UFC Jacksonville results: Omar Morales wins high paced fight over Gabriel Benitez
Omar Morales remains unbeaten with unanimous decision win over Gabriel Benitez.
A light-heavyweight clash between Anthony Smith and Glover Teixera headlines the event at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville Florida. Ovince Saint Preux bounces up to heavyweight to take on Ben Rothwell in the co-main event.
Gabriel Benitez and Omar Morales met on the prelims off the card in a lightweight bout.
Benitez has competed in the UFC since 2014 and has shared the octagon with a number of big names throughout his career. The fight marked his first of 2020.
Morales is a perfect 9-0 in his career and made it into the UFC by earning a contract on the Dana White Contender Series. This will mark his second appearance inside the octagon.
Here’s how their fight went down with a round-by breakdown of the fight.
Round 1
Feeling out process to start, but that wouldn’t last long. Benitez seems to be pushing forward more in the early minutes. Around the three minute mark of the opening round, Morales is starting to throw a lot more and going with high kicks to back Benitez up. With 2:10 left in the round, Benitez has blood over left eye. Both men really start picking up the tempo late in an extremely close round. Benitez lands beautiful combo at the end of the round.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Morales
Round 2
Benitez bleeding badly from left shin after having a leg kick checked. Not long after, Morales is warned for an eye poke and following the warning a cut appeared on tip of Benitez’s nose. Both men came to fight in this round with both fighters standing and throwing and both landed some nice combos throughout yet another close round. At the 2min mark. Morales lands a big punch and follows up with a big kick to the body. As the round is coming to an, Morales has swelling under left eye, but he is still pressing forward and landing shots.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Morales
Round 3
Morales comes out with a nice kick to the body and follows it up with a strong right hand that lands. Following a nice start to the round, Morales is starting to back up for the first time in the fight. Benitez is having success in the round and started to piece up Morales left eye and then he lands a nice punch to the body and appears to be in control of another fast paced round. Late in the round, Morales now is bleeding from under his other eye. Morales would begin to pick up the tempo late in the final round, but Benitez finds the body one more times as the round ends.
MyMMA scores it 10-9 Benitez
MyMMANews scorecard 29-28 Morales
Official result: Omar Morales wins via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
