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Mitch Raposo apparently didn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n
Even a nasty cut that left blood running down his chest couldn\u2019t stop Raposo from bringing the fight. When the dust settled, Raposo walked away with the victory and snapped Degli\u2019s double digit winning streak. Not a bad night for a guy who spent the final round looking like he\u2019d just survived a horror movie.<\/p>\n
Round 1<\/strong> \u2013 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Degli clearly wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Round 2<\/strong> \u2013 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\u2019t making that easy.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n However, Degli eventually decided he\u2019d had enough of fighting off his back foot. He began pressing forward, forcing Raposo to circle away and search for opportunities to reset.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Round 3<\/strong> \u2013 Degli came out firing in the final round, opening a cut on the left side of Raposo\u2019s head. Blood quickly started trickling down Raposo\u2019s chest, making the damage impossible to miss on the broadcast.<\/p>\n However, Raposo wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Degli began attacking the legs, hoping to slow Raposo\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Still, the optics weren\u2019t doing Raposo any favors. Blood continued pouring from his cut while Degli looked relatively untouched on the other side of the Octagon.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Degli eventually connected with a clean left hook before slipping out of the way of Raposo\u2019s return fire. His increased activity started paying off as he took advantage of Raposo\u2019s visible damage.<\/p>\n More importantly, Degli understood that effective damage carries significant weight on the judges\u2019 scorecards. He continued pressing the action, looking to make a lasting impression before the final horn.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Mitch Raposo got the nod snapping Degli\u2019s double-digit win streak.<\/p>\n