UFC Perth commenced with an impressive early morning performance by a rising star. As UFC 320 approaches, Western Australia hosted a significant Fight Night event. The card, initially set for 12 bouts but reduced due to cancellations, featured a light heavyweight headliner between Carlos Ulberg and Dominick Reyes, a potential title eliminator. The preliminary fights for UFC Perth kicked off at 7 AM local time, showcasing action in the UFC`s lightest weight classes for Australian enthusiasts.
Alexia Thainara`s Dominant Victory Over Loma Lookboonmee
Alexia Thainara delivered a dominant performance, likely earning her a spot in the rankings soon. The promising Brazilian fighter faced #14-ranked women’s strawweight Loma Lookboonmee at the event`s opening. This marked Thainara’s second UFC appearance, following her debut earlier this year at UFC London where she submitted Molly McCann. Throughout three rounds, Thainara effortlessly executed five takedowns, accumulating an impressive ten minutes of control time. Her tenacious effort saw her end Lookboonmee’s four-fight win streak. Thainara showcased a versatile skillset, including effective trips, ground and pound, 12-6 elbows, and even a `can opener` submission attempt in the first round. Despite Lookboonmee`s resilience in going the distance, all three judges awarded the victory to Thainara, extending her formidable winning streak to eleven fights.
UFC Champion Merab Dvalishvili Praises Thainara`s Skills
UFC Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili was notably impressed by Thainara’s display. While this marked Lookboonmee`s tenth UFC bout, Thainara, in only her second UFC fight, appeared to operate on an entirely different competitive level. Dvalishvili expressed his admiration on X, stating:
“I am very impressed how @Alle_Thainara using her wrestling and fight IQ against [experienced] fighter Loma.”
This commendation holds significant weight, coming from Dvalishvili, who is currently ranked #3 pound-for-pound globally.
Neville Whittle 
Jack Thornley