Highlights! Artur Beterbiev decisions Dmitry Bivol with serious controversy, becomes undisputed champion
Light Heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol threw down earlier tonight
The second continued in similar fashion, as Bivol threw more jabs but stayed on his bike. Beterbiev targeted the body well, but he also walked into a few hard counter punches. Bivol actually started timing his right hand really well in the third, turning the pressure fighter with some clean connections.
Bivol seemed to be gaining confidence by the fourth. His lateral movement was working well, as he baited Beterbiev forward then timed his jabs with counter combinations. By the fifth, Bivol was more willing to stand his ground, planting a bit more into his own power punches against the fearsome knockout artist. At risk of falling behind, Beterbiev stung his foe with a stiff jab then ripped a nice wide right body shot follow up.
Beterbiev continued to find the body with that wide right in the sixth, which was making a difference in allowing him to land more often. Bivol seemed to be a little less confident on the counter, though his jab was still landing. Bivol had a big moment in the seventh after stunning Beterbiev with an uppercut, but he got a little aggressive in his follow up, allowing Beterbiev to land his own heavy counter hook.
Beterbiev opened the tenth with aggression, finding a home for his right hand. Bivol relaxed the first half of the round but really sat on some power shots midway through, snapping Beterbiev’s chin several. Beterbiev answered with a long combo, mostly hitting Bivol’s gloves as he backed the champion into the ropes.
Bivol opened the 11th with fiery combinations, ripping body punches and big combinations. A Beterbiev overhand shifted the tide, however, allowing the puncher to answer in kind. Beterbiev found his way around the guard with left hooks to the liver, and he definitely dragged some momentum back into his corner with three minutes remaining.
Tension was high in the final round. Bivol was either evasive or firing in combination, a good strategy for him. Beterbiev’s pressure was relentless though, and Bivol’s legs weren’t quite as springy after all the movement. He used the clinch to earn relief instead, which worked fairly well in preventing any huge Beterbiev connections.
Bivol walked off with his hands raised.
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