Dan Ige made his 14th walk to the Octagon on Saturday night in the Great White North as the promotion made its long-awaited return to Canada for UFC 289.
Meeting ’50k’ inside the cage was streaking featherweight standout, Nate Landwehr. Riding a three-fight win streak, ‘The Train’ entered the contest determined to score another big win as he continues to work his way up the featherweight ladder. Ige, who has struggled to get into the win column as of late, walked into the matchup with hopes of winning his second-straight scrap after going 2-3 in his last five outings.
Round 1
Dan Ige comes out and immediately begins working to establish his jab. Landwehr goes low with a leg kick and Ige responds with a left-right combo. Ige looks like the faster fighter as he is dictating the pace early. They briefly clinch with Landwehr landing a short right hook on the inside. Landwehr briefly changes levels but quickly backs off as the two continue to dance around and trade strikes with 90 seconds to go in the round. Landwehr goes up top with a head kick, but Ige gets his hand up. In the final seconds of the round, Ige uncorks a huge left hook that connects, dropping Landwehr. ‘The Train’ bounces back up, but the shot likely won Ige the first round on scorecards.
Round 2
Both fighters let their hands go in the second. Landwehr catches a kick from Ige and briefly attempts a takedown, but quickly gives it up. Neither fighter is gaining a clear advantage, but Ige is the busier fighter through the halfway point of the second frame. Landwehr moves in landing a lead uppercut. Ige clinches and pushes Landwehr against the fence before throwing a vicious right hook. Landwehr backs up and Ige unloads a massive left that again drops ‘The Train’ toward the end of the round. Ige follows his opponent to the mat and begins dropping bombs, but there is not enough time left to score a finish.
Round 3
Nate Landwehr looks to move forward against Ige in the third, but ’50k’ is landing strikes at will, including another solid left hook that wobbled Landwehr. Unable to get much going, Landwehr backs Ige to the cage and attempts to make it a clinch fight, but Ige is able to circle away and separate. Landwehr continues marching forward and targets the body of Ige with a series of knees. Once again clinched against the fence, Landwehr unloads everything he has left, including a solid elbow in close. Unfortunately for Landwehr, it wasn’t enough to get the job done.
Official Result: Dan Ige def. Nate Landwehr via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Check Out Highlights From Dan Ige vs. Nate Landwehr at UFC 289
Dan Ige took round one because of this punchpic.twitter.com/2URV3hyMpF
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) June 11, 2023
Dan Ige knocks down Nate Landwehr at the end of Round 2. #UFC289 https://t.co/tesiqCX6dX
— MMA News (@MMATrending) June 11, 2023
Unanimous for 50K Ige! 👏@Dynamitedan808 takes the decision over Nate Landwehr at #UFC289 pic.twitter.com/whQ4Opmsst
— UFC (@ufc) June 11, 2023
