Kelowna’s Sarah ‘Cheesecake’ Moras wins UFC debut

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Canadian Sarah (Cheesecake) Moras won her UFC debut with a unanimous decision over Alexis (Sneaky Zebra) Dufresne on the undercard of "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 19 televised finale Sunday.

The fight, fought mainly on the ground with Dufresne in top position, was contested at a catchweight of 143 pounds after Dufresne failed to make the 136-pound bantamweight limit. Moras got 20 per cent of Dufresne's purse as a result.

"Part of me was pissed off and part of me was stoked because I got more money," said Moras.

The judges scored it 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 for Moras, who was busier throughout the fight. Dufresne, who had never been out of the first round, also seemed to run out of steam.
"I'm stoked to get the win, I'm stoked to fight in the UFC and I'm stoked for what's to come next," said Moras (4-1).

"I knew I did a lot more damage to her in the fight," added the 26-year-old from Kelowna. "I wasn't sure how the judges were going to score it because I knew she was on top a bit more but this is MMA, this isn't jiu-jitsu and I'm glad the judges knew that."

Dufresne (5-1) saw it differently.

"I was surprised with the result," she said. "Didn't think the decision would go that way. Very disappointing."

The two exchanged blows from the opening bell, with Moras connecting, before Dufresne took her down with a trip. Dufresne transitioned to side control, then started to bring down knees to the body.

A scrambling Moras fought off a potential mount and looked to attack Dufresne from the bottom. The Canadian also caught Dufresne with a nasty up-kick.

Dufresne controlled the round but acquitted herself well on the ground.

"Let's put her on her back. Let's see what she's got," was the message from the Moras corner between rounds.

Moras came out swinging in the second but Dufresne weathered the storm and took her down. Montreal referee Yves Lavigne stood them up, wanting more action and he got it when Moras took Dufresne down.

Stood up again, the fight went back to the ground with Moras reversing Dufresne.

Dufresne took Moras down with another hip throw to open the third. Moras looked to stay active from the bottom but Dufresne was controlling the action despite not mounting much offence.

Moras, a graduate of Season 18 of "The Ultimate Fighter," caught Dufresne with another up-kick and then tried a string of submissions in the dying moments.

An exhausted Dufresne had trouble getting up off the canvas after the final bell. Moras held her arms up in triumph.

Moras' journey to the UFC after the reality TV show was slowed by a knee injury, that forced her off the Season 18 finale card.