Casey Kenney outpoints Nathan Wood in back-and-forth affair
Casey Kenney moves to three-straight wins after beating Nathan Wood by unanimous decision at UFC 254 on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is back.
He is set to defend his title against the current interim UFC lightweight champion Justin Gaethje in the event’s headliner in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. The evening’s co-main event is between former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker welcomes the surging Jared Cannonier.
Continuing the action on the preliminary card is a battle between rising bantamweights Casey Kenney and Nathan Wood.
Kenney makes a quick turnaround on short notice. He is just three weeks removed from a unanimous decision win against Heili Alateng at UFC on ESPN 16 on Oct. 3.
It marked his second-straight win, earning a first-round submission victory over Louis Smolka at UFC on ESPN 9 this past May. He is the winner of four out of five UFC appearances.
His only defeat is a unanimous decision loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Fight Night 167 back in February
Wood re-entered the win column back at UFC on ESPN 14 this past July, earning a unanimous decision win against John Castaneda. Like Kenney, Wood won four out of five octagon bouts. His only promotional defeat is a third-round TKO loss to former title challenger John Dodson at UFC Fight Night 167 last February.
Here is how the bantamweight bout between Casey Kenney and Nathan Wood went down at UFC 254, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here.
ROUND 1
Both men come center, Wood lands a clean combination early. Both guys are active early. Wood keeps coming forward. Kenney slips after throwing a head kick. Both men trade leg kicks, Wood lands a hook. Kenney lets his hands go. Kenney eats a right hand, then lands sets up a right cross with a left jab. Wood and Kenney keep trading leg kicks. Kenney misses with a head kick. Wood lands a stiff jab, The pace is very fast. Kenney lands on a right cross off a combo. Wood and Kenney trade jabs. Kenney lands an inside leg kick. Kenney with a spinning kick to the body, Both men swing to end the round, much like the fight started. Very active performance by both men.
MyMMANews.com scores it 10-9 for Kenney
These two are THROWING! 😱
Chins are holding up well through 1️⃣.
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— UFC (@ufc) October 24, 2020
ROUND 2
Wood comes out right away and lets his hands go, lands. Wood with an inside leg kick. Kenney lands with a right hook. Wood lands a left hook as Kenney comes inside. Wood lands an inside leg kick. Wood with an outside leg kick. Kenney lands a kick to the body. Kenney lands a right hand, Wood counters. This is fun. Both guys just keep coming, easy candidate for Fight of the Night. Kenney lands an overhand right, followed by a left hand. Kenney lands again. Wood lands a jab. Wood is taking some punishment, but giving it as well. Kenney lands an outside leg kick. Wood is using his leg kicks effectively. Wood throws a jab, Kenney counters with a one, two combination. Kenney lands a left hand that backs Wood up. Wood misses with a jab. Active round, but I give Kenney the edge.
MyMMANews.com scores it 20-28 for Kenney
ROUND 3
They tap gloves one last time. Both men center. Wood lands an outside leg kick. Wood lands a left hand. Kenney lands an outside leg kick. Wood with the jab and Kenney ducks under for a takedown. Wood gives up his back and Kenney is glued to him. Kenney moving to the side, putting weight on Wood. Wood is trying to escape, but Kenney is putting pressure forward. Wood is forced to keep himself up with his feet. Wood goes for a guillotine, abandons it and escapes. They are back on their feet. Wood lands a kick. Kenney lands a hook. Kenney keeps coming forward. Kenney to the body. Wood with a left hook. Kenney eats some shots as he comes in with a left. Kenney is cut over his left eye. Kenney clinches up, they escape.
MyMMANews.com scores it 30-27 for Kenney
Official result: Casey Kenney def. Nathan Wood via unanimous decision [29-28, 29-28, 30-27]
