UFC Philadelphia: Craig subs Nzechukwu despite…

UFC Philadelphia: Craig subs Nzechukwu despite repeated eyepokes

Yet again, Paul Craig proved he’s a submission threat until the very end.

All Craig had to endure was a few cage grabs and eye pokes to catch newcomer Kennedy Nzechukwu napping with a triangle at the 4:20 mark of the third round.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the main card of today’s UFC on ESPN 2 event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. It aired on ESPN following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.

The two tested out each other’s best kicks in the opening exchange before Craig closed for a takedown. He wound up taking lateral elbows that cut him wide open, but a quick shoulder lock and armbar appeared to contort Nzechukwu’s shoulder and hyperextend his elbow. Somehow, the UFC newcomer managed to pull free, and the Craig’s next guard pull wasn’t as successful. So he attacked the leg after a takedown attempt failed. Nzechukwu wouldn’t fall for that either, and a head kick sent Craig to the mat – not by choice.

With one minute to rest, Craig resumed his efforts to take Nzechukwu to the canvas. A blatant fence grab briefly helped Nzechukwu stay on his feet, and a slip off the back put Craig in the danger zone on his back. Nzechukwu fired down a few heavy shots for good measure, but he had no desire to grapple. Instead, he wound up in foul territory as Craig charged into his outstreched fingers, drawing another warning from referee Keith Peterson. Nzechukwu went on the chase for kicks, again drawing a referee warning for outstretched fingers. Craig managed to avoid the worst of it. But by then, the audience had lost its patience with the plodding action.

Craig decided to try his luck in striking as the final round got underway. When that didn’t net any significant advantage, he dropped again for an ankle and popped Nzechukwu with a kick from his back. Nzechukwu wanted him up, and once again, his outstretched fingers caught Craig’s eye. This time, Craig hit the canvas, obiously hurt. Feferee Peterson finally deducted a point after a doctor’s check cleared Craig. With half the round left to work, Nzechukwu defended Craig’s takedowns, and after stuffing a shot, he landed strikes from on top. Craig tried once for the triangle before his second attempt rolled Nzechukwu for the finish.

Craig pulls off his second third-round UFC submission and is back in the win column after a loss to Jim Crute in his previous outing. Kennedy suffers his first loss as a professional in his octagon debut.

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