Iuri Alcantara pulls off incredible comeback to submit Luke Sanders at UFC 209
LAS VEGAS — Iuri Alcantara snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday night while handing Luke Sanders the first loss of his professional career.
While Alcantara was ranked No. 15 in the bantamweight division coming into the night, Sanders took control of the bout in the opening round after taking the Brazilian to the mat.
Once Sanders had the fight on the ground, he unloaded a barrage of punches that absolutely battered Alcantara for the better part of the round.
The biggest mistake came from Sanders with time running out in round one when he threw a knee to the head that clipped Alcantara while he still had a knee on the ground. Referee Mark Goddard immediately paused the fight and took a point away from Sanders for the infraction.
As the second round got underway, Sanders started to unleash the same exact game plan so it seemed like only a matter of time before Alcantara could no longer survive.
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The momentum shifted after the two fighters got locked in a scramble on the ground that ended with Alcantara grabbing onto Sanders' leg and rolling to his belly.
With the leg extended out and Alcantara's back starting to arch, Sanders had no choice but to tap out or risk serious injury to his knee in that dangerous position.
The stoppage came at 3:13 of the opening round as Alcantara picks up a huge comeback victory to earn his second win in a row after submitting Brad Pickett last October at UFC 204 in England.
