Beating the Odds: UFC Fight Night ‘Arlovski vs. Barnett’

Peter Sobotta wants some attention in the crowded Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division.

Sobotta registered his eighth win in nine appearances, as he cruised to a unanimous decision over former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder Nicolas Dalby at UFC Fight Night “Arlovski vs. Barnett” on Saturday at Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg, Germany. The 29-year-old Planet Eater representative entered the Octagon as a +167 underdog, according to BetDSI.com, and walked away with 30-26 nods from all three cageside judges.

Dalby (-200) was one step behind throughout the 15-minute clash. Sobotta decked him with a right uppercut inside the first five minutes and put significant damage on the Dane’s left eye. The Dean Lister-trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt later advanced to Dalby’s back, tying a bow on a dominant round one and setting the table for what was to come. Sobotta executed a pair of takedowns in the middle stanza, where he achieved full mount and further distanced himself from his counterpart. Dalby needed a finish in the third round, and though he made some headway, his efforts were stonewalled by another Sobotta takedown.

Sobotta was one of two underdogs to spring upsets at the event. Hammers Team standout Jessin Ayari spoiled the organizational debut of “Judo” Jim Wallhead, as he eked out a split decision -- 29-28, 30-27, 28-29 -- over the popular London Shootfighters veteran.

Ayari spent much of the match in a backpedal but nevertheless managed to outstrike the Bellator, British Association of Mixed Martial Arts and KSW alum. Per FightMetric, he exceeded Wallhead in significant strikes, 70-47, and total strikes, 72-53. Ayari, 24, has rattled off seven straight victories.