Thomas Petersen secured a dramatic last-second stoppage against Gabriel Lorenco, narrowly avoiding a draw in their heavyweight bout. Lorenco (8-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) made his UFC debut on the prelims of UFC Fight Night 293, but it didn’t go as planned. Petersen (12-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) endured some tough moments before rallying for a TKO victory at 4:47 of Round 3.
The first round saw Petersen taking the fight to the ground early, his preferred area. However, Lorenco reversed the position and unleashed heavy strikes, including a contentious knee to Petersen’s head and neck while grounded. Despite this, the fight continued with Lorenco landing powerful punches until the round ended.
Though battered, Petersen responded strongly in Round 2, landing a pivotal punch that dropped Lorenco. He nearly finished the fight with ground-and-pound, but the referee allowed Lorenco to recover and continue. Both fighters had moments where they looked close to finishing the other, but fatigue became a significant factor heading into the final round.
In Round 3, Petersen once again brought the fight to the mat and controlled it from the top for most of the round. As the clock wound down, “The Train” rose and launched a flurry of punches in front of his corner, forcing the referee to stop the fight with just 13 seconds remaining.
Two judges had scored the first round 10-8 for Lorenco, suggesting the fight might have ended in a majority draw if Petersen hadn’t finished it. This win breaks Petersen’s recent pattern of alternating between wins and losses, coming after a first-round defeat to Valter Walker in July.
Latest UFC Fight Night 293 result:
- Thomas Petersen defeated Gabriel Lorenco via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:47
Originally published by MMA Junkie under the title: UFC Vegas 124 video: Thomas Petersen avoids draw with late TKO finish.
Fan Take: This thrilling comeback by Petersen reminds fans that a fight isn’t over until the final bell, underscoring the unpredictable nature of MMA. Such finishes add excitement to the sport and show why persistence and resilience are crucial for fighters striving to climb the heavyweight ranks.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
