Known for his ability to both talk a big game and show it in his fights, Danny Sabatello was a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Championships before his professional MMA career. Winning a bantamweight title for a noteworthy regional promotion, Sabatello, who sports a 14-4 record, went 4-3 in Bellator, falling short against Raufeon Stots in an interim Bellator title fight. This is Sabatello’s first fight since losing a rematch with Stots at Bellator 301 in November.

 

After three wins and a championship on the amateur circuit, Lazaro Dayron has won all eight fights so far as a pro, including four victories via a finish. Dayron, a member of the Cuban national wrestling team, most recently fought in April, submitting Arnold Berdon.

 

Who will make an impression in this bantamweight showcase?

 

 

Round 1

 

Both men run at each other at the start! Sabatello goes for the flying knee, but he can’t get enough! Sabatello, however, gets a hold of Dayron in a clinch and looks for a takedown. Dayron, however, keeps an underhook and keeps a hold of himself up, with the two against the fence. Dayron lands a couple of body shots. Sabatello lands a couple of knees to the body. Dayron with an inside trip to score a takedown! Sabatello fights his way to his feet, but Dayron still has a hold of the back. Sabatello reverses the position and gets Dayron back to the fence. Both men land inside knees. Dayron lands a jab after the break.

 

Dayron drops Sabatello with a right hand! Dayron goes to finish him off with ground-and-pound, but Sabatello snaps back into it and looks to wrestle! Sabatello trying to grab his legs for a takedown, but Dayron stops him with the underhooks! Sabatello looks to counter again, but Dayron still has a hold of him. The two separate with about two minutes left. Sabatello flashes the left jab. One-two from Dayron. Sabatello lands a takedown. Sabatello looks to land strikes, but Dayron fights back with a butterfly hook and creates separation. Sabatello tries for another couple of takedowns, but Dayron fights them. Sabatello finally gets the takedown, and he’s looking for the back. Dayron lands a couple of more right hands before the end of the round.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Sabatello misses a high kick. Sabatello misses a low kick. Sabatello gets deep into a level change and he gets to Dayron’s back. Dayron fights his way out of Sabatello’s grasp. One-two from Dayron. Right hand from Dayron. Left hand from Sabatello. Sabatello presses Dayron into the fence, looking to keep up a strong pace. Dayron works his way off the fence, and the two exchange. Dayron appears to be slowing down, as Sabatello is speeding back up. Sabatello scores another takedown of Dayron.

 

Sabatello scores a slam of Dayron not long after he gets back to his feet. Dayron gets to his knees, and Sabatello responds with knees to Dayron’s legs. Dayron gets back to his feet, but Sabatello continues his pressure. Sabatello goes for another takedown, but Dayron avoids it with a sprawl. Sabatello throws a couple of front kicks. Dayron goes for his own takedown right before the bell, but Sabatello sprawls himself.

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Sabatello misses a front kick and follows it up with a one-two. Sabatello goes for a double-leg takedown but cannot get it. Sabatello pressures again, getting Dayron to the SmartCage again. Dayron separates. Dayron with a couple of right hands landing. Dayron lands to the body. Sabatello misses a low kick. Both men landing low kicks following a Sabatello hook. Dayron stops another Sabatello takedown. Dayron with a strong combination. Dayron with a couple of low kicks. Sabatello misses an overhand left. Sabatello with a low kick. Sabatello gets Dayron against the fence again.

 

Dayron with a combination. Dayron lands a left hand. The two exchange, and Sabatello scores a takedown. Dayron gets back to his feet. Sabatello tries to use a figure-four and get a standing body triangle on Dayron. Sabatello looks to work some sort of submission, but Dayron grabs the cage! The referee steps in and immediately deducts a point from Dayron!

 

 

The fight resumes and Sabatello looks for pressure again. Dayron tries to fire off a couple of flurries, but Sabatello scores another takedown. Dayron gets back to his feet. Sabatello can be heard accusing Dayron of grabbing his glove. Both men land straights. Dayron looking to punch away. Dayron lands a knee before the bell.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Danny Sabatello vs. Lazaro Dayron ends in majority draw (29-27 Sabatello, 28-28x2) in a bantamweight showcase bout

  • Sabatello moves his record to 14-4-1
  • Lazaro Dayron remains unbeaten with a 8-0-1 record
  • This was the PFL debut for both fighters