Fairfax, Va. -- The Jersey Devil was just good enough.
Englewood, N.J.'s Nick Catone kicked off at UFC Fight Night 20 on Monday here at the Patriot Center with a split-decision victory over Jesse Forbes.
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Jersey Devil Catone beats Forbes
Catone (8-2) broke a two-fight losing streak and evened his UFC mark to 2-2. Catone earned a pair of 29-28 nods, while Forbes won by the same score with another judge.
"I'm coming off two tough losses," Catone said. "It feels great to get the win and get this monkey off my back."
Forbes (11-4) had an edge in the first round. The southpaw bloodied Catone's nose early and stuffed his takedown attemps while getting the best of the standup. Catone came on in the final minute, aided perhaps by a low blow.
Catone slightly turned the tide in his favor over the first two minutes of Round Two, landing a big right hand. Forbes, bleeding from behind the right ear, continued to cut off the cage as his corner pleaded with him to throw his effective jab. Rather than looking for combinations, both fighters were content to engage only when the other tried first. The final 30 seconds featured a clinch and more close-in hands in an even round.
"Jesse was stuffing my shots in the first two rounds, but I felt like I was able to get into the groove in the third round," Catone said. "I didn't work a lot of grappling for this fight so it took me a while to get going."
Heading into the third round, neither fighter figured to have a distinct advantage with the judges.
Both came out aggressive, trying to throw punch-kick or punch-knee combinations. Catone scored the match's first takedown with 4:06 remaining, but Forbes was able to get him into his guard. Catone tried to ground and pound Forbes, who was given an advantage with an early break back to the feet, to the dismay of the crowd.
Catone powered through for another takedown, into side control against the fence, with 2:36 left. Forbes fought back to the feet about 20 seconds later. Forbes could not get anything going thereafter, although he stopped Catone from taking him down.
Catone's takedowns made the difference.
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