Julian Marquez chokes “Smilin” Sam unconscious in 2
The UFC continues to roll along with UFC Vegas 23 on Saturday afternoon, live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, also known as UFC on ABC 2, is set to kick off at 11:30 a.m. ET on April 10 before heading to ESPN+ at noon having Julian Marquez and Sam Alvey on the main card.
In the night’s main event, Kevin Holland takes a short notice fight and a quick turnaround since his loss to Derek Brunson last month. Holland will meet Marvin Vettori in a middleweight clash.
In a middleweight matchup, Sam Alvey hasn’t seen a win since 2018 but he keeps “Smilin” as he fights on. Following a split-draw against Da Un Jung, Alvey is getting back in the Octagon for the 22nd time of his career taking on Julian Marquez, who has a mere 10 pro fights to his career.
Although lacking in experience, most of Marquez’s wins have come from stoppages. Proving he can mix it up between submissions and strikes, Alvey has his work cut out against the younger and hungry Marquez.
Here’s how the middleweight bout between “Smilin” Sam Alvey and Julian Marquez went down at UFC on ABC 2. Including round-by-round scoring. For full event results, check them out right here.
Round 1: Marquez paws his jab early and commits to a straight to Alvey’s midsection. Alvey is taking his time getting to work, observing Marquez early. A hard straight left from Alvey wobbles Marquez. Marquez wastes little time to fire back, landing a hard straight right as the action is beginning to pick up. Marquez lands a hard right hand, dazing Alvey. Marquez attempts to pick up his pace and is landing often, with each punch seemingly hurting Alvey. Both fighters are throwing hard combinations each time the other commits, with a tit-for-tat closing to the first stanza.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Julian Marquez. 10-9
Round 2: Alvey commits first, missing his punches upstairs, but follows with another hard left that stuns Marquez in his tracks. Marquez is still the aggressor although Alvey is beating him to the punch while landing beautiful counter strikes. Marquez slips Alvey’s right hook to land a clean right hand of his own, wobbling Alvey. Marquez wasted no time stepping on the gas, throwing punches in bunches to a hurt Alvey, against the fence. Marquez slips in a hard left hand that crumbles Alvey to the floor. Marquez follows his victim to the canvas, brutalizing Alvey with hammer fists. Alvey is hurt as he scrambles for Marquez’s leg. Marquez circles for Alvey’s back and locks in a modified rear-naked choke and puts “Smilin” Sam Alvey to sleep.
Official result: Julian “The Cuban Missle Crisis” Marquez defeats Sam Alvey via rear-naked choke.
2:07 of round 2.
