Four UFC Rookies Graded After Vegas 120 Debuts
Four rookies made their UFC debuts Saturday at UFC Vegas 120 inside Meta Apex, going 2-2 collectively with all showing varying degrees of promise.
Brazilian heavyweight Jose Montanha made the biggest splash, charging forward against Louie Sutherland before flattening him and locking up a rear-naked choke that forced an immediate tap, per MMA Mania. The 29-year-old owns a perfect finish rate across seven wins — five submissions, two knockouts — and brings much-needed firepower to the heavyweight division. His next test should come against Denzel Freeman.
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Miranda's Chin Holds Up in Loss to Sousa
LFA lightweight champion Richie Miranda took the call on 10 days' notice against Brazilian knockout artist Manoel Sousa and absorbed heavy punishment in a decision loss. Sousa staggered him early with a right hand before Miranda recovered to land ground-and-pound in the first round. The Brazilian returned in the second with calf kicks that visibly hobbled Miranda, then dropped him with a body shot. Miranda somehow survived and grabbed Sousa's leg to work back up. MMA Mania credited Miranda's toughness for weathering shots that would have folded lesser fighters, noting his stock rose despite the defeat ending a seven-fight win streak. A matchup with Kyle Nelson at UFC Edmonton makes sense next.
The evening's opening bout delivered Brazil-on-Brazil violence as Contender Series winner Carol Foro outpointed TUF standout Gigi Canuto via unanimous decision. Foro showcased superior boxing and cracked Canuto with nasty calf kicks, but the 24-year-old grappler controlled the second round entirely from back position. Canuto faded late in the third after failed takedown attempts, allowing Foro to land clean combinations down the stretch. Foro earned a B-plus grade for her striking and toughness but will need sharper scrambles after spending an entire round flattened. Canuto received a C-plus despite the loss — her striking has improved dramatically in just five years as a pro, and her Brazilian jiu-jitsu remains elite. A future clash with Talita Alencar would suit the young grappler.
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The rookies fight next when the UFC returns to Las Vegas later this year.
Original reporting:
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