On the UFC 230 pay-per-view main card at Madison Square Garden in New York, middleweight prospect and former kickboxer Karl Roberson scored a dominant win versus an extremely tough and granite-chinned Jack Marshman. Following that was a big upset TKO win for Jared Cannonier on short notice against top-ten contender David Branch. Here’s how the fights played out.
Jared Cannonier def. David Branch by TKO (punches) at :29 of round 2 - Middleweights
It only took 20 seconds for Branch to take Cannonier down, as wrestling defense is a notorious hole in Cannonier’s game. After a second takedown, Cannonier was back to his feet and landed a hard uppercut in the clinch. A third takedown led to Branch taking Cannonier’s back, but he couldn’t do much from there and lost the position. Cannonier fared better on takedown defense as the round progressed, and landed a couple of shots that had Branch retreating.
Cannonier turned things around with a straight right hand knockdown, which led to a series of ground shots that resulted in the fight being stopped. A massive win for Cannonier in his middleweight debut, while that figures to be the end of Branch’s time as a contender after such a stunning defeat.
Karl Roberson def. Jack Marshman by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27) - Middleweights
Roberson looked crisp straight away, countering Marshman effectively and hurting him with a counter left hand less than two minutes into the contest. The head movement was exquisite as he ducked Marshman’s attacks. A thudding body kick and left hook had Marshman rattled, but Marshman fired back and caught Roberson with a power punch while backed against the fence . Credit also was deserved for the toughness of Marshman, who ate multiple clean shots and did not go down. Marshman had some more success as the round drew to a close, but it was still Roberson’s round.
Marshman ate a straight left to begin round two, then a combination of punches that mostly missed. Robertson appeared to be limping on his back leg, but he still had it in him to stagger Marshman with another left hand. Roberson was just finding a home for that left on Marshman’s face time and time again. Marshman swung in the pocket at the midway point of the bout and got clipped on a counter, then Roberson scooped up Marshman and dumped him on his back. He maneuvered his way into side control off that double leg, but not much else happened the rest of round two.
Even with the apparent leg injury, Roberson was still in full control and slamming home the left hands. Marshman ridiculously ate them all before being taken down yet again, and Roberson rode out the rest of the fight from top position. A dominant win for Roberson to get back in the win column, while Marshman has lost three of four.