The UFC Houston main card kicked off with a thrilling performance by Jessica Andrade, and a shocking KO win for Marcel Fortuna.
The first two fights on the UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie have wrapped up, and it’s a good start for the Brazilians. Jessica Andrade picked up a big win over Angela Hill, while undersized Marcel Fortuna pulled off a shocking KO of Anthony Hamilton.
Marcel Fortuna def. Anthony Hamilton via KO (punch) at 3:14 of round 1 – Heavyweights
Fortuna was cut open on the right side of his face very early in the fight. Replays showed that it stemmed from an accidental clash of heads. It was a nasty cut that led to a mid-round stoppage to have a doctor examine the Brazilian. The fight resumed and Fortuna buckled Hamilton with a good counter right hand. Another right hand faceplanted Hamilton for the KO. A reminder that Fortuna weighed in at 210 lbs, is a former middleweight, and was outweighed by nearly 50 pounds. The first KO win of Fortuna’s MMA career is a stunning one, and Hamilton has now suffered two first-round losses in the span of two months.
Jessica Andrade def. Angela Hill by unanimous decision (30-27 x3) – Strawweights
Hill threw several leg kicks early. Andrade tagged Hill with a lunging left hook, which backed “Overkill” up. A hard right hand caught Hill badly, but she also landed some good shots in an exchange. Andrade cracked Hill with a combination against the fence, and the Brazilian also went to the body. Hill threw some good knees in the clinch. Andrade scored with a big overhand right. The forward pressure of Andrade continued and she continued to land on Hill, who demonstrated a good chin. Hill absorbed a huge body punch before countering with a kick. Andrade was hit with a nice knee but she walked through it and stung Hill some more to end an action-packed opening round.
Back-and-forth striking ensued in round two, and Andrade was cut on the right side of her face, below her eye, likely from a knee. Jessica’s blitzing attacks continued to be a problem for Hill, but the former Invicta FC champion would not go away. Andrade hammered home to the body again while Hill answered with a vicious body kick. Hill scored with a good right hand that momentarily stopped Andrade’s forward movement. Push kick to the body and a left hook by Andrade landed. The Brazilian took the American down late in the second round and she tried to take her back. Hill was back to her feet, only for Andrade to slam her down to end the round.
Pure rock ‘em-sock ‘em swinging kicked off round 3 and brought the crowd to its feet. Hill still was in the fight and performing well. A big right hand buckled Hill’s legs and Andrade sensed a finish. Andrade got tagged in an exchange and it was either a knockdown or a slip, but she got back to her feet. More huge punches by Andrade and a monster knee still couldn’t put away Hill, who kept throwing back but with far less power and waning effectiveness. Andrade cracked Hill with another flurry of strikes against the fence. Hill got popped with two straight rights and still wouldn’t go down. Andrade finished strongly but couldn’t put an incredibly valiant Hill away. This was an absolutely enthralling contest that deservedly went the way of Andrade, now 3-0 at 115 lbs.
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