Julia Polastri
The Dragon
Brazil
Drops decision as hefty favorite
Polastri lost to Talita Alencar via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a loss Polastri could not afford as a -250 favorite. She predictably got the better of the action on the feet, closing with a 78-60 edge in significant strikes landed, but Alencar's three takedowns proved to be the difference in a fight in which neither woman landed a ton of damage. Defensive wrestling has been a major issue for the Brazilian in the past. At age 28, Polastri is young enough to make improvements moving forward, but her 2-3 record in five career UFC bouts suggests it's quite unlikely to happen.
It was a loss Polastri could not afford as a -250 favorite. She predictably got the better of the action on the feet, closing with a 78-60 edge in significant strikes landed, but Alencar's three takedowns proved to be the difference in a fight in which neither woman landed a ton of damage. Defensive wrestling has been a major issue for the Brazilian in the past. At age 28, Polastri is young enough to make improvements moving forward, but her 2-3 record in five career UFC bouts suggests it's quite unlikely to happen.
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Facing Alencar in April
Polastri will take on Talita Alencar in a strawweight bout at UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Polastri is coming off a win that evened her UFC record at 2-2, knocking off Karolina Kowalkiewicz in October with strikes. She'll look to start her first winning streak in the promotion against an opponent who's also stepped into the Octagon four times but fared slightly better, boasting a 3-1 record.
Polastri is coming off a win that evened her UFC record at 2-2, knocking off Karolina Kowalkiewicz in October with strikes. She'll look to start her first winning streak in the promotion against an opponent who's also stepped into the Octagon four times but fared slightly better, boasting a 3-1 record.
Cruises as massive favorite
Polastri defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz via TKO (strikes) at 2:56 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
Polastri found herself upwards of a -600 favorite here despite the fact she entered having lost two of her first three UFC fights. Common knowledge suggested the Brazilian would be able to hammer her aging opponent on the feet, and that turned out to be exactly the case. Polastri simply bit down on the mouthpiece and pushed forward, blitzing Kowalkiewicz with power shots over and over. She finally earned the stoppage midway through Round 3, and it would go on to earn her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. While this was a nice effort, Polastri has struggled in the past against better competition, and that seems unlikely to change moving forward despite this win.
Polastri found herself upwards of a -600 favorite here despite the fact she entered having lost two of her first three UFC fights. Common knowledge suggested the Brazilian would be able to hammer her aging opponent on the feet, and that turned out to be exactly the case. Polastri simply bit down on the mouthpiece and pushed forward, blitzing Kowalkiewicz with power shots over and over. She finally earned the stoppage midway through Round 3, and it would go on to earn her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. While this was a nice effort, Polastri has struggled in the past against better competition, and that seems unlikely to change moving forward despite this win.
Next fight confirmed
Polastri will fight Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Rio De Janeiro on October 11, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Polastri is set for a challenge against a ten-year veteran in Kowalkiewicz. Polastri has had up and down results in the UFC thus far with her last appearance being a unanimous decision loss in March. She'll hope to rebound with a win and start to regain some momentum.
Polastri is set for a challenge against a ten-year veteran in Kowalkiewicz. Polastri has had up and down results in the UFC thus far with her last appearance being a unanimous decision loss in March. She'll hope to rebound with a win and start to regain some momentum.
Can't defend takedown in loss
Polastri lost to Lupita Godinez via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
This was one of the more lopsided fights you will ever see through two rounds. Polastri gave up a pair of takedowns in each of the first two frames and spent 6:42 of the opening 10 minutes being controlled on her back. That alone assured she wouldn't be winning a decision, but to Polastri's credit, she floored the gas pedal in Round 3 when it was clear she would need a stoppage to emerge victorious. It wasn't enough, but at least Polastri recognized the trouble she was in. The 27-year-old Brazilian, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, has alternated losses and wins in her first three official UFC bouts.
This was one of the more lopsided fights you will ever see through two rounds. Polastri gave up a pair of takedowns in each of the first two frames and spent 6:42 of the opening 10 minutes being controlled on her back. That alone assured she wouldn't be winning a decision, but to Polastri's credit, she floored the gas pedal in Round 3 when it was clear she would need a stoppage to emerge victorious. It wasn't enough, but at least Polastri recognized the trouble she was in. The 27-year-old Brazilian, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, has alternated losses and wins in her first three official UFC bouts.
Gets another new opponent
Polastri will now take on Lupita Godinez in a strawweight bout at UFC Mexico on Mar. 29, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Polastri was initially slated to take on Dione Barbosa. She was forced to pull out of the fight, and was then replaced by Yazmin Jauregui. Now, the latter has also been pulled from the card, making Godinez Polastri's second replacement opponent. She'll have to contend with a fighter who's much more experienced (7-5 in the UFC as opposed to Polastri's 1-1 record) on late notice.
Polastri was initially slated to take on Dione Barbosa. She was forced to pull out of the fight, and was then replaced by Yazmin Jauregui. Now, the latter has also been pulled from the card, making Godinez Polastri's second replacement opponent. She'll have to contend with a fighter who's much more experienced (7-5 in the UFC as opposed to Polastri's 1-1 record) on late notice.