Viviane Araujo takes fight to Roxanne Modafferi, wins unanimous decision
A women’s flyweight bout between #8 ranked Roxanne Modafferi and #9 ranked Viviane Araujo was part of today’s UFC Fight Island 8 fight card in Abu Dhabi.
Right away the two ladies came out swinging and within a minute Modafferi’s right eye has a tiny mouse under it. Despite the minor bruising, Modafferi does not back down and continues to exchange hands.
About half way through the first frame Modafferri is dropped by a right hand but pops right back up. “The Happy Warrior” Modafferi finally ties Arauju up against the cage in the final minute before she is reversed and a tight rear-naked choke is applied. Time expires and Modafferi does not tap.
The second round is more of the same. Araujo is landing the crisper, cleaner strikes, but Modafferi continues to fire away herself.
Modafferi finally lands a big right hand that rocks Araujo but the opportunity to finish is not present. Araujo continues to circle and stalk, landing jabs before she performs a level change and gets the fight to the ground. Araujo has Modafferi in side control to end the second round.
Modafferi comes to life in the third, gets a takedown, and then when the two ladies pop back up, “The Happy Warrior” presses her opponent up against the cage. Araujo now takes control, getting Modafferi down to the canvas.
The two ladies meet on the feet in the center of the octagon. Modafferi’s right eye is severely bruised and nearly shut. In the final minute of the final round, Araujo once again gets the fight down to the ground and the clock eventually expires.
Araujo wins the fight easily on all scorecards. (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
