There’s a line of thought in the mixed martial arts world that states it’s always the fight cards that don’t look like much on paper that end up delivering the best action.
Julian Marquez and Maki Pitolo did their part to make this a reality for UFC 258 on Saturday night. The middleweight bout was bumped up to the main card in the wake of several fight fallouts, and it kicked off the pay-per-view in grand style.
Pitolo (13-8 MMA, 1-4 UFC) arguably got the better end of the first two rounds, both of which were all action. Then the third round featured wild swings before Marquez (8-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC), who was fighting for the first time in more than two years, finished things at the 4:13 mark of the final frame.
“I know you guys were saying this guy’s done, this guy’s done, but guess what? This guy was not done,” Marquez said in his post-fight interview.
After escaping Pitolo’s top position and getting back to his feet, Marquez landed a flurry of lefts and rights, then landed a brutal knee to the head in the clinch. Pitolo went for a desperation takedown, but Marquez easily switched position and landed a nifty anaconda choke for the tap, which you can see below (via Twitter):
WELCOME BACK.
🚀 @JMarquezMMA completes the 2.5 year comeback!
[ LIVE on #ESPNPlus PPV: https://t.co/BCod56c8ey ] pic.twitter.com/8dgm0dd640
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
These two are giving it all as we enter RD 3 🍿 #UFC258 pic.twitter.com/e4ndHIrhOq
— UFC (@ufc) February 14, 2021
Up-to-the-minute UFC 258 results:
- Julian Marquez def. Maki Pitolo via submission (anaconda choke) — Round 3, 4:13
- Anthony Hernandez def. Rodolfo Vieira via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 1:53
- Belal Muhammad def. Dhiego Lima via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Polyana Viana def. Mallory Martin via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 3:18
- Chris Gutierrez def. Andre Ewell via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-28, 30-27)
- Gabe Green def. Phil Rowe via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
