Nigeria’s Kennedy Nzechukwu was left frustrated at UFC Vegas 112 after a crucial point deduction proved decisive in what ultimately ended as a draw against Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida.
The heavyweight clash, held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, delivered a chaotic and entertaining contest of striking versus grappling, with both fighters enjoying moments of dominance.
However, an accidental eye poke in the second round swung the scorecards and denied Nzechukwu what could have been a hard-earned victory.
Nzechukwu entered the bout seeking redemption following a submission loss to Valter Walker in July.
Determined to reassert himself in the heavyweight division, the Nigerian striker started strongly, showcasing improved takedown defence and heavy power on the feet.
Buchecha, a decorated grappling specialist making just his second UFC appearance, repeatedly hunted for takedowns, testing Nzechukwu’s balance and composure.
The opening round saw Buchecha secure multiple takedowns and briefly threaten with submissions, but Nzechukwu consistently worked his way back to his feet.
In the closing moments of the round, the Nigerian landed a barrage of powerful strikes that dropped Buchecha, swinging momentum firmly in his favour.
Early in round two, the contest took a controversial turn. As Nzechukwu advanced with extended fingers, Buchecha leaned into range and was caught by a clear eye poke.
Referee Herb Dean halted the action and, after reviewing the incident, deducted one point from Nzechukwu before allowing the fight to continue.
The deduction proved costly. Although Nzechukwu continued to land clean shots on the feet,
Buchecha responded with takedowns and enjoyed extended periods of top control, including a late armbar attempt that ran out of time.
In the final round, Buchecha again relied on his grappling, dragging Nzechukwu to the mat and taking his back for long stretches.
Nzechukwu showed resilience, defending submissions, returning to his feet, and finishing the round on top while landing elbows.
When the scorecards were read, all three judges scored the bout 28–28, resulting in a unanimous draw. Without the second-round point deduction, Nzechukwu would likely have edged the contest on the cards.
For Nzechukwu, the result was a bitter pill to swallow, as a momentary lapse ultimately overshadowed an otherwise strong performance and cost him a valuable win on the UFC stage.
