Bantamweight prospect Ashlee Evans-Smith picked up her second straight UFC victory tonight at UFC Fight Night 93: “Arlovski vs Barnett” in Hamburg, Germany. Evans-Smith stopped previously undefeated Octagon newcomer Veronica Macedo, who stepped into the fight on very short notice.
Evans-Smith overcame a shaky start on the feet in the opening minute and dominated the remainder of the bout in the clinch and on the mat. She repeatedly thwarted Macedo’s kneebar attempts and ultimately finished the Venezuelan with a barrage of elbow strikes midway through the third round.
Evans-Smith (5-1-0) opened the action with leg kicks, but Macedo (5-1-1) hurt her with a spinning back kick to the body and followed with a head kick. After recovering, Evans-Smith punched her way into a clinch and threw knees to the body, but she was unable to take Macedo down. The fighters separated and Macedo landed two more hard kicks to the midsection that prompted Evans-Smith to clinch again. She dragged Macedo down and took her back. When Macedo rolled over, Evans-Smith worked for a mounted keylock and an armbar. Macedo scrambled up and took Evans-Smith’s back before the bell.
Macedo landed a head kick early in round two and Evans-Smith secured a clinch against the cage. Both women landed knees to the body in close and Macedo rolled for a kneebar, but Evans-Smith escaped and the fight returned to the feet where more knees were exchanged. Both women landed kicks and Evans-Smith closed the distance once more. Macedo attempted a second rolling kneebar and Evans-Smith punished her with punches. She blasted Macedo with more punches and knees and threw her down to the mat in the final 15 seconds.
The final round began with an exchange of punches and body kicks, and the fighters clinched again. Evans-Smith countered a kneebar with punches from the top. She pinned down Macedo’s right arm and dropped a barrage of vicious elbows until the bout was finally stopped.
Tonight’s win was Evans-Smith’s second of the year. She previously edged out Marion “The Belizean Bruiser” Reneau at UFC Fight Night 83 in February.
Winner: Ashlee Evans-Smith by TKO (Elbows) at 2:46 of round three. She improves to 5-1-0.
(Photo Credit: Rolando de la Fuente)