LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 24: (RL) Viacheslav Borshev of Russia kicks James Lontop of Peru in a lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 24, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Slava Kraus is in town on Saturday to face lightweights Viacheslav Borshev and James Lonetop as part of the UFC Las Vegas 96 preliminary card.
The jolly “Saint Nicholas” Borshev danced off the stage at Friday’s weigh-in and was looking to return to victory after a loss to Chase Hooper left him 1-1-1 in his last three fights, while Lonetop was looking for his first UFC win.
The bout started with Borshchev landing a quick kick to the leg. Viacheslav was also able to land a deep kick to his opponent’s body. Both fighters fought single-handedly from the beginning of the bout, probing each other. After about a minute, the two entered a clinch. As the two collapsed, Borshchev landed a powerful elbow. A few minutes later, Rontop was able to land a powerful body punch in space. Borshchev countered with a powerful leg kick. Just past the halfway point of the round, Borshchev gained momentum with a boxing combination, pushing his opponent back against the fence. Viacheslav accentuated the combination with a partially hit head kick. Rontop kept his cool and used his footwork to get out of the danger. After exchanging body kicks with his opponent with about a minute left in the round, Borshchev countered Rontop with a powerful punch that knocked his opponent’s head off.
A few minutes later, James poked Borshev in the eye. Before the referee could physically separate the two, James seized the moment to pounce on his opponent, landing a powerful punch that took down a protesting Borshev. After a few harsh warnings, the two were back in the bout after just over two minutes.
Borshev quickly got back to work, landing some hard kicks on all levels. With under 10 seconds left in the round, Lontop landed a big punch behind his opponent’s ear, but Borshev yelled back and missed any of it.
At the start of the second round, Borshev partially took down the advancing Lontop with a jab, allowing James to quickly get to his feet but receiving a few punches in the process. Borshev began attacking his opponent with boxing combinations, dodging a few punches in return. Lontop continued to fight back, landing punches to the body and using his head movement to dodge enough shots to stay in the mix.
In the middle of the round, Viacheslav dodged some attacks from Rontop and hurt his opponent with some counters to the body. James survived but continued to take body shots throughout the round. With just a few seconds left in the round, Rontop focused his striking and increased his aggression, including clinch work. James dodged some attacks and showed he still had something in the fight.
Instant replay between rounds revealed that the cut on Borshchev’s head was caused by a clash of heads.
At the start of the final round, both fighters came out very aggressive, trading heavy body and leg kicks. Lontop kept coming forward and landing strikes. About a minute into the round, a multi-punch combination from James briefly staggered his opponent. Lontop started to use his jab and kicks. About halfway through the round, Borshev landed an overhand punch, arguably one of the hardest in the bout. Lontop parried it and continued to move forward.
Viacheslav continued to use his footwork to evade attacks, and both fighters traded attacks with their feet. With one minute left in the round, Lontop started to attack and gain momentum. Borshev fought back and attempted a takedown with 30 seconds left, but missed. Lontop refused to attack, and both fighters went into the clinch. They both broke out of the clinch and got into striking range, with Borshev attempting a Rolling Thunder but missing, concluding a very exciting bout.
Official result: Viacheslav Borshev defeats James Loontop via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
