Multiple-time World Champion and former Legacy FC fighter Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes fought his way back into the win column after losing his UFC debut to reigning Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt.
Tanquinho took on Frankie Saenz, a former NCAA Division I wrestler. However, anyone who thought this fight was going to be nothing more than a glorified grappling match was pleasantly mistaken.
In the beginning of the second round, Augusto buckled Frankie’s knees with a short, left hook. Mendes later took him down, but though he wasn’t able to hold Saenz on the canvas, he punished him with some solid flurries as Frankie got up.
The round soon shifted in Saenz’s favor, though. The NCAA wrestler dropped Tanquinho with a right elbow and fell into the BJJ black belt’s guard.
Look how stealth this elbow is by @FrankieSaenz!!!! WOW! #UFCPhoenix pic.twitter.com/jNngxfzSiz
— UFC (@ufc) January 16, 2017
Augusto stayed in the match, but not with the same light-footedness of previous rounds. To make matters even worse, as soon as the World champion started shaking the cobwebs out of his head, Frankie cracked him with another shot that wobbled Mendes again.
Round 3 kept the action going, with both fighters trading huge blows. However, after the final bell rang, most of the judges deemed Tanquinho’s performance to be the most impressive one, and they handed him the victory.
Winner by split decision: Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes!
@tanquinhojj representou e de forma espetacular o Brasil. Melhor luta da noite até agora 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/fc4KquL7jR
— Ana Flôres 🔴⚫ (@AnaFlaMaceio) January 16, 2017
