UFC Fight Night 103 results: Third-round uppercut gives Joachim Christensen TKO of Bojan Mihajlovic

PHOENIX – Bojan Mihajlovic liked to duck his head and throw for the rafters, and Joachim Christensen eventually made him pay big for that strategy.

Christensen (14-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) picked Mihajlovic (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) apart with sound striking chops before a close-in uppercut brought a third-round TKO.

The light heavyweight bout was part of the preliminary card of today’s UFC Fight Night 103 event at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass ahead of additional prelims and a main card on FS1.

The fight was waved off at the 2:05 mark of the third and final frame, giving Christensen his first UFC win after a debut setback this past October against Luis Henrique da Silva.

Christensen repeated backed up Mihajlovic with jab-cross combinations, prompting his Serbian opponent to wing big shots that mostly whizzed by. Although he showed no discomfort in matching his technique against Mihajlovic, a slip on a kick provided him an early opportunity to work some ground and pound from top position. And when the referee didn’t see enough action, he clipped Mihajlovic’s head with knees in the clinch.

Mihajlovic tried to reassert control against the fence in the second round, but wound up with his back to the links as Christensen worked more on the inside. Mihajlovic appeared to tire, having his best success only when he was able to bait Christensen inside and then catch him with looping shots. Still, at range, he continued to take more shots.

Christensen did more damage with his knees in the third and final round before a lead uppercut dropped Mihajlovic to the mat, prompting referee intervention. Mihajlovic remains winless in the octagon after a debut loss against Francis Ngannou this past July.

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(MMAjunkie’s John Morgan contributed to this report on site in Phoenix.)