as he edged it on the scorecards.
They were both a little busted with a minute to go in the round. Barboza caught Ige with a grazing knee shot to the liver. Dan was hurt and Barboza piled on the pressure by taking the fight to the crowd. He finished off the round in dominant fashion with the brutal hammer fists. It was a very close second round.
10-9 Barboza
Round 3: Barboza's straight kicks connected to the body. Ige threw heat, though, as he put on a lot of power behind the swinging shots. Barboza played it safe by maintaining range and kicking from the outside.
Barboza landed a good knee in the clinch. Ige shot for the single leg but Barboza fought it off. Ige then landed a clean right shot that got Barboza's respect.
Ige landed a few body kicks before pushing Barboza' against the fence. Ige scored an important takedown with one minute on the clock and he landed two big shots on the ground.
Barboza defended well from his back with a very good guard. Ige applied the pressure but Barboza played it sage until the end of the round.
Result: Dan Ige def. Edson Barboza via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
That was a close fight and we mean really close! it could have gone either way but the judges felt that Ige did enough to take the SD. What do you think? Was it a fair call?