LAS VEGAS – Esteban Ribovics beat Daniel Zellhuber with a break up resolution Saturday on the primary card at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Have a look contained in the struggle with Ribovics, who picked up $50,000 for Combat of the Night time in a bout that might be talked about as a possible Combat of the 12 months three months from now.
Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (pink gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) throughout Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Necessary Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Photos
Consequence: Esteban Ribovics def. Daniel Zellhuber by way of break up resolution (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Up to date data: Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Zellhuber (15-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC)
Key stats: Ribovics and Zellhuber threw a mixed 653 punches in a struggle that was contested nearly fully at putting vary.
Ribovics on the struggle’s key second
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (pink gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) throughout Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Necessary Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Photos
“I’m very proud. All of the laborious work paid off. It was all value it. Bodily, I really feel like sh*t. I knew how laborious he was. I knew that he may take punches, and I additionally knew he was superb dodging the punches, going backwards. That’s why I didn’t rush ahead. However I may also take a punch, as you guys noticed. It was a tricky struggle and it was precisely as I as I envisioned.”
Ribovics on the potential to struggle Zellhuber once more
“Truthfully, all I knew was that I believed that the second spherical may go both manner. I knew I needed to exit full on within the third spherical and that’s what I did. That elbow knocked me down, however I managed to rise up and all I all I may assume was, ‘Maintain connecting palms. Maintain touchdown. I’ve obtained to maintain punching. Maintain going ahead.’
“It could be incredible and an honor to share the octagon with him once more. Possibly we are able to struggle once more sooner or later once we’re each stronger. I really like this type of struggle the place I take punches and I give punches. It could be a superb (rematch) for the long run.”
Ribovics on what he needs subsequent
Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Daniel Zellhuber of Mexico (pink gloves) fights Esteban Ribovics of Argentina (blue gloves) throughout Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Necessary Credit score: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Photos
“I really feel fairly dangerous proper now, so I’ve obtained to verify nothing’s damaged or something like that. So hopefully earlier than the top of the 12 months, early subsequent 12 months – however as I mentioned, I don’t really feel nice proper now. I’ve obtained to return, perhaps see how I really feel in a month’s time. I do need to be inside the high 15 rankings by the top of subsequent 12 months.”
To listen to extra from Ribovics, try the video of the complete post-fight interview above.
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