Lightweights Throwdown in the Semis
Photo credit: UFC
TAMPA – Austin Hubbard took on Roosevelt Roberts in the first round of the semi-finals and did not disappoint, taking another win home for Team Chandler.
In the first round, Roberts landed a calf kick and a left jab. Hubbard responded with some shots to the body. The Apex was so quiet, as none of Chandler’s team opted to switch to working with Team McGregor, and none of the teammates on Team Chandler were coaching either fighter.
Both fighters landed some combinations, with Hubbard landing a nasty calf kick with over two minutes left in the round. Roberts landed a clean shot to Hubbard’s jaw as the clock continued to tick down. Austin Hubbard landed another calf kick that brought Roberts to the ground.
Roberts recovered and landed a knee to the face and a right-hand combination as Chandler’s teammates oohed and ahhed at the strikes. The round ended, and it looked like Roosevelt Roberts won the first round.
Conor McGregor is seen looking on, doing his own commentary on the fight. “They’re fighting like it’s a sparring session. It’s not a sparring session, it’s a fight, lads,” McGregor yells to the fighters.
The second round begins with some combinations from Roosevelt, but Hubbard recovers and is able to land a takedown, almost having a d’arce choke on Roberts. However, Roberts is able to wriggle out of it and escape, but Hubbard still has top position, landing some shots.
Roberts escapes, and both fighters stand, trading shots with one another. Hubbard lands more combinations and attempts to go for a takedown, but Roberts uses his takedown defense and is able to block the attempt. Both fighters land some heavy shots, but the round ends with another nasty shot from Austin Hubbard to Roberts’ jaw.
The third round begins with both fighters coming out swinging, and Hubbard lands a calf kick as well as a left jab. Roberts attempts to cinch in a guillotine choke, but Hubbard escapes getting a takedown as Roberts defends against the cage.
Roberts defends well as he’s able to get Hubbard’s back against the cage, landing a takedown of his own and attempting to cinch in the guillotine choke again. Both men are exhausted, as you can hear them gasping for air with very little movement. Hubbard fends off the guillotine choke and escapes the ground.
In the last minute of the round, Hubbard lets go and attempts to stand with Roberts as he fends off a takedown. Roberts lands knees to the body as the horn sounds.
The referee announces the decision, “After three rounds, we went to the judges for a decision. The winner, by split decision, moving on, Austin Hubbard.”
Austin Hubbard moves on, and Roosevelt Roberts is eliminated as the competition rages on.