The co-main event for ‘UFC 256 – ‘FIGUEIREDO VS MORENO’ was the setting where the promotion’s #7 ranked 155-pounder, Charles Oliveira, dominated the former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson, to take a unanimous decision. Oliveira had a field day with Ferguson on the feet, and also took Tony to school on the ground. Oliveira is on a wicked eight-fight winning streak, which doesn’t automatically guarantee any title shot in the UFC’s lightweight division, but it does seriously put him in the conversation.
Oliveira was looking to utilize his fundamentals right away while Ferguson was throwing punches from a lot of unorthodox angles. Both men were landing clean before Oliveira hit a seemingly easy bodylock takedown. He methodically transitioned into full mount and locked down the position, giving Ferguson nowhere to go and no space to get there. With just seconds left int he round, Oliveira spun for an armbar and cranked away. It looked pretty bad, but Tony didn’t tap and escaped the round.
Ferguson cut open Oliveira with an elbow early in the seocnd round. Then, it didn’t take very long for Oliveira to earn himself a takedown. An illegal up kick from Ferguson brought a pause to the fight, but Oliveira said he was fine and the match resumed with Oliveira on top. Charles would stay there, dropping strikes while maintaining control. Ferguson attempted a buggy choke from the bottom, which stalled out the fight until the bell. It took about one-minute for Oliveira to get a takedown in the final round. He surfed atop Tony, threatening with submissions and dropping strikes when appropriate. Ferguson did not return to his feet.
Charles Oliveira def. Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision (30-26 x3): Lightweight
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