UFC Singapore Results: Rafael dos Anjos defeats Tarec Saffiedine

UFC Singapore Results: Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tarec Saffiedine

A welterweight scrap between former UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos and former Strikeforce title holder Tarec Saffiedine kicked off today’s UFC Fight Night 111 main card in Singapore.

Round one begins and Saffiedine quickly takes the center of the octagon and fires off a head kick that just misses. He fires off another but it is blocked by dos Anjos. “RDA” comes forward and lands a hard kick to the body. Rafael circles and then fires off another kick but Tarec catches the strike and uses it to take dos Anjos to the floor. Saffiedine working from half guard but “RDA” locks in a kimura. The submission hold appears to be deep but Tarec is eventually able to escape. “RDA” scrambles and is able to get back up to his feet. The fighters trade some shots in the clinch before breaking. Dos Anjos presses forward and lands a hard kick to the body of Saffiedine. He presses Tarec against the fence and begins firing off some punches. He drops down and scores a nice double leg takedown. Tarec attempts an armbar. It is not there but he uses the submission attempt to get back up to his feet. “RDA” greets him with a flying knee. He follows that up with a right hook to the body and then another. Good shots from the former lightweight champion to close out round one.

Round two begins and Saffiedine lands a crisp right jab followed by a low kick. Rafael presses forward and lands a kick to the body. He scores with another hard kick and the fighters then lock up in the clinch against the cage. Rafael looks for a takedown but Tarec is able to avoid the attempted slam. Back in the clinch now and Tarec fires off a pair of knees to the body of “RDA”. Rafael gets head and arm control and lands a pair of knees to the should of Saffiedine. Another knee appears to land to the head of Tarec, which would be illegal, but the referee didn’t see it. The fighters break and “RDA” lands a good right hand. The welterweights reengage in the clinch and “RDA” lands a hard knee followed by some body shots. They break and Saffiedine lands a right hand. Dos Anjos replies with a nice combination. Tarec ducks under a punch and presses dos Anjos against the cage. “RDA” reverses the position and lands a knee before the horn sounds to end round two.

Round three begins and “RDA” lands a hard body kick to start the round. Tarec replies with a low kick but Rafael immediately fires off another hard body kick. “RDA” is pressing the action now. He lands a left jab and then a low kick. Tarec responds with a right hook followed by a low kick. “RDA” leaps in and just misses with an uppercut. The fighters trade jabs before “RDA” lands yet another body kick. The fighters clinch and exchange knees to the body along the fence. They break and Tarec lands a hard elbow followed by a low kick. Rafael fires back with a hard kick to the body. He presses Saffiedine against the cage and lands a knee. The fighters break and Rafael lands a right hook to the body followed by a body kick. Tarec responds with a right jab and then another. “RDA” presses forward with another kick and then the two men opt to clinch against the cage. Good knees from both men. “RDA” lands a nice combination on the break. Another good body kick lands for dos Anjos to close out round three.

dos Anjos def. Saffiedine via decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)