Undefeated super lightweight contender ‘Sugar’ Cain Sandoval scored a spectacular fourth round knockout over veteran Mark Bernaldez on Friday night. The fight headlined a card promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, and was aired live on UFC Fight Pass.
Sandoval, 15-0 (13 KOs), of Sacramento, California pressed behind the jab and let his hands go to begin the fight. Sandoval was relentless in the second round as he outworked Bernaldez, 25-6, (14 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines. The Filipino ripped away with big shots, but Sandoval kept coming and outworked Bernaldez. Sandoval continued to have his way and control Bernaldez in the third as he outworked him.
In the fourth round, a left hook to the body nearly knocked Bernaldez down as his knee appeared to hit the canvas, but Sandoval followed up with a crushing overhand right that finished the job. Bernaldez attempted to get up but could only make it to his knees as referee Rudy Barragan reached a the count of ten at 34 seconds of the fourth round.
“I’m surprised he took my jab to the body. I got the KO and I’m happy about that. I will be great,” Sandoval said following his victory.
In the evening’s co-feature bout, super flyweight Cristopher Rios pulled off the upset in handing Daniel ‘Chucky’ Barrera of Eastvale, California his first defeat by winning a majority decision.
Barrera, 8-1-1 (4 KOs) looked sharp boxing in the opening round keeping his distance mixing it up. In the second, Rios, 11-2 (7 KOs), of Compton, California got Barrera’s attention, connecting with a solid combination that stopped Barrera’s momentum. Barrera and Rios mixed it up but Rios appeared to be the aggressor, backing up Medina.
The momentum was in Rios’s favor the second half of the fight as he stayed on top of Barrera. Rios had a solid sixth round, as he kept the pressure and did not let Barrera get in his comfort zone. Rios continued to stay busy as he kept Barrera on edge late in the fight. In the eighth and final round, it was Rios applying the pressure as Barrera circled, kept his distance boxing and worked off the jab.
After completing eight rounds, the judges scored the bout, 79-73, 79-73, and 76-76 as Rios gets the victory.
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Miguel Maravilla has been a boxing writer since 2011, an avid boxing fan since the age of 9 and former amateur boxer. Since 2011, Miguel has covered numerous club shows to world championship events. Canelo Berlanga, Canelo Munguia, Bivol Canelo, Davis Garcia, Canelo Golovkin Rivalry, Fury Wilder Rivalry, Mayweather Pacquiao, Mayweather Canelo, and Estrada Chocolatito 1.
