David Onama overcomes adversity to viciously KO Gabriel Santos at UFC on ABC 5
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us today, June 24, 2023, for UFC on ABC 5, going down live from the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
Headlining the event is an epic clash of featherweight contenders where no. 5 ranked Josh Emmett (18-3) collides with no. 9 ranked Ilia Topuria (13-0) in the main event of the evening.
Co-headlining is a flyweight encounter between another pair of contenders in no. 9 ranked Amanda Ribas (12-3) and no. 11 ranked Maycee Barber (12-2).
Our second bout going down on the main card tonight came at 145 lbs between David Onama (11-2) and Gabriel Santos (10-2). Onama came into the bout having lost his most recent outing to Nate Landwehr via majority decision last August, while Santos had lost his most recent bout to Lerone Murphy via split decision earlier this year in March.
Continue reading to see how this featherweight encounter went down:
Official Result: David Onama def. Gabriel Santos via KO (punches) at 4:13 of round one
Santos lands a hard right hand early on in the first and it appeared he’d already found his range. Onama counters with a two-punch combination, before Santos lands hard again, a two-punch combination of his own. Santos then shoots on a takedown, being put on his back in the process.
Once the two are back to their feet Santos hurts Onama with another vicious right hand, but is again put on his back, where he nearly secures an armbar finish. He searches for the armbar and triangle choke, giving Onama a very tough time through the first five minutes.
Santos has a great start to the second as well, quickly taking Onama’s back once the round begins.
Onama refuses to accept the position however, eventually spinning into Santos’ guard. He reigns down some heavy elbows from top position until Santos is able to make his way back up.
Santos is visibly breathing heavier at this point, and Onama notices it as he begins to piece his combinations together. Toward the end of the middle stretch Onama lands a nasty uppercut that dropped Santos. From here it only took a couple follow up shots and the referee was forced to stop the action.
😳 David Onama scored a brutal knockout victory!😳 #UFCJacksonville https://t.co/fHzez4mQvK
— NoSmokeSport (@NoSmokeSport) June 24, 2023
After Gabriel Santos gave undefeated contender Lerone Murphy all he could handle in his UFC debut this spring, this was a very impressive performance by the Uganda native.
David Onama just secured his 11th professional finish in his 11th professional win today at UFC on ABC 5.
If you enjoyed this piece, feel free to share them on social media!
