Burns routs Woodley

Gilbert Burns dominated former UFC welterweight champion Tyron

Woodley to win a unanimous decision Saturday night in the mixed martial arts promotion’s return to Las Vegas. Brazilian heavyweight Augusto Sakai employed some unpunished gamesmanship to eke out a split-decision victory over Bulgaria’s Blagoy

Ivanov in the penultimate bout of the UFC’s first show in its hometown since the coronavirus pandemic began. The event was held without fans at the UFC Apex, a gym with broadcast facilities on the promotion’s corporate campus. The UFC used minimal personnel to stage the fight, and the promotion said everyone involved was subject to strict health and safety protocols. Burns (193) dominated on his feet and on the ground, finishing his first main-event bout with his sixth consecutive victory since July 2018. The Florida-based Brazilian soundly defeated one of the most accomplished welterweights in UFC history and made his case for a shot at champion Kamaru Usman in the crowded 170-pound division. The judges all gave all five rounds to Burns, scoring it 50-45, 50-44 and 50-44. Burns came out with furious energy against Woodley, dropping the ex-champ in the opening seconds and gaining full mount. A gaping cut opened in Woodley’s left eyebrow in the opening minutes, and Burns again overcame Woodley’s famously strong takedown defense to drop Woodley again in the second round. Sakai (15-1-1) remained unbeaten in the UFC with his fourth consecutive victory when two judges favored him 29-28 after a lively bout with Ivanov (18-4), who was up 30-27 on the third judge’s card. Sakai escaped punishment from referee Jason Herzog in the third round when he blatantly grabbed the chain-link wall of the cage while attempting to avoid a takedown attempt.