Kicking off UFC Mexico City on Saturday was bantamweights Santiago Luna and Angel Pacheco.
Luna was one of six Mexican fighters on the six-fight main card and a perfect 7-0 to start the night. Pacheco, the underdog, had lost his last two.
Pacheco opened the fight with early volume, landing his lead jab early as he retreated to the side of the octagon. Luna responded quickly, landing a knee and multiple hooks to the body to start his offense. The Mexican fighter continued to flow, landing a front kick up the middle in a quick attack on Angel Pacheco, but was able to get back to his feet quickly. Luna softened the body on the left side and walked Pacheco down, mixing his targets with hooks and knees to the midsection. The American, Pacheco, started to open up well to end the round, throwing a flying knee that almost made contact and landing a flush strike as time expired in the first round.
Luna hit the gas again in the second round, pushing Pacheco against the side of the cage and landing a series of strikes before returning to the center of the octagon. The home fighter continued to change his approach, landing an early takedown and scoring some light ground and pound before Angel Pacheco returned to his feet. Santiago Luna stayed on his feet, pushing forward and landing a right hand that drew a big reaction from Angel Pacheco. As the round came to a close, both men traded strikes in the pocket as ‘Borderboy’ picked up another decisive victory to take a 2-0 lead in the fight.
Luna started the third round with more strikes to the center, using his patented knee and working Pacheco’s body; both fighters continued to trade in the pocket, Santiago Luna with a clear speed advantage. Pacheco tried his finishing touch to end the fight, firing a takedown late in the round, although Luna jumped over a tight guillotine to deny the American a real chance at success. Pacheco was able to escape in full guard and landed a few ground strikes on Luna’s face. The undefeated Luna, who was eventually able to get back on her feet, sealed his victory with another flying knee close to the struggling Pacheco’s chin.
Santiago “Borderboy” Luna scored the unanimous decision win to move to 8-0 and 2-0 in the UFC with another statement victory to start his young career, while Angel Pacheco drops to 7-4 and 0-2 in the UFC.
Official result: Santiago Luna defeated. Angel Pacheco by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
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