UFC Fight Night 86 Results: Moroz Defeats Stanciu By Decision

UFC Fight Night 86 is underway in Zagreb, Croatia, and has been chock full of great finishes on the preliminary card. Junior dos Santos and Ben Rothwell are poised to headline the card from Eastern Europe, but there’s some great fights to look forward to before that.

First up on the main card was a women’s strawweight collision between Maryna Moroz and Cristina Stanciu. It’s Romania vs. Ukraine with 11 wins and only one loss between them, vying for some head room in the ever growing 115-pound category. They touch up, Moroz stalking and Stanciu with very low hands. Stanciu with a karate kid kick and a barrage of punches. Moroz eats it well, but she has her back on the fence now. Stanciu pulls guard and locks in an arm-in guillotine, but Moroz escapes well. Now to an arm bar, and a knee bar, nice up kicks by Stanciu.

Great debut so far, but Stanciu needs to be careful not to gas against ‘Iron Lady.’ Hard ground and pound now from Moroz who finds top position, and they stand once again. Stanciu’s low left hand is begging for a right high kick, let’s see how this scrap goes. Takedown by Moroz, north south position now, and she switches to the back with a body lock. Very fluid movement from Moroz, and she probably stole the round 10-9. Round two is a go, Stanciu with her hands low again, but she looks a little tired. Body shots by Moroz now, and they trade head shots that connect flush.

Can’t help but think Moroz just has the bigger gas tank here, and she’s fighting a lot smarter. Stanciu winging shots here, Moroz remains composed, not a whole bunch of action as the round reaches the half way mark. Now they trade again, Stanciu looking a bit sharper in that exchange, she looks for the knee bar again after pulling guard again, but gives up her back to Moroz. Some angry European coaches are screaming right now, not sure who’s, but Moroz is blasting Stanciu with hard elbows here. They stand, Stanciu is breathing like she’s exhausted here, a sloppy kick illustrates that point. Moroz could finish this fight with how tired Stanciu looks, another 10-9 for Moroz.

Round three underway, Moroz should empty the tank here and look for the finish, but perhaps not, as Stanciu looks renewed possibly. Ref calling for action, that’s never a good thing, nice kick from Stanciu but she eats some punches. Stanciu kicks vs Moroz punches here and they are landing equally, now they trade big punches to the jaw. Huge right hand from Stanciu and they go to ground, the Romanian in top position. More angry coaches screaming and Moroz sinks in an armbar….Stanciu locks in a reverse triangle though and that looks very tight, Moroz escapes though and she still has the arm. Round over.

Maryna Moroz defeats Cristina Stanciu by unanimous decision.