TBS + UFC FP: Kazuto Ioka vs. Aston Francis Melos Palicte & Hiroto Kyōguchi vs. Tanawat Nakoon RBR

Round 6

Palicte is flicking out the jab from his stomach, backhanded. Ioka keeps his right palm hovering by his right orbital bone, every now and then intercepting a Palicte jab and pushing it down to disrupt his rhythm but mostly disregarding them as his footwork alone is enough to make sure Palicte isn't touching him with anything. Ioka scoring tremendously to Palicte's chest on the roll sideways in the pocket every time Palicte gets impatient and comes looming over him with predictable long straights missing overhead. Ioka just rattling off combos and blinking off the odd Palicte right hand that does connect.

10-9 Ioka

58-56 Ioka

 

Yep, giving credit both ways.

 

Round 7

Palicte is leaning in, missing a right hand up top intentionally but carrying his momentum inside and hooking downstairs with the left, hard, folding Ioka up. Palicte lighting Ioka up. Ioka slips on a wet spot but Palicte also skims a right hand across his temple and he goes down in the corner, ruled a slip by Chevalier. Palicte is swarming and Ioka has nowhere to go, rallying with some body shots, but the bigger man imposing himself physically. Flush left hook for Palicte. Ioka hit with monstrous body shots, answering in kind. Short right hand on the chin by Ioka, who is then warned for an incidental low blow. Palicte reaching in with the jab from outside, recovering his energy, slightly punched out. Ioka presses the advantage, spanking Palicte above the hip with a hook. Ioka closing strong but Palicte had too much of this one banked.

10-9 Palicte

67-66 Ioka

 

I completely forgot which alpha-belt this is for, but clearly not the WBC else we should have already had Open Scoring a few rounds ago..

edit: they just said on air, WBO.

 

Smitty has it 68-65 Ioka.