Former UFC lightweight world champion Rafael dos Anjos battled toe to toe with divisional newcomer Kevin Lee before eventually submitting ‘The Motown Phenom’ in the fourth round of their main event bout at UFC Rochester.
Dos Anjos battled through a grueling four rounds of action before eventually locking up an arm-triangle to finish the exhausted Lee in the penultimate round.
It meant the Brazilian snapped a two-fight losing streak as he re-established himself as a legitimate contender in the UFC’s talent-filled 170lb weight class.
“I knew he was going to be strong in the first round and he pushed through the third and I was just using my experience,” said the Brazilian after his victory.
“Jason Parillo told me to do a little adjustment in the fourth, [and it] made a huge difference – stick to my jab, don’t load too much my punches.
“I started letting go more. I was able to work my takedowns. I needed that victory.”
The Brazilian’s stoppage victory in the main event took the tally of finishes for the night to nine, making the event the UFC card with the most finishes so far in 2019.
The main card saw Canadian debutant Felicia Spencer submit fellow former Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson to catapult herself instantly into title contention, while Vicente Luque finished last-minute replacement Derrick Krantz via first-round TKO.
And in the third meeting between the pair, Brazilian submission ace Charles Oliveira extended his unbeaten record against American Nik Lentz with a rare TKO finish.
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