Hacran Dias kicks off UFC career with unanimous decision win over Yuri Alcantara – UFC News
Hacran Dias, the surging Brazilian featherweight, made his debut UFC bout a memorable one by collecting a classic unanimous decision win over fellow countryman, Yuri Alcantara, in a three-round bout held on June 23, 2012.
The duo met on the fight card headlined by the epic non-title five-round bout between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva. The showdown was televised live from Estadio Jornalista Felipe Drumond in Belo Horizonte, Brazil and the pay-per-view was named as UFC
147: Franklin vs. Silva.
The Saturday night extravaganza also witnessed Fabricio Werdum take on Mike Russow in a non-title three-round heavyweight bout hence constituting the co-main event. The duo was coming from lengthy win streaks and the clash was definitely worth-watching.
Dias, 28, who trains alongside Jose Aldo, the current UFC featherweight champion, was coming from an eight-bout win. Also known as ‘Barnabe’, Dias was entering career’s 23rd bout, boasting 20 wins.
The Rio De Janeiro proud is a submissions specialist who has nailed nine of his opponents by making them submit, three by knockout and another nine by either split or unanimous decision.
His Saturday night opponent, Yuri, 31, possessed a bit upper hand over Hacran as far as the experience is concerned. Also known as ‘Marajo’, Alcantara was in his 32nd career and third UFC bout.
In addition, Yuri was coming from a huge 13-bout win streak since his last loss to Mauricio Reis. The Para proud has collected 12 of his wins by knockout and the same number by submission and has pinned just four opponents by receiving a decision.
With 28 wins in various promotions as compared to Dias’ 21, Hacran visibly was no match for Yuri but this did not happen during the three-round clash as it was Dias who outsmarted the more experienced Yuri by his game plan.
Dias continuously stick to the game plan and attempted for take downs. Initially, Yuri showed resistance in all three rounds but later on got flattened every time just to absorb Dias’ strikes.
In all three rounds, Dias emphatically replicated take down strategy and kept on pummelling Yuri who seemed to be bit intimated rather confused. At the end of the three-round clash, it was Dias who collected his very first UFC win by receiving 29-28, 30-27
and 30-27 scores.
After the bout, Hacran stated, “This was very special for many reasons. It was the 2,000th fight of the UFC, my debut and also in the main card. Maybe the fans didn't really like my game that much, but it was my debut against a very tough guy, and I didn't
want risk it too much. I hope to keep improving.”
With this win, Dias has successfully started his career and in an impressive fashion by elongating his win streak to nine bouts. Yuri, on the other hand, unfortunately has broken his win streak and collected his career’s fourth loss.
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