Canadian bantamweight Brad (Superman) Katona won a unanimous decision over American Jesse Butler at a UFC Fight Night card. Katona relied on his ground game to control the fight and the judges scored it 30-26, 30-27, 30-27 in his favor. This victory improved Katona’s UFC record to 4-3-0. Despite giving up height and reach to Butler, Katona was able to dominate most of the fight, utilizing his skills to maintain control throughout the rounds.
In the main event at the KFC Yum! Center, American Jared (The Killa Gorilla) Cannonier faced off against No. 7 Nassourdine Imavov of France. Katona, standing at five-foot-six, gave up height and reach to Butler, who fought in the lightweight division in his previous UFC bout. Butler, who took the fight on short notice, only lasting 23 seconds in his previous fight before being knocked out, weighed in at 154.5 pounds for his last fight and 136 pounds for the Katona bout. Despite the odds, Katona was the heavy favorite heading into the fight.
During the fight, Katona was able to catch a kick from Butler early in the first round and dropped him with a right to the head. The majority of the round was spent on the ground, with Katona in control but unable to do much damage. In the second round, Butler caught Katona with a right to the head but ended up on the ground again after Katona intercepted a knee. Throughout the fight, Katona was able to break through Butler’s defense with strikes, showcasing his skill and control in the octagon.
Despite needing a stoppage to win, Butler came out swinging in the third round and managed to keep the fight mostly on their feet. However, Katona was able to match his opponent’s pace and connected with several strong strikes. In the final moments of the fight, Butler slipped while attempting a kick, allowing Katona to get on top of him once again. This resulted in Katona winning a unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28 in his favor.
Brad Katona, originally from Winnipeg and now based in Dublin, is a mechanical engineering graduate. He has previously won “The Ultimate Fighter” twice and is currently in his second run with the UFC. Katona won Season 27 of the reality show in July 2018 as a featherweight and Season 31 in August as a bantamweight. Between his stints with the UFC, Katona won four consecutive matches in the Brave Combat Federation. Butler, on the other hand, had won five straight fights in smaller promotions before entering the UFC, showcasing the talent and determination of both fighters in the octagon.
