LAS VEGAS – Andre Lima beat Daniel Barez with a third-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 254 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Lima, who stayed unbeaten and picked up a $50,000 performance bonus for what was the first submission win of his career.
Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez
Result: Andre Lima def. Daniel Barez via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:05
Updated records: Lima (11-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), Barez (17-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Key stats: Lima was a 6-1 favorite and outstruck Barez 161-34 on his way to the submission win. Lima landed 73 percent of his total strikes.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 15: (R-L) Andre Lima of Brazil punches Daniel Barez of Spain in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on March 15, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Lima on the fight’s key moment
“It was my goal to get in there and get the knockout or a submission. I was able to put the strategy in place, and I was very happy to get the first submission win in my career. My coaches were telling me to break him down, and I thought I was going to be able to knock him out.”
A DOMINANT performance from Andre Lima tonight 👏
He gets the submission victory in round three! #UFCVegas104 pic.twitter.com/YH4ktJInY7
— UFC (@ufc) March 15, 2025
Lima on his jiu-jitsu black belt
“I’ve always worn the black belt, but sometimes I’ve already put a shirt on so you don’t see it. (So I didn’t get my black belt after the win.)”
Lima on what he wants next
“(I’d like to be back) next month. I love Miami. My dream is to fight there. I’ll be ready (to step in for the flyweight title). Just tell Dana I’ll be ready. That’s the message that I wanted to show everybody – that I’m here and I’m ready to go. My dream is to wake up Tuesday and be in the top 15. I wanted to tell people when I got that contract on Dana White’s Contenders Series – that was not in vain.”
“I want this to be an example to people – if you work hard for your dreams, you can get your dreams”
Andre Lima shares his motivation for himself and fans after he secured a submission win at #UFCVegas104.
Results, Interviews & More ➡️: https://t.co/Q3SV4cHKFl
— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 15, 2025
To hear more from Lima, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 254.
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