In a nail-biting contest, Serhiy Sidey defeated Garrett Armfield by split decision at UFC Edmonton on Saturday night. The bantamweight clash kept fans on the edge of their seats for all three rounds.

Sidey, fighting in his home province of Ontario, started strong in the first round. He landed several front kicks and a head kick that rocked Armfield. The American responded with solid boxing, but Sidey’s grappling skills shone when he nearly secured an anaconda choke.

”I knew I had to mix it up to keep him guessing,” Sidey said after the fight.

The second round saw Armfield turn up the pressure. He landed heavy punches that bloodied Sidey’s nose. However, Sidey rallied late in the round with powerful body kicks and elbows.

Armfield’s corner urged him to push the pace in the final round. Both fighters traded heavy shots, with neither willing to back down. The crowd roared as Sidey landed a fierce elbow in the closing seconds.

The judges scored the bout in Sidey’s favor, improving his UFC record to 1-1. Armfield falls to 2-3 in the promotion.

This fight kicked off the preliminary card at UFC Edmonton, showcasing the depth of talent in the bantamweight division.