Aleksandra Albu vs. Konklak Suphisara

Round 1
We next go from the highest weight class in the promotion to the lowest, dropping down to strawweight between a pair of 3-1 prospects in Russian Albu (3-1, 2-1 UFC) and Thailand's Suphisara (3-1, 0-0 UFC) -- with the latter more commonly referred to as "Loma Lookboonmee." Serving as the referee is Daniel Movahedi. The two women touch gloves, and Suphisara starts up with a kick right up top. The two women clash together, and the Thai immediately raises up a knee in instinct. A few powerful knees come up for Suphisara, but Albu slams an elbow right on the chin to her opponent and in while swinging, tears Suphisara's shirt. Albu holds on tight to Suphisara's shirt, and she pulls on it as the referee stops the action and gives "Stitch" a stern warning. When the action begins again, Albu leads forward with a few punches and a head kick, causing Suphisara to bounce off the cage. Suphisara fires a teep kick that backs off Albu, and Albu tries to gather herself and then bull rushes her opponent, but misses with her strikes. Clinched back up again, the Thai stings Albu with an elbow and dumps her to the canvas, and then backs away. When they crash together again, they trade elbows, and a teep kick catches Albu right on the chin. Albu shakes it off and leaps forward with a right hand, but the Thai ducks out of the way. Albu continues to grab her opponent's clothing, but the referee does not notice. They separate and trade leather some more, and after a few exchanges, Albu starts leaking from her nose. Any time Albu tries to clinch up, Suphisara is ready with a knee or elbow to halt the aggression of her opponent. Albu comes in again, gets warned for grabbing her opponent's shirt, and takes a few fierce knees to the midsection. "Loma Lookboonmee" digs in one final knee as the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara

Round 2
Before the second stanza begins, Movahedi again warns Albu about grabbing clothing. Suphisara has discarded that loose and torn top, and we begin the action again. Albu tries to charge in to attack, and Suphisara is ready to counter. As they clinch up, this time Albu surprises her opponent by pulling guard, and as she falls to her back, she pursues an ankle lock, but Suphisara rolls out and the two stand back up. Although they keep their distance for a moment, they come together once more as they trade elbows, but Suphisara gets the better of these Muay Thai exchanges. When Albu tries to come at her again, Suphisara is ready with a counter leg kick and a few knees. Albu still closes the distance to try to grab hold of Suphisara, but the Thai is prepared for the aggression, using her opponent's momentum against her as she dumps Albu to the canvas again. "Stitch" springs back to her feet, and lands a stern right hand across the bow. Clinched up against the fence, Suphisara tries to fire some knees, but it is Albu landing heavy punches in the form of a few powerful hooks. "Loma Lookboonmee" returns fire with a strike that bloodies up the nose of her opponent more, and she uses the angle to dump Albu down once more. As Suphisara walks away, Albu gets back up and walks her fighter down, but Suphisara stings her with a right. Jockeying for position in the middle of the cage, the two women trade knees until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara

Round 3
Between rounds, Albu might have had her thumb readjusted, as it could have popped out of joint during the last period. The final round begins, and Albu stalks down Suphisara with punches early on. Albu then jumps in the air with a switch kick, and partially lands on the Thai. Suphisara backs away and scores a teep kick straight to the midsection, but Albu prefers to crowd her adversary into the clinch. Suphisara does not mind, and cracks the Russian with an elbow, forcing Albu to back away. The two go back and forth in the clinch, and Suphisara sits down with a left hook that jostles the mouthpiece of Albu. She resets it and walks Suphisara down, but the Thai again is ready with knees. On the break, "Loma Lookboonmee" scores with another powerful elbow, and as Albu wings punches, Suphisara dodges and weaves to avoid any harm. The knees and elbows continue to land for Suphisara in the clinch, and as they break apart, Suphisara tags Albu with a teep kick up the middle before tossing Albu to the cage floor. In the traditional Muay Thai style, Suphisara walks away after tossing her opponent down instead of following her down to the ground, so Albu jumps back up and tries to fire back. As Albu clinches to land strikes, Suphisara brings up more knees that force a break. Suphisara lands another sharp teep, so Albu runs toward her adversary to clinch and land strikes. Surprisingly, Albu hits an unusual scissor sweep to put the Thai on her back, and with 10 seconds left, Albu tries to drop down heavy punches. Suphisara survives the attack, and the fight is now in the hands of the judges.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara (30-27 Suphisara)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara (30-27 Suphisara)
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-9 Suphisara (30-27 Suphisara)

The Official Result
Konklak Suphisara def. Aleksandra Albu via Split Decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)