LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 9, 2024: (L-R) Karol Rosa of Brazil and Panny Kianzad of Iran fight during the weigh-in for UFC APEX on August 9, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC)
Women’s bantamweights Karol Rosa and Panny Kianzad rounded out the UFC Las Vegas 95 preliminaries card on Saturday.
Both fighters were looking to get back to winning ways at the UFC Apex Fight Night event, with Kianzad coming off a pair of straight losses to Ketlen Vieira and Macy Chiasson, and Rosa coming off a loss to Irene Aldana.
On the night, Rosa was ranked 8th and Kianzad 11th.
Kianzad started the fight with a jab to the body, while Rosa aimed for a low kick. Kianzad fought back, but Rosa landed another, sharper calf kick, then another. Kianzad tried to hang on in the exchange of kicks, but he just didn’t have enough power. Then Rosa landed a one-two, and Kianzad fought back with a jab.
Rosa continued to chop Panny Kianzad’s lead leg, where the damage was already evident. A kick from the outside landed and another nearly brought Kianzad to a fall. Soon, Panny decided to step cautiously on that leg and switch stances. This bought him time, but soon Rosa was chopping the other leg as well. In the final minute, Kianzad was unable to support himself on his injured leg and actually went down under a kick.
Rosa and Kianzad traded blows right from the start of the second round, with Rosa holding his ground the whole time and trading lead elbows. One blow left Kianzad with a cut that quickly began bleeding from his hairline. Rosa continued to cut his leg and knock Kianzad down a bit. Kianzad’s face was covered in blood and there was blood running down the side of his nose, but Kianzad’s eyesight will likely be an issue at some point.
In the clinch, Rosa continued to land elbows and impose his will. Kianzad was fighting back, but his attacks were coming less frequently, less accurate, and dealing much less damage. Rosa’s own face was bloodied after being scraped by Kianzad in the clinch. Covered in his opponent’s blood, Rosa continued to kick, at one point causing Kianzad to leap up. Pani landed some decent combos in the final minute, but it felt like he might have been just a few more kicks away from taking down the TUF 28 graduate.
Early in the third round, Rosa tied the score when Panni landed a knee in the clinch. Rosa landed a few weak punches to the body and then went for a standing elbow, but collapsed and returned to the center. Another clinch failed, and Kianzad went on the offensive, but Rosa chose a different route, scoring a trip takedown with just over three minutes left. Kianzad closed his guard and accepted the position, even though it was unlikely he would win from the bottom. At least he couldn’t get kicked out of his legs with Rosa on top.
Kianzad was tough throughout the fight and was glad to get back to his feet. A big elbow from Rosa lands with 1 minute 40 seconds left in the bout. Karol Rosa lands a left and right combination. Kianzad holds her ground, clinches along the fence and lands some short right punches. Rosa puts her weight on the ground and goes for a takedown. With 45 seconds left, barring a miracle, Karol Rosa has the bout under her belt. Kianzad lands another elbow, another flurry and then a knee before the horn sounds to end the bout. There’s no question who the winner is. A bout worthy of a hot qualifier spot.
Official result: Karol Rosa defeats Panny Kianzad via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
