Welterweight Viscardi Andrade (17-5) opened up the Facebook prelims for UFC 163 with a first round TKO over Bristol Marunde (12-9). The fight marked Andrade's first bout as a UFC fighter. Marunde was making his second appearance in the Octagon and third under the Zuffa banner. He's been finished in all three outings.
Viscardi controlled the entirety of the short contest. He dropped Marunde with a crisp combo early and followed up with another power shot when Bristol managed to survive the initial onslaught. After being dropped for the second time, Viscardi went in for ground strikes and Marunde grabbed on to referee Leon Roberts' leg as the fight was stopped.
What was the high point of the fight?
It looked like Marunde may have recovered while on the ground, but as soon as he stood up, Andrade blasted him with the fight finishing left hook.
Where do they go from here?
Coming off TUF Brazil 2, Andrade had to have known he needed a win Saturday night to hold his spot on the UFC roster. He got the @ and he got it in impressive fashion. That's what the UFC brass likes to see from debuting fighters. The TKO definitely earned Andrade another fight, most likely on the prelims of a Brazil event and possibly on a televised broadcast.
Having gone 0-3 in his three Zuffa fights, I doubt the UFC gives him another fight. He'll need to pick up some wins on the regional circuit before Joe Silva comes calling again.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Go ahead and watch it now. It was an good performance from Andrade with an exciting finish and it's only 96 seconds.
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