NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 08: Chris Camozzi celebrates after defeating Tom Watson of England in their middleweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Bridgestone Arena on August 8, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Chris Camozzi won his third straight fight Sunday and then called for a step up in competition. "I want a top-10 opponent, next," he said after scoring a unanimous decision victory over Vitor Miranda, on the FS1 main card.
"I didn't take any big shots, and I feel like money."
Camozzi fought like money for three rounds. In the first round he scored with hard shots on the inside. Late in the round, the kickboxer continued to show his evolution and attempted a leg-lock.
Miranda wouldn't relent and the two spent the rest of the period on the mat, punching each other from the leg-lock position. In the second round, Camozzi hit a slick trip on the feet and spent the rest of the round doing damage on the mat, from on top of Miranda.
By the end of the stanza, Miranda's left eye brow was cut and bleeding badly. The ringside doctor allowed it to continue, after examining the wound in between rounds, and Miranda would go on to fight his best in the final five minutes.
Early in the third, Camozzi turned away Miranda with punches and then landed a big belly-to-back suplex. The Brazilian hung tough for the rest of the round, however, and fought his most effective once he got back up to his feet.
Afterwards, Camozzi himself was impressed with his opponent. "He's tough. The more I hit him, the harder he came," he said.
"He picked it up every round, just like he said he would."
Still, it wasn't enough to convince judges he deserved the win.
Scores were 30-27, all-around, for Camozzi, who improved his record to 24-10. Miranda's loss dips his mark to 13-5.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.