Jai Herbert and Rolando Bedoya, UFC Abu Dhabi Credit: Youtube/UFC
Britain’s “Black Country Banger” Jay Herbert traveled to Abu Dhabi for UFC on ABC 7 on Saturday, taking on Rolando Bedoya in a lightweight bout early on in the preliminary card.
UFC Abu Dhabi gives Herbert the chance to bounce back from his loss to Fares Ziam last July, marking a year between fights for the Briton.
Ninety seconds later, Herbert lands a right punch that knocks Bedoya to the mat for first blood. Bedoya recovers but is clearly on guard. Herbert lands another right, then a knee to the center, then circles around the outside, where Bedoya finally catches and stops him. Herbert reverses, but Bedoya reverses again, and the two separate, back to the center of the cage.
Herbert continued to display his skilled striking in the second round, and although Bedoya had tied the score, an accidental knee from Herbert after about two minutes stalled the fight, and the referee warned him twice not to receive coaching during the ensuing timeout. Herbert didn’t waste much time, getting back on track and using his jab to launch a low kick and the right punch that had served him so well for half the fight. A high kick from Herbert missed just wide, and Bedoya landed an outside leg kick shortly after, but he was trailing in the round.
In the final 90 seconds of the second round, Bedoya picked up the pace, landing some right punches of his own and drawing Herbert into a few short, explosive attacks.
In the third round, Bedoya pushed against the fence early but was unable to pin Herbert down. Instead, Herbert circled back again and showed good shot selection. His jab and front kick were both landing. But Herbert was beginning to show the damage that had likely been accumulated during the brief exchange at the end of the second round. Bedoya was definitely back in the fight as the third round ended, but Herbert looked to have the volume advantage. Both fighters raised their arms in victory at the final horn, but only one could emerge victorious – Jai Herbert.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Jay Herbert def. Rolando Bedoya via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
