Kevin Jousset celebrates after beating Kiefer Crosbie. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
UFC 293 Sydney is underway at the Qudos Bank Arena and City Kickboxing have opened with a win.
A card stacked with kiwis, it will be a night to remember for New Zealand mixed martial arts at the Qudos Bank Arena today.
The event will be headlined by reigning middleweight king Israel Adesanya who takes on trash talking American Sean Strickland.
The prelims have just started and kicking off the card for City Kickboxing was Kevin Jousset of France against Ireland's Kiefer Crosbie.
Kevin Jousset defeated Kiefer Crosbie by Round One Submission-Welterweight.
Jousset got a rousing reception with an Eminem walkout for his first UFC appearance.
Jousset looked right at home in the cage as he landed some nice combinations early and clipped Crosbie with a beautiful counter right.
Crosbie was opened up in in his desperation he shot for a takedown which proved costly as Jousset effortlessly took him down and synched in a rear naked choke.
The Irishman tapped with just ten seconds remaining in the first round as Jousset made the perfect start to his UFC career and for CKB.
Jousset said he has set the tone for CKB.
"We have five to go, I believe it will be six and 0."
He said he wanted to be smart in his first UFC outing.
"I wanted to use my jab and knew the finish will come, nobody takes me down if he was going to try it was going to be a bad night for him."
Kiefer Crosbie taps out in the rear naked choke from Kevin Jousset. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
Jousset finished by calling out another of the Connor McGregor's teammates.
"I just beat one or Connor's best mates, Ian Gerry, I'll smash your face in!"
Speaking after hiss win, Jousset told UFC press he was happy to get the job done fast.
"I expected him to come out hard but I jabbed his face a few times and I slowed him down."
Jousset said it was the perfect opener for CKB and Eugene Bareman.
"It's good to have the first win for the team. He's one of the best coaches in the world for a reason."
Gabriel Miranda beat Shane Young by Round One Submission- Featherweight.
Unfortunately, Shane Young couldn't make it back to back wins for the Auckland gym.
Sporting a new blonde look, Young was looking to snap a three fight losing streak, but was unable to mount any offence against Gabriel Miranda.
Gabriel Miranda stops Shane Young via a rear naked choke. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
Having missed weight by more than a kilogram, Young suffered the ninth fastest submission loss in UFC featherweight history.
Miranda took Young's back with ease, locked in a body triangle, a neck crank, and put Young to sleep in under a minute.
Charlie Radtke beat Blood Diamond by UD-Welterweight.
Blood Diamond suiffered his third straight losss in the UFC, taking the CKB scorecard to 1-2 from thre prelims.
Ratke was the significant betting favourite but a closely fought first round suggested Diamond would be competitive.
However, that hope was quashed in the second, as halfway Diamond took a brutal barrage and looked all but finished.
Appearing out on his feet, Diamond shot for a takedown and was suffocated against the cage.
Diamond survived to the third and managed to land a clean enough jab to cut Ratke open.
Blood Diamond throws a punch. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
Diamond landed some solid knees in the clinch but a second groin resulted in a stoppage of over a minute.
As the clock ticked away, Diamond increased his output on the feet, implementing some spinning offence with little success.
A third low blow saw Diamond deducted a point by referee Herb Dean.
Despise having his moments, Diamond would ultimately fall to a 29-27 unanimous decision.
Carlos Ulberg beat Da Woon Jung by Submission-Light Heavyweight.
Ulberg got CKB back on track with a dominant three round performance against Woon Jung, picking up his first submission win in the UFC.
An exciting stand up affair saw Ulberg land more consistently before it hit the mat late in the piece.
Ulberg would also find success on the gorund as he locked up a rear naked choke with just ten seconds remaining, forcing the tap.
Now on a five fight winning streak, the New Zealander then proceeded to call out former title challenger Dominick Reyes.
"With all due respect, when you want to get back, lets make it happen."
After trading kicks in the opening stages, Ulberg landed a picture perfect combination four minutes in, dropping Woon Jung.
Ulberg swarmed for the finish but the Korean managed to survive and get back to his feet.
Carlos Ulberg celebrates after beating Da Woon Jung. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, September 2023. Photo: Photosport
The Black Jag utilised his lighting jab to bloody Woon Jung who kept pressing forward and landing leg kicks but the round belonged to Ulberg.
Up 20-18 heading into the third, Ulberg looked fresh while Woon Jung eating shots as he offered little defence.
The Korean finally shot for a takedown and managed to put Ulberg on his back for the first time in his UFC career.
Woon Jung found another gear late and forced Ulberg to shoot but the Kiwi managed to take the back and landed some brutal ground and pound before finding the finish.
Ulberg said it was the toughest fight of his career.
"I knew he'd come in with the game plan he had, I felt I was just a bit too quick and used my jab efficiently. What I needed was the dog fight."
The Samoan-Kiwi has laid down the challenge to Reyes.
"This is what the people want, he's a big opponent."
Ulberg said the feeling at the CKB gym has helped drive him.
"We have two world champions, you feed off that energy and I'm growing as Im going."
Tyson Pedro beat Anton Turkalj By KO- Light Heavyweight.
New City Kickboxing member Pedro made short work of The Pleasure Man in front of his home crowd to kick off the PPV.
The pair met for a flurried exchange in the centre of the octagon, but Pedro was clearly the more efficient striker, rocking his opponent with a straight left followed by a right cross which sent the Swede to the canvas.
Pedro went to work on the ground with hammer fists and the stoppage came just two minutes into the first round.
"Thank you to my team, thank you to those who support me and those who don't, you put a chip on my shoulder."
Tyson Pedro hits Anton Turkalj with a big right hand. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: David Neilson
Pedro said he finished it quicker than expected.
"I wanted to hurt him a bit more."
The hometown hero said it was a special win in his backyard.
"I don't know what is going to beat that for a while to come it was one of the best moments in my sporting career."
Justin Tafa beat Austen Lane by KO-Heavyweight.
In the first clash of the heavyweights, Tafa obliterated his American opponent with a brutal knockout in the first round.
Tafa walked out to Take Me Home, Country Roads, eliciting a huge roar from the Sydney crowd.
After their first bout ended in a no contest due to an eye poke, Lane again drove a digit into Tafa's eye less than a minute in to force a brief stoppage.
Once the action resumed, it took just one minute and twenty seconds before the Bad Man cracked Lane with a savage overhand left followed up by vicious ground and pound.
Tafa said it was a proud moment for hiss Samoan-Kiwi whanau.
With rumours of a potential fight card heading to Auckland, the Avondale local said he hopes to have his first "official" fight in his home city.
Justin Tafa hits Austen Lane with a knockout right hand. UFC 293, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Australia, Sunday 10th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: Photosport
Results:
-Kevin Jousset defeated Kiefer Crosbie by Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:49 of Round 1.
-Gabriel Miranda defeated Shane Young by Submission (neck crank) at 0:59 of Round 1.
-Charlie Radtke defeated Blood Diamond by Unanimous Descision.
-Carlos Ulberg defeated Da Woon Jung by Submission-(rear-naked choke) at 4:49 of Round 3.
-Tyson Pedro defeated Anton Turkalj by knockout at 2:12 of Round 1.
-Justin Tafa defeated Austen Lane by knockout at 1:22 of Round 1.
MORE TO COME