Wiman outlasts Vallie-Flagg to clinch a Unanimous Decision Victory at UFC Fight Night 57

by Ben Heather @benheather

The main card for UFC Fight Night 57 opened up with a very closely contested lightweight battle as Matt Wiman returned to action for the first time in two years.

Most of the action in the first round happens as Vallie-Flagg holds Wiman against the cage however it's Wiman who is working his strikes with his back against the cage. Then both men are looking to find the openings and everytime they do they land some big elbows. It's a very close first round until four minutes in when the fight moves to the centre of the cage however it doesn't take long to return to the clinch against the cage. The round ends with Wiman looking for the armbar finish pulling an amazing transition to lock the arm but can't extend it to finish the fight.

Vallie-Flagg gets the clinch again as round two opens up exactly how the first round started. Both men are looking to throw as many elbows and punches in the clinch and mixing in some good knees to constantly keep the opponent guessing. Vallie-Flagg goes for a takedown but Wiman manages to switch it up and jumps on the back as he looks for the Rear Naked Choke but nothing comes from it.

Vallie-Flagg doesn't look like he has much left in the tank by the end of the round and I expect the pace to slow down in the third.

Wiman controls the early exchanges in the clinch making sure he keeps his back off the cage at all times but not much action happens and the ref splits them up. It doesn't take long before Wiman is contolling Vallie-Flagg against the cage again and this time Wiman gets him down and takes his back where he stays until the end of the fight doing enough to stay active without really troubling Vallie-Flagg.

Wiman clearly won the third round but the first two were very close, however the judges gave the fight to Wiman who picks up a win after being inactive for nearly two years. Hopefully we will see him back in the Octagon sooner than that now. For Vallie-Flagg this will be another tough loss for him.

Official Decision: Matt Wiman defeats Isaac Vallie-Flagg by Unanimous Decision 29-28, 30-27, 30-27

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