Cathal Pendred moved to 4-0 in the UFC with victory over Augusto Montano at UFC 188 in Mexico City last night.
Pendred took home a unanimous points decision after making all the running in the welterweight fight, with each judge scoring the fight 29-28 in the Dubliner’s favour.
The win moves Pendred to 4-0 in the UFC, and the convincing result will come as a huge relief following the controversy which surrounded his highly-contested win over Sean Spencer last time out.
The 27-year-old controlled the fight against hometown fighter Montano, who failed to offer any offence of substance and at one point had to be warned by referee Herb Dean for his lack of intent.
Pendred said he had expected more of a contest but is now hoping to be rewarded with some bigger fights in the octagon.
He said: “It wasn’t the fight I expected at all. I had watched tape of his last few fights and he seemed like a more aggressive fighter.
“It was frustrating to not be able to give the fans a better show, but he wasn’t engaging me. Maybe he was showing me respect – I’m not sure.
“I came out to Mexico six weeks prior to this fight and put a lot of time and money into this camp, so getting a win was very important. I’m 4-0 now in the UFC and I definitely want a step up in competition – someone who will meet me in the middle of the octagon.”