VIDEO: Axel Sola Brutally Punishes Ismael Bonfim Before Stunning Round 1 Submission Finish At UFC Abu DhabiAxel Sola
Axel Sola made sure there was no need for the judges this time.
The French lightweight delivered one of the most impressive finishes of the UFC Abu Dhabi preliminary card, submitting Ismael Bonfim with a first-round D’Arce choke after overwhelming him with relentless pressure and vicious elbows.
Sola opened the bout with heavy body kicks before Bonfim looked to close the distance and initiate a takedown. Instead of conceding position, the Frenchman punished every entry with crushing downward elbows, repeatedly connecting to the side of Bonfim’s head while defending the wrestling attempts. The damage quickly mounted as Bonfim remained committed to the single-leg, allowing Sola to dictate the exchanges.
A barrage of elbows eventually sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. Smelling the finish, Axel Sola briefly threatened with an anaconda choke before smoothly transitioning as Bonfim desperately scrambled to escape. The Frenchman stayed one step ahead, securing a tight D’Arce choke that forced the tap with just 16 seconds remaining in the opening round.
The emphatic victory marked a strong response after Sola’s Fight of the Night defeat to Mason Jones at UFC London. He improved to 12-1-1 as a professional and 2-1 inside the Octagon, while handing Bonfim another setback after the Brazilian entered the contest having lost three of his previous four UFC appearances.
