NEW YORK – Matt Frevola and Ottman Azaitar finally got to fight Saturday and after years of anticipation, it ended quickly.
In a UFC 281 preliminary card bout, Frevola (10-3-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) knocked out Azaitar (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) with a brutal three-punch combination that ended the fight at 2:30 of Round 1.
THE STEAMROLLA LIVED UP TO HIS NAME 👊 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/sqp1zvq4HU
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 13, 2022
The matchup between Frevola and Azaitar was originally scheduled for UFC 257 in January 2021. It was canceled when Azaitar was caught by UFC staff sneaking a person and items into the then-COVID-19 bubble. UFC president Dana White said Azaitar would be cut, but later changed his mind.
Frevola becomes the first man to defeat Azaitar and he does so on the first fight of a new multifight UFC contract. Frevola turns a standalone knockout win over Genaro Valdez into a two-fight winning streak.
The up-to-the-minute UFC 281 results include:
- Matt Frevola def. Ottman Azaitar via knockout (punch) – Round 1, 2:30
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz def. Silvana Gomez Juarez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michael Trizano def. Seungwoo Choi via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 4:51
- Montel Jackson def. Julio Arce via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-29)
- Carlos Ulberg def. Nicolae Negumereanu via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 3:44
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 281.
