SAN JOSE, Calif. - For one brief moment Saturday afternoon, it looked like the "Detroit Superstar" was going to add another highlight-reel finish to his resume.
Daron Cruickshank dropped Jorge Masvidal with a huge right hand to the jaw early in the first round of their UFC on FOX 12 lightweight fight at the SAP Center.
Rather than go for the finish, the Michigan native let Masvidal get back to his feet, and soon thereafter, took over control of the fight.
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Masvidal controlled the final two rounds and scored a unanimous decision. It was his fifth win in his past six fights. The judges' scorecards read 29-28, 29-28, and 29-27.
After Cruickshank, who won his previous two fights via spectacular knockouts, couldn't follow up on his knockdown, Masvidal (26-9) began to close the distance and land with power and precision in close. That wasn't quite enough to steal the first round, but it was clear by round's end that the tide was turning.
In the second, Masvidal's ground game took over. It was more of the same in round three, and while Cruickshank managed to get back to his feet for a brief moment, Masvidal got right back into control, as the American Top Team fighter cruised to the win.
Cruickshank (15-5) is 2-2 in his past four fights.