UFC 251: Bantamweight Jack Shore defeats Aaron Phillips at Fight Island
- Published
Jack Shore has been described as the 'hottest prospect out of the UK' by UFC president Dana White
Welsh bantamweight Jack Shore made it two wins from two in UFC, with a second round win over America's Aaron Phillips at Fight Island.
Former Cage Warriors world champion Shore won by submission, his opponent unable to escape a rear choke hold.
There was disappointment for fellow Welshman John Phillips in Abu Dhabi.
The Swansea middleweight was beaten by second round submission to Sweden's Khamzat Chimaev.
Both fighters had originally been due to face different opponents at the Emirates venue.
Shore, 25, had been due to fight Anderson dos Santos, but the Brazilian withdrew following a positive Covid-19 test.
His trainer, and father, Richard Shore was pleased with the victory after what he described as a "tough couple of weeks" which included time in isolation and regular coronavirus testing in Abu Dhabi.
"It pretty much went to plan," Richard Shore told BBC Sport Wales. "We'd managed to have a look at this lad before we flew out.
"We just felt that Jack would have enough of a dominant pressure if he did get on top in the first round to wear him down and we were looking for a second or third round finish."
Chimaev was drafted in to face 35-year-old Phillips after the withdrawal of Serbian Dusko Todorovic.
Swansea bantamweight Brett Johns will be the final Welshman to compete when he faces American Montel Jackson on Sunday, 19 July.
Yas Island has been transformed into a closed-off fight zone to stage four UFC events in July.
It comprises a safety zone including an arena, hotel, training facilities and a restaurant which is only open to fighters, coaches, UFC staff and other event personnel.
There are more than 2,500 UFC personnel and Yas Island employees staying within the zone, with all local staff having been in quarantine for 14 days.