[autotag]Nate Maness[/autotag]’ second UFC win was a good one.
Maness (13-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) rallied for a dramatic come-from-behind finish of Luke Sanders (13-4 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in their 140-pound catchweight fight Saturday at UFC on ESPN 18, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Sanders was landing big shots throughout the first round and nearly got the finish. He picked up where he left off in the second, engaging in crazy striking exchanges with Maness. Sitting as a -600 favorite in the live odds, Sanders got caught with a big shot that staggered him. That’s when Maness took advantage.
He got the fight to the ground, quickly moved to mount, took Sanders’ back and forced the tap from the rear-naked choke at the 2:29 mark of Round 2.
Check out the replay below (via Twitter):
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1332857423984549890
After a triumphant performance in his second octagon appearance, Maness came ready with the callouts in his post-fight interview with Paul Felder.
“If they want to build me up slowly, Adrian Yanez is a good striker,” Maness said. “If they want to move me up, Nathaniel Wood is dangerous and that would be a good fight.”