UFC Fight Island 4 kicked off with Jessin Ayari taking on Luigi Vendramini at the UFC lightweight division. With 8 wins by submission and 9 first-round finishes to his name, Jessin Ayari was the favorite going into the fight. Luigi Vendramini made his octagon return after almost two years.
Lightweights looking to set the tone for #UFCFightIsland4 #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/l0l13j8pH5
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2020
Having fought credible fighters like Darren Till and Stevie Ray, Jessin Ayari started the first round with a lethal low kick. Ayari moved efficiently between the rounds and showed great takedown defense. He kept his hands up and showed great pressure. However, it was a counter from Luigi Vendramini which closed the ticket for Jessin Ayari.
RELENTLESS! What a start to #UFCFightIsland4 as @VendraminiLuigi gets the quick finish!!
📺 #UFCFightIsland4 live on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/90yPgQqyWN
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2020
As Ayari moved in to land a right, Luigi was quick to counter it with a brutal left which sent Ayari wobbling back to the fence. Luigi followed it up with a barrage of punches and landed a brutal leg kick to close the show. With this win, Luigi Vendramini has sent a notice to the lightweight division with an emphatic win in his return bout to the octagon. In the process, Luigi put himself in the contention for UFC Performance of the Night bonus with an incredible performance to kick-off the show.
UFC Fight Island 4: Luigi Vendramini kicks off the show with a stoppage win
🇧🇷's @VendraminiLuigi gets his first win inside the Octagon in a big way! #UFCFightIsland4 live on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/BiNZafFADA
— UFC (@ufc) October 3, 2020
“I waited for two years, I hurt my shoulder. My life was terrible, but I feel happy with this win. I feel amazing.” Luigi said in the post-fight interview.
After a failed UFC debut where he suffered a brutal knee injury, Luigi Vendramini announced his return to the lightweight division. Earlier competing at the Welterweight division, Luigi looked in great shape at the new weight class and would look to continue his career in the same weight class going forward. “Now I am a UFC fighter,” Luigi said as he picked up his first UFC win.
UFC Fight Island 4 will feature former Bantamweight Champion Holly Hollm return after an impressive win over Raquel Pennington, to take on MMA veteran Irene Aldana in a five-round main event at Fight Island.