A pair of fighters returning to the Contender Series kicked off the second week of Season 4 as Anthony Adams looked to rebound from his Season 2 loss, while Impa Kasanganay aimed for a second straight victory inside the UFC Apex in this week’s opener.
The diversity of Adams’ striking attack was on display in the opening round as the Muay Thai stylist fired off kicks to every level, slipped in clean punches and hunted for heavy knees up the middle while Kasanganay countered with a handful of heavy low kicks of his own and a collection of heavy hooks that never quite found a home.
Kasanganay came out with a greater sense of urgency to start the second, landing with low kicks and combinations in close while Adams looked to settle in. Though the 32-year-old Adams found some success with single shots and the knee he’d been hunting in the first, Kasanganay remained the aggressor, landing far more powerful shots throughout the middle stanza and punctuating the frame with a high impact double leg takedown in the center of the Octagon with 90 seconds remaining in the round, controlling Adams and landing knees to the body through to the horn.
Early in the third, Kasanganay connected up the middle with a front kick to the face, prompting Adams to try to chase down a takedown, only to have Kasanganay reverse position along the fence and secure a takedown himself. Once they hit the canvas, the unbeaten second-year fighter went to work, driving home right hands as Adams failed to navigate his way back up and got stuck in a defensive posture.
Though Adams got back to his feet, Kasanganay quickly put his back to the fence, connecting with an elbow before an errant knee brought the round to a halt momentarily. Adams took his full allotment of time, referee Mark Smith restarted them in a neutral position, but Kasanganay went right back on the offensive, closing the distance and putting Adams back on the canvas one more time before the final horn.
When the scores were tallied, the judges awarded Kasanganay his second straight unanimous decision victory on the Contender Series.
Official Result: Impa Kasanganay def. Anthony Adams by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
