Maki Pitolo hammer fists his way to 2nd round TKO win at UFC 250
On Saturday night, June 6, the UFC holds its first-ever pay-per-view event inside the Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The promotions’ fifth event during the COVID-19 pandemic, UFC 250 is headlined by double champion Amanda Nunes, who defends her featherweight strap against Felicia Spencer.
The co-main event is a bantamweight clash between former champion Cody Garbrandt and Raphael Assuncao.
Following his impressive stoppage on Dana Whites Contender Series with a body blow knockout, Pitolo got the green light into the promotion. However, Pitolo dropped his UFC debut via unanimous decision. With the odds stacked against him, “Coconut Bombs’, Maki Pitolo is back for redemption as he faces Charles Byrd in his second bout inside the UFC Octagon.
Charles Byrd, being a 2x Dana Whites Contender Series alumni, has gone 1-2 in his Octagon stint. His last two bouts has seen him on the losing end, via ground and pound. However, “Kid Dynamite” comes into this matchup as the favorite and looks to get back to his winning ways.
With so much on the line in this matchup, both fighters desperately seek to bounce their career’s back on track.
Here’s how the middleweight clash between Charles Byrd and Maki Pitolo went down at UFC 250, including round-by-round scoring.
For full events results, check them out here.
The fighters touch gloves and they’re off. Pitolo is the first to commit with a one-two combo, upstairs. He follows up with another one-two combo, with Byrd pedaling backwards . Byrd begins to pick up his pace with his own punch combination and Pitolo hits him with a lead hook early in the round and wobbles Byrd. Byrd immediately switches levels and presses Pitolo against the cage to try and get the fight to the ground. Byrd uses his dirty boxing against the cage, firing shots to the body. Pitolo is able to get the reversal and gets the contest to the mat. Pitolo is in half guard and looking to advance. Byrd makes his best attempt to stand up and he is able to get the reversal. Byrd is on top and starts looking for Pitolo’s neck.
Byrd lets go and Pitolo erupts out of the bottom position, gets to his feet and is able to take Byrd down with a heavy slam. Byrd is able to make his way back to his feet and is able to get a heavy slam of his own, landing in side control. Byrd softens Pitolo up with some short elbows on top. With seconds left Pitolo looks to advance his position and Byrd is able to let a few punches fly to let the round end. Round 1: Pitolo
Round 2:
Byrd comes out swinging heavy and Pitolo is able to throw a few combinations out to gauge distance. Pitolo is coming forward and landing some heavy shots to the head backing bird up. But Byrd wastes no time firing back at Pitolo and wobbling him, as well. Pitolo fires back and lands a left hand, hurting Byrd. Pitolo throws punches in bunches going from head to body going to the body. Pitolo gets the trips to get Byrd to the floor and starting pounding away with hammer fists to put an end to this contest.
Winner: Maki Pitolo via 2nd round TKO at 1:10
