Jai Opetaia Retains Ring Belt, Wins Zuffa Cruiserweight Title

Opetaia controls range behind the jab and straight left to retain The Ring belt and win the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title

Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23 KOs) defeated Brandon Glanton (21-4, 18 KOs) by unanimous decision over 12 rounds to retain The Ring cruiserweight championship and claim the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. All three judges scored the fight 119-106.

Opetaia started with the jab, stepped around Glanton’s pressure, and placed the straight left through the guard whenever the American tried to close range. Glanton pressed forward but struggled to land clean as Opetaia kept him moving.

By the third round Opetaia had found his rhythm. He worked behind the jab, drove the straight left through the middle, and slipped sharp uppercuts inside whenever Glanton stepped into range. Short hooks followed as he set his feet and let the combinations go.

Glanton pushed forward in the fifth, trying to force exchanges at close quarters. Opetaia stood his ground, ripped combinations, and mixed in body shots before stepping off and returning to range.

Glanton was penalized for holding in the sixth as Opetaia’s steady pressure and accuracy began to build. Two rounds later the American lost another point for a low blow.

Despite the deductions, Glanton kept coming forward and tried to force heavy exchanges. Opetaia answered with measured footwork and counters, maintaining control of the fight through clean straight shots and combinations.

Through the championship rounds Opetaia maintained command of the distance. He dug to the body, and drove the straight left down the middle, throwing uppercuts through the guard whenever Glanton stepped inside.

In the final round Opetaia punctuated the performance with a straight left that briefly froze Glanton in the closing minute. Glanton held his ground and heard the final bell, but the decision was never in doubt.

“It was a war. I knew Brandon was going to bring it. He was tough as nails,” said Opetaia.

Though Opetaia was unable to win by knockout, he won nearly every round.

“I’ve been stripped once before I will get stripped again,” said Opetaia who added that he awaits the winner in May between David Benavidez and Gilbert Ramirez.

“I’ve been chasing unification fights for a very long time. I’ve got three belts, let’s get it on.”

Opetaia landed 250 punches to Glanton’s 118 across the twelve rounds. The victory kept his undefeated record intact and added the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight title to his collection alongside The Ring championship.

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