Melissa Gatto
Brazil
Struggles continue in Vegas
Gatto lost to Dione Barbosa via majority decision (28-28, 27-29, 27-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This is a crushing result for Gatto for multiple reasons. She appeared to be badly injured following an illegal kick to the head of a downed opponent by Barbosa in Round 2. Gatto probably should have never continued to fight, but more importantly, the Vegas Athletic Commission should have never cleared her to continue. Referee Chris Tognoni didn't help matters by not only not DQ'ing Barbosa, but also by only docking her one point. Two of the three judges felt Barbosa won all three rounds, and that left Gatto with a majority decision defeat. The 29-year-old Brazilian has lost three of four and has just a single victory dating back to December 2021.
This is a crushing result for Gatto for multiple reasons. She appeared to be badly injured following an illegal kick to the head of a downed opponent by Barbosa in Round 2. Gatto probably should have never continued to fight, but more importantly, the Vegas Athletic Commission should have never cleared her to continue. Referee Chris Tognoni didn't help matters by not only not DQ'ing Barbosa, but also by only docking her one point. Two of the three judges felt Barbosa won all three rounds, and that left Gatto with a majority decision defeat. The 29-year-old Brazilian has lost three of four and has just a single victory dating back to December 2021.
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Next fight lined up
Gatto will face Dione Barbosa at UFC Vegas 115 on April 4, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Gatto dominated her last fight in May against Tamires Vidal, emerging victorious after three rounds after dominating her opponent 120-50 in strikes landed. Gatto will face an opponent in Barbosa who is hungry for a win after dropping her last fight at UFC 319.
Gatto dominated her last fight in May against Tamires Vidal, emerging victorious after three rounds after dominating her opponent 120-50 in strikes landed. Gatto will face an opponent in Barbosa who is hungry for a win after dropping her last fight at UFC 319.
Dominates in bantamweight debut
Gatto defeated Tamires Vidal via TKO (punch) at 0:37 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
A natural flyweight, Gatto was due to fight Viktoriia Dudakova in Atlantic City in early-April before the latter got ill the day of the event and the bout was cancelled. Itching to get back in the Octagon, she accepted this fight against Vidal at bantamweight and dominated as a -400 favorite. Gatto closed with a 120-50 edge in total strikes landed, in addition to connecting on both her takedowns attempts for 6:58 worth of control time. It doesn't get much more dominant than that. It remains to be seen if Gatto will remain at 135 pounds after this stellar effort.
A natural flyweight, Gatto was due to fight Viktoriia Dudakova in Atlantic City in early-April before the latter got ill the day of the event and the bout was cancelled. Itching to get back in the Octagon, she accepted this fight against Vidal at bantamweight and dominated as a -400 favorite. Gatto closed with a 120-50 edge in total strikes landed, in addition to connecting on both her takedowns attempts for 6:58 worth of control time. It doesn't get much more dominant than that. It remains to be seen if Gatto will remain at 135 pounds after this stellar effort.
Filling in as replacement
Gatto will face off against Tamires Vidal at a UFC event on May 18, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Gatto will fill in against Tamires Vidal after Hailey Cowan withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. The 27-year-old Brazilian fighter is 2-2 during her time with the UFC.
Gatto will fill in against Tamires Vidal after Hailey Cowan withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. The 27-year-old Brazilian fighter is 2-2 during her time with the UFC.
Loses opponent late
Gatto's scheduled matchup against Viktoriia Dudakova at UFC Atlantic City last Saturday was cancelled last-minute after Dudakova came down with an illness, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
It's an incredibly tough break for fantasy players counting on either fighter, as they had little recourse due to the late-notice cancellation of the bout. It's unclear whether the UFC will re-book this matchup for Gatto, or look in another direction, though Dudakova did note in a later Instagram post that she hopes "to come back ASAP."
It's an incredibly tough break for fantasy players counting on either fighter, as they had little recourse due to the late-notice cancellation of the bout. It's unclear whether the UFC will re-book this matchup for Gatto, or look in another direction, though Dudakova did note in a later Instagram post that she hopes "to come back ASAP."
Added to Atlantic City card
Gatto will take on Viktoriia Dudakova at UFC Atlantic City on March 30, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
The weight class of this fight was not specified, as Gatto lost her second consecutive fight at flyweight to Ariane Lipski last summer, while Dudakova last weighed in at strawweight. The 25-year-old Dudakova is undefeated as a professional and a perfect 2-0 under the UFC banner. Gatto, meanwhile, started her UFC run with two stoppage victories, but her last win came in December of 2021. Gatto will enter with slight advantages in reach and volume striking.
The weight class of this fight was not specified, as Gatto lost her second consecutive fight at flyweight to Ariane Lipski last summer, while Dudakova last weighed in at strawweight. The 25-year-old Dudakova is undefeated as a professional and a perfect 2-0 under the UFC banner. Gatto, meanwhile, started her UFC run with two stoppage victories, but her last win came in December of 2021. Gatto will enter with slight advantages in reach and volume striking.