Julia Polastri
The Dragon
Brazil
Cruises as massive favorite
Polastri defeated Karolina Kowalkiewicz via TKO (strikes) at 2:56 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
ANALYSIS
Polastri found herself upwards of a -600 favorite here despite the fact she entered having lost two of her first three UFC fights. Common knowledge suggested the Brazilian would be able to hammer her aging opponent on the feet, and that turned out to be exactly the case. Polastri simply bit down on the mouthpiece and pushed forward, blitzing Kowalkiewicz with power shots over and over. She finally earned the stoppage midway through Round 3, and it would go on to earn her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. While this was a nice effort, Polastri has struggled in the past against better competition, and that seems unlikely to change moving forward despite this win.
Polastri found herself upwards of a -600 favorite here despite the fact she entered having lost two of her first three UFC fights. Common knowledge suggested the Brazilian would be able to hammer her aging opponent on the feet, and that turned out to be exactly the case. Polastri simply bit down on the mouthpiece and pushed forward, blitzing Kowalkiewicz with power shots over and over. She finally earned the stoppage midway through Round 3, and it would go on to earn her a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus. While this was a nice effort, Polastri has struggled in the past against better competition, and that seems unlikely to change moving forward despite this win.
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Next fight confirmed
Polastri will fight Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC Rio De Janeiro on October 11, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Polastri is set for a challenge against a ten-year veteran in Kowalkiewicz. Polastri has had up and down results in the UFC thus far with her last appearance being a unanimous decision loss in March. She'll hope to rebound with a win and start to regain some momentum.
Polastri is set for a challenge against a ten-year veteran in Kowalkiewicz. Polastri has had up and down results in the UFC thus far with her last appearance being a unanimous decision loss in March. She'll hope to rebound with a win and start to regain some momentum.
Can't defend takedown in loss
Polastri lost to Lupita Godinez via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
This was one of the more lopsided fights you will ever see through two rounds. Polastri gave up a pair of takedowns in each of the first two frames and spent 6:42 of the opening 10 minutes being controlled on her back. That alone assured she wouldn't be winning a decision, but to Polastri's credit, she floored the gas pedal in Round 3 when it was clear she would need a stoppage to emerge victorious. It wasn't enough, but at least Polastri recognized the trouble she was in. The 27-year-old Brazilian, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, has alternated losses and wins in her first three official UFC bouts.
This was one of the more lopsided fights you will ever see through two rounds. Polastri gave up a pair of takedowns in each of the first two frames and spent 6:42 of the opening 10 minutes being controlled on her back. That alone assured she wouldn't be winning a decision, but to Polastri's credit, she floored the gas pedal in Round 3 when it was clear she would need a stoppage to emerge victorious. It wasn't enough, but at least Polastri recognized the trouble she was in. The 27-year-old Brazilian, a product of Dana White's Contender Series, has alternated losses and wins in her first three official UFC bouts.
Gets another new opponent
Polastri will now take on Lupita Godinez in a strawweight bout at UFC Mexico on Mar. 29, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Polastri was initially slated to take on Dione Barbosa. She was forced to pull out of the fight, and was then replaced by Yazmin Jauregui. Now, the latter has also been pulled from the card, making Godinez Polastri's second replacement opponent. She'll have to contend with a fighter who's much more experienced (7-5 in the UFC as opposed to Polastri's 1-1 record) on late notice.
Polastri was initially slated to take on Dione Barbosa. She was forced to pull out of the fight, and was then replaced by Yazmin Jauregui. Now, the latter has also been pulled from the card, making Godinez Polastri's second replacement opponent. She'll have to contend with a fighter who's much more experienced (7-5 in the UFC as opposed to Polastri's 1-1 record) on late notice.
Gets new UFC Mexico opponent
Polastri will take on Yazmin Jauregui in a strawweight battle at UFC Mexico on March 29, CC Legaspi of ESPN Deportes reports.
ANALYSIS
Polastri is coming off her first UFC win against Cory McKenna in October (split decision), which followed a June debut loss to Josefine Knutsson. Jauregui, meanwhile, sports a 3-2 record with the company but is coming off a September submission defeat to Ketlen Souza. While Polastri has collected four takedowns across her UFC tenure (three of them in one loss), she's primarily a volume striker, which is a similar style as Jauregui. She'll give up one inch in both height and reach when the cage doors close in March.
Polastri is coming off her first UFC win against Cory McKenna in October (split decision), which followed a June debut loss to Josefine Knutsson. Jauregui, meanwhile, sports a 3-2 record with the company but is coming off a September submission defeat to Ketlen Souza. While Polastri has collected four takedowns across her UFC tenure (three of them in one loss), she's primarily a volume striker, which is a similar style as Jauregui. She'll give up one inch in both height and reach when the cage doors close in March.
Secures first UFC victory
Polastri defeated Cory McKenna via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Fighting for the second time in less than four months, Polastri looked far better than in her unanimous decision loss to Josefine Knutsson in her company debut in June. She managed to remain upright for the most part, stuffing 5-of-6 McKenna takedown attempts. That allowed her to create some separation on the feet and eventually be awarded a well-deserved decision win. There's a decent chance Polastri is nothing more than roster depth, but at just 26 years of age, she does have some theoretical long-term upside.
Fighting for the second time in less than four months, Polastri looked far better than in her unanimous decision loss to Josefine Knutsson in her company debut in June. She managed to remain upright for the most part, stuffing 5-of-6 McKenna takedown attempts. That allowed her to create some separation on the feet and eventually be awarded a well-deserved decision win. There's a decent chance Polastri is nothing more than roster depth, but at just 26 years of age, she does have some theoretical long-term upside.