Axel Sola defeated Ismael Bonfim by submission in the first round at UFC Fight Night on Saturday. The bout took place at Etihad Arena as part of the UFC Abu Dhabi card.
Sola locked in a D’Arce choke at 4:44 of Round 1. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight after Bonfim went limp from the hold. Sola improved his professional record to 12-1-1. Bonfim fell to 20-7.
The fight opened the preliminary portion of the event. Sola, a French lightweight, defended early takedown attempts from Bonfim. He then took Bonfim’s back and applied the choke without needing to hook a leg. Bonfim, a Brazilian fighter, had limited success with strikes before the submission ended the contest.
The card was headlined by Magomed Ankalaev against Bogdan Guskov. Sola entered the matchup coming off a previous loss. His win marked a return to the win column in the UFC lightweight division. Bonfim entered with a recent string of setbacks in the organization.
Sola stands 6 feet tall with a 74 inch reach. Bonfim is listed at 5 foot 8. The French fighter used his size and ground control to finish the fight. The Etihad Arena hosted the full slate of bouts under the UFC Fight Night banner.
Sola’s previous professional wins included multiple knockouts and one earlier submission. This first round finish added to his list of stoppages. Bonfim’s record showed prior experience in the lightweight division with a mix of wins and losses inside the Octagon.
The event continued with additional preliminary and main card fights after the Sola-Bonfim result. Officials recorded the time and method as a submission via D’Arce choke in Round 1. Both fighters competed at the 155 pound weight class for the matchup.