Zhang Lipeng takes decision win over Brendan O’Reilly at UFC Fight Night 48

Making his UFC debut on Saturday night, Australian fighter Brendan O’Reilly (pictured) was unable to bring home the win, losing a unanimous decision to Chinese fighter Zhang Lipeng.

UFC Fight Night 48: Bisping vs Le took place at the Cotai Arena in Macau, China with the main card broadcast on Fuel TV.

O’Reilly was in the contest early and forced the early takedown against the cage. His opponent scrambled and the Aussie ended up on his back as Lipeng landed some ground-and-pound. O’Reilly reversed late in the round and was able to connect with some late strikes.

The second round swung completely in Lipeng’s favour though as the TUF China winner took the fight to the ground before taking the back of O’Reilly and locking up the body-triangle in the process. O’Reilly successfully defended the submission attempts from the chinese fighter to see out the round.

A cut quickly opened up on O’Reilly’s lip in the third round as Lipeng again forced the fight to the canvas, where the 24 year-old fighter took the back once again. O’Reilly struggled to escape and was left to land elbows to his opponents thighs and short strikes behind him.

The judges decision was unanimous as Lipeng took home the decision 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27.

It was the second straight win inside the UFC for Lipeng after he won The Ultimate Fighter China season finale back in March. It takes his professional record to 7-7-1dr. A former TUF nations competitor, O’Reilly drops to 5-1 in what was his first official career loss.

In the main event, Cung Le put on a spirited performance after taking some early punishment, but ultimately was stopped with a knee and punches in the fourth round by Michael Bisping. In the semi-main event, Tyron Woodley further put himself on notice in the welterweight division with an impressive 61-second victory over Dong Hyun-Kim.

Main Card Results:

• Michael Bisping def Cung Le via TKO (Knee & Punches), Rd 4, 0:57 
• Tyron Woodley def Dong Hyun-Kim via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 1:01
• Zhang Lipeng def Brendan O’Reilly via Decision (Unanimous)
• Ning Guangyou def Yang Jianping via Decision (Unanimous) – TUF China featherweight final

Preliminary Card Results: 

• Wang Sai def Danny Mitchell via Decision (Unanimous)
• Alberto Mina def Shinsho Anzai via TKO (Punches), Rd 1, 4:17
• Yuta Sasaki def Roland Delorme via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Rd 1, 1:06
• Colby Covington def Wang Anying via Submission (Strikes), Rd 1, 4:50
• Royston Wee def Yao Zhuikio via Decision (Split)
• Milana Dudieva def Elizabeth Phillips via Decision (Split)

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