Mitch Raposo apparently didn’t get the memo that Marcos Degli was supposed to be the next big thing. At UFC Vegas 124, Raposo welcomed the undefeated prospect to the cage with three rounds of pressure, movement, and heavy punches.
Even a nasty cut that left blood running down his chest couldn’t stop Raposo from bringing the fight. When the dust settled, Raposo walked away with the victory and snapped Degli’s double digit winning streak. Not a bad night for a guy who spent the final round looking like he’d just survived a horror movie.
Round 1 – Raposo came out moving like he always does, refusing to give his opponent a stationary target. He immediately attacked the legs and body with kicks while Degli looked to establish his jab.
Degli connected with a solid right hand, but Raposo quickly answered with a sharp one-two combination. Degli followed with a left hand to the body before Raposo fired back with a clean overhand right.
Early on, Raposo appeared a step ahead of the debuting Degli. He controlled the distance, mixed up his attacks, and looked to make the newcomer uncomfortable under the bright UFC lights.
However, Degli started finding his rhythm around the halfway point of the round. His speed became more noticeable as he began putting together quicker attacks and finding opportunities to counter.
Meanwhile, Raposo continued hunting for that powerful overhand right. He started using his jab to set up the punch, hoping to catch Degli coming forward.
Degli clearly wasn’t interested in standing around and waiting for that right hand to land. Instead, he changed levels and shot for a takedown, forcing Raposo to defend.
Although Raposo stuffed the initial attempt, Degli continued driving forward and pushed him against the fence. Raposo eventually created separation with a strong shove and returned to striking range.
Once back in the open, Raposo immediately went back to work. He connected with a left hook before following up with another leg kick, keeping the pressure on Degli.
Round 2 – Raposo picked up right where he left off, immediately increasing his aggression to keep Degli on the defensive. Degli needed to start moving forward and establishing his own offense, but Raposo wasn’t making that easy.
Raposo continued controlling the exchanges with effective feints that kept Degli guessing and hesitant to throw. Every time Degli looked ready to engage, Raposo threatened him with another powerful overhand right.
Meanwhile, Raposo started mixing up his targets, throwing his right hand upstairs before digging shots into the body. His constant movement and varied attacks made it difficult for Degli to find any offensive rhythm.
However, Degli eventually decided he’d had enough of fighting off his back foot. He began pressing forward, forcing Raposo to circle away and search for opportunities to reset.
As Raposo moved laterally to escape the pressure, Degli connected with a clean left hook to the body. It was a much-needed moment of offense for Degli, who finally started making Raposo react instead of dictate the action.
Round 3 – Degli came out firing in the final round, opening a cut on the left side of Raposo’s head. Blood quickly started trickling down Raposo’s chest, making the damage impossible to miss on the broadcast.
However, Raposo wasn’t about to let a little blood slow him down. Instead, he started throwing with even more power, desperately searching for a shot that could swing the momentum back his way.
Meanwhile, Degli began attacking the legs, hoping to slow Raposo’s relentless movement and take away some of his explosiveness. Unfortunately for Degli, Raposo had absolutely no interest in slowing down. The man was on a mission, and apparently nobody told him he was supposed to be tired.
Still, the optics weren’t doing Raposo any favors. Blood continued pouring from his cut while Degli looked relatively untouched on the other side of the Octagon.
With the fight hanging in the balance, Raposo repeatedly launched overhand rights, hoping one would finally find its target. However, Degli used his quickness and footwork to avoid becoming a stationary target.
Degli eventually connected with a clean left hook before slipping out of the way of Raposo’s return fire. His increased activity started paying off as he took advantage of Raposo’s visible damage.
More importantly, Degli understood that effective damage carries significant weight on the judges’ scorecards. He continued pressing the action, looking to make a lasting impression before the final horn.
With just 10 seconds remaining, Degli shot for one final takedown to close out the fight. However, Raposo reversed the attempt before the horn sounded, bringing a competitive three-round battle to an end.
Mitch Raposo got the nod snapping Degli’s double-digit win streak.
Official Result: Mitch Raposo def. Marcos Degli via Unanimous Decision (29-28×3)