Taylor Lapilus
KRAKOW, Poland – Rocky Lee’s game plan was pretty clear from the opening few seconds against Taylor Lapilus.
But Lapilus (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) had no problems with Lee’s (3-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) penchant for takedown attempts, outworking and outstrking his fellow UFC debutant for a unanimous decision sweep of the judges’ scorecards.
The featherweight bout opened up the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 64 event at Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
It took Lee just three seconds to look for a takedown. He shot in straight away, pushing Lapilus to the fence. Lee ate a short knee to the groin, and after a brief moment to recover, he again shot in. But the second time, he found himself caught in a one-arm guillotine. Lapilus landed some knees while Lee looked to escape, then a few punches when Lee finally popped out.
But Lee again went after a single-leg – and Lapilus again went after a choke. A good combination of kicks, punches and knees scored for Lapilus after he gave up on the choke again. A right jab set up a big left hand for Lapilus, and again Lee was forced to look for a takedown that was unsuccessful. With a minute left, Lee looked tot ale the fight to the floor again, and after stuffing it, Lapilus landed a big knee as Lee got back to his feet.
In the second round, 45 seconds in, Lee finally got a solid takedown and pushed Lapilus to the cage. But Lapilus took his time, then easily worked his way back to his feet, then earned a break to go back to the center of the cage. Lapilus had Lee’s nose and mouth bloodied up midway through the frame courtesy of a stiff jab. A body kick for Lee was good, but Lapilus walked through it to land a knee, then fend off another Lee takedown effort.
Down on the scorecards, Lee had to head into Hail Mary mode in the third. But Lapilus landed a straight left, then got a takedown and then landed short punches on the fence, stifling Lee’s rallying effort for the first minute of the round. Lee tried to slow Lapilus down with yet another clinch, but he put his opponent in no danger when it was a finish he needed. Lapilus got another takedown with 1:45 left. When Lee got back to his feet, he had just 75 seconds to pull off a miracle. But it wasn’t to be.
Lapilus, from France, won for the fourth straight time, getting a win in his UFC debut. Lee lost for the first time in his young MMA career.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 64 results include:
- Taylor Lapilus def. Rocky Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 64, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan contributed to this report on site in Krakow.)
Filed under: News, UFC
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