Raoni Barcelos shuts down Khalid Taha in 3
The UFC has been on an absolute tear with shows taking place week after week. Tonight, Saturday, November 7th, proves to be no different. Live from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV. Two contenders collide at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Teixeira. Light heavyweight title contenders Thiago Santos and Glover Texeira face off in the main event of the evening. With the co-main event of the evening featuring longtime UFC veteran and former champion, Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski taking on hard-hitting Tanner “The Bulldozer” Boser.
In a bantamweight affair, Raoni Barcelos takes on Khalid Taha. Barcelos enters this bout riding an 8 fight win streak and hasn’t lost inside the Octagon. Looking to maintain his momentum, he faces hard-hitting Khalid Taha who has had a rough skid in his promotional run. Losing in his promotional debut with the UFC, Taha bounced back with a first-round knockout over Boston Salmon. Taha faced Bruno Silva, defeating him in the third round via arm-triangle choke. Unfortunately for Taha, the bout was overturned to a No-Contest as he tested positive for a banned substance. A win over Barcelos could put him right back in the mix at 135 pounds. Here is how the bantamweight bout between Raoni Barcelos and Khalid Taha went down at UFC: Santos vs Texeira, including round-by-round scoring. For full results of the event, check them out right here! went down.
Round 1:
Raoni Barcelos leads with an up-kick. Finding success, he attempts another followed with a left hook. He follows with a leg kick and Khalid Taha looks to jab his way inside. Staying on the attack, Barcelos fires a calf kick that drops Taha. Barcelos senses blood in the water and pressures, Taha, against the cage, landing several brutalizing knees. Barcelos switches levels for a takedown. He looks for the rear-naked which Taha fends off. Taha scrambles out and Barcelos goes to work, looking to fundamentally break Taha down on the mat with his flawless transitions. Taha scores a successful reversal with a minute and a half left. Barcelos immediately attacks with an armbar. Taha is able to fend it off but leaves Barcelos room to get back to his feet. Taha attacks him on the fence. Barcelo’s circles off the cage and Taha looks to take his head off with heavy strikes upstairs to make up lost ground. Barcelos fires another calf kick, almost leveling Taha. Both fighters close the round landing a few punches.
MyMMANews scores round 1 for Barcelos. 10-9
Round 2:
Barcelos lands a short left. Taha loads up a right hand that’s easily blocked. Both fighters trade jabs. Barcelos throws a flying knee and narrowly misses. Taha begins tightening his strikes up with crisp combinations. Barcelos fires and lands an accidental low kick from what was intended to be an inside thigh kick. The referee calls a break from the low blow. Taha takes 1:23 to rest and gets right back to it and immediately begins headhunting. Barcelos returns fire with punches upstairs followed by a leg kick. Both fighters go tit for tat, trading hard shots. Barcelos continues the punishment with brutalizing calf kicks. With 30 seconds left. The fighters haven’t slowed down a bit. With 15 seconds left on the clock, Barcelos fires a lead knee to the chin, rocking Taha. Barcelos until the final bell which Taha barely survives.
MyMMANews scores round 2 for Barcelos. 10-9
Round 3:
Barcelos shows every aspect of his game in the first 30 seconds of the round. Backing Taha to the fence with punches and a teep kick. Taha tries to press forward off of the fence. However, Barcelos continues landing punches, calf kicks, and switches levels for the takedown. Barcelos kept on the attack looking for the choke. Taha worked his way back to his feet and Taha looks to pressure Barcelos with 2 minutes left. In the closing moments of the bout, both fighters exchange in a relentless slugfest, with neither backing down. Barcelos lands several cracking kicks to Taha’s calf, stumbling him at moments. The fight closes with the fighters trading until the bell.
Official result: Raoni Barcelos defeats Khalid Taha via Unanimous Decision
(30-27), (30-27), (30-27)
