Joaquin Silva and Drucker Klose at UFC 301 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Dylan Bowker/Cageside Press
Drukkar Klose, who went into UFC 301 with an 8-2 record under the UFC banner, entered UFC 301 on a three-fight winning streak, with his last loss coming against Beneil Darish in 2020, but his opponent Joaquin Silva He tried to change things with his win over Clay Guida.
The match begins with both fighters feeling each other out and Silva landing a tee to the body. Silva goes for a tip to the body on Klose, but instead lands a blow to his groin, causing a momentary break in the action.
When the fight resumed, Drucker began the action by probing with jab feints and aiming for leg kicks. Silva swung with hooks, but Klose countered with several strikes, momentarily pinning Silva against the cage. Back in space, Drucker was moving forward, aiming for a calf kick and landing. Midway through the round, Silva turned his back to the cage. Drucker clipped Silva with a wave of his right hand. Klose lands another leg kick on him and Klose lands another combination up top. With a minute left in the round, Klose was landing some solid blows against the cage, but he missed with a knee. Klose threw looping punches into the clinch before pushing his opponent against the cage with less than 30 seconds left. Silva shoved Klose near the end of the round, and the two ended the round in space.
At the start of the second round, Silva landed an opening head kick, which Klose quickly responded with multiple high-flying strikes. Klose closed the distance and started clinching again, forcing Action into the cage. Silva briefly reversed positions on the cage, but Klose regained the upper hand and began to strike with his feet. Klose went for a takedown and Silva defended well, countering Klose with knees and short punches to the body. Drukkar was fighting for head position in the clinch, but went for the foot stomp again. With two minutes left in the round, a looping rush from Silva forced Klose back, and another rush knocked Klose unconscious with a shot. However, Drucker was able to clinch and move his opponent towards the fence. The round ended with Drucker in dominant control with another clinch against the cage.
To start the final round, Silva landed a few tees and leg kicks that landed solidly. Silva landed more leg kicks and threw his hands away a minute into the round. A few loop hooks again marked Klose’s retreating chin. Silva began to move towards his opponent here, but his opponent began to use his lateral movements and jabs to push Silva away. After Klose was injured again, Silva jumped on the guillotine with two minutes left in the round, but miraculously Klose was able to escape despite the explosion on his back. The exchange after both players stood up. Klose was cut off by a punch and fell to the ground. Silva again opted for the submission, and once again Klose survived. The fight ended with both fighters exhausted in a clinch against the cage.
Despite being in enemy territory, the judges gave the overall score 29-28 in favor of Drucker Klose.
Official result: Drucker Klose def. Joaquin Silva unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
