Tonight in San Antonio, O’Shaquie Foster secured his inaugural world title by defeating Rey Vargas via unanimous decision for the previously vacant WBC junior lightweight (130 lbs) championship.
The judges’ scorecards read 116-112, 117-111, and 119-109 in favor of Foster, who entered the bout as a slight underdog according to sportsbook odds. Bad Left Hook scored it 118-110, with two separate unofficial scorecards echoing the same sentiment.
With a record of 20-2, including 11 knockouts, Foster has now notched his tenth consecutive victory since his second loss in 2016, a juncture in his career where doubts loomed regarding his potential to ascend beyond the “ShoBox level.” However, through perseverance and determination, he has not only rejuvenated his career but has also become the 88th fighter to transition from ShoBox to claim a world championship.
Reflecting on his triumph, Foster attributed his success to dedication, hard work, and the support of his exceptional team. “I’ve got a great team around me, and just getting away from the distractions, getting myself mentally and physically right, and now I’m on top, man. It’s crazy,” he expressed post-victory.
Despite conceding height to Vargas (36-1, 22 KO), as is customary for most opponents facing him, Foster’s ability to negate Vargas’ reach advantage at 130 lbs proved pivotal. Unlike at 122 and in his lone bout at 126, Vargas found himself unable to dictate the distance, significantly impacting the dynamics of the fight. Foster’s jabbing prowess was evident, landing 57 jabs compared to Vargas’ 35, with a higher accuracy rate of 17 percent to 12 percent.
In total, Foster connected with 144 of 625 punches (23%) and 87 of 286 power shots (30%), effectively pressuring Vargas throughout the contest. Conversely, Vargas’ power, which has historically lacked potency at higher levels despite a respectable knockout percentage, failed to pose a threat, ultimately contributing to Foster’s decisive victory.
Chael Sonnen talks Suga Sean vs Chito Vera on this episode of Beyond the Fight
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『UFC 299: O'Malley vs. Vera 2』前日計量結果。メインカードは全員パス。アーリープレリミナリーカードでC.J.ヴェルガラが127ポンドと1ポンドオーバー。出場給の30%を譲渡し試合は行われます。
#UFC299 predictions 🗳️🥊〓〓: Check out our picks for Sean O'Malley vs. Marlon Vera, Dustin Poirier vs. Benoit Saint-Denis, the UFC debut of Michael Page and more in Miami https://t.co/OY59U2FL8O