By TXMMA Staff // Photos: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Keller native Chas Skelly scores his third straight UFC win at UFC Fight Night 60
BROOMFIELD, CO – With a successful performance this past weekend at UFC Fight Night – Henderson vs. Thatch (UFC FN 60), Dallas-Fort Worth’s Chas “The Scrapper” Skelly has now won three UFC fights in a row. This time it was Orlando, FL native Jim Alers who had the unfortunate pleasure of taking on the Team Takedown trained fighter. Alers walked into the cage with a 13-1 record before he fell at the hands of the 29 year old Texan in their featherweight bout.
It was a strong start for Skelly as he came out aggressively with some power strikes before the bout hit the floor. The pair traded leg locks submission attempts before getting back on their feet and trading shots for the rest of the first round – a close one that went to Skelly.
The finish would come in the second round. Both men landed some hard shots but Skelly would edge it out with a barrage of overhand rights that had his opponent on the defense. Sensing weakness, Chas would follow up with a barrage of strikes that dropped Elers. He’d then follow up with an uppercut and a big knee that forced the stoppage at the 4:59 mark of the round to record the TKO finish with only one second left in the round.
“I felt like I came out and did what I wanted to do,” Skelly mentioned following the bout. “I struck with him, outstruck him, hurt him a few times and got the finish. I was a little tired there toward the end, but I wanted to end the round strong and give him something to think about heading into the third. So I pushed the pace, got a flurry going and threw the uppercut. I’m really excited to go out there and get a finish like that.”
With the victory Chas Skelly continues steadily climbing the featherweight division ladder and should expect some higher profile fights from here on out.
Benson Henderson moves up in weight; dispatches top prospect Brandon Thatch by submission
It was a risky play for Henderson to move up in weight to face Thatch following 2 losses in a row to Donald Cerrone and #1 contender Rafael Dos Anjos. Facing the prospects of 3 losses in a row, Henderson looked 2 weight classes smaller than Thatch but used his agility and speed to strike from a distance and time his attacks for the first few rounds. It was in the so-called championship rounds where his experience really shined as he was able to score the RNC finish in the fourth.
Time will tell whether Benson Henderson stays at 170. He hinted more at going back to the lightweight division at the post-fight presser but it remains to be seen where and when he will compete next.
Check out the complete results from UFC Fight Night 60 below to catch the rest of last Saturday night’s winners.
UFC Fight Night 60 – Main Card Results (FOX Sports 1)
- Benson Henderson def. Brandon Thatch via submission (rear-naked choke) (4th, 3:58)
- Max Holloway def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Neil Magny def. Kiichi Kunimoto via submission (rear-naked choke) (3rd, 1:22)
- Dan Kelly def. Patrick Walsh via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Kevin Lee def. Michael Prazeres via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
- Ray Borg def. Chris Kelades via submission (kimura) (3rd, 2:56)
UFC Fight Night 60 – Undercard Results (FOX Sports 1)
- Efrain Escudero def. Rodrigo de Lima via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
- Chas Skelly def. Jim Alers via second-round TKO (4:59)
- Zach Makovsky def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- James Moontasri def. Cody Pfister via submission (rear-naked choke) (2nd, 1:49)