No Mercy, Just Hemoglobin – How Rebecki Painted the Octagon Red with Duncan’s Blood

On August 2, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, lightweight contenders Mateusz Rebecki and Chris Duncan engaged in what MMA Fighting and Cageside Press are already calling one of the fiercest wars of the year. The co-main event of UFC Vegas 108 didn’t disappoint—15 brutal minutes of striking, elbows, knees, and takedowns. In the end, Duncan emerged victorious via unanimous decision, but both fighters earned Fight of the Night honors for their punishing effort.

Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: Testing the Waters

The opening round began cautiously. Rebecki stalked forward behind sharp jabs and leg kicks, probing Duncan’s defense. In return, Duncan fired back with straight rights and overhand power shots. Mid-round, Rebecki slipped in for a double-leg takedown, securing side control. He landed ground‑and‑pound, though Duncan’s defence remained sturdy.

By the round’s end, Rebecki had drawn first blood—a cut above Duncan’s right eye. Still, Duncan remained upright and dangerous. The crowd buzzed, foreseeing more of the same.

Round 2: Escalation

The intensity ratcheted up immediately. Duncan, sensing momentum, unloaded heavy elbows and knees whenever Rebecki dared close distance. Rebecki’s face began to swell as he absorbed those blows. Yet he remained composed, clinched with Duncan, secured takedowns, and threatened with submissions.

At one point, Duncan rocked Rebecki with a head kick—Rebecki wobbling briefly but responding with resilience before taking another takedown. That round bled more than blood—leaving the crowd stunned at the sheer brutality in the Octagon.

Round 3: Show of Heart

Both men entered the final round visibly battered—Rebecki with a swollen right eye, Duncan nursing cuts around both cheeks. Each continued to trade heavy shots in the pocket. Rebecki went again for takedowns, but Duncan scrambled effectively and clawed back to his feet repeatedly.

Despite Rebecki’s control attempts, Duncan’s cardio and resilience allowed him to land impactful strikes late. The final bell marked not just the end of the bout, but the culmination of an emotional back-and-forth that left fans raw.

Fan Psychology: From Shock to Awe

Inside the UFC Apex, fans went from casual interest to visceral engagement. As bodies slammed and blood soaked the mat, chants and cheers oscillated between the two camps. The crowd leaned in with each takedown, winced with each heavy elbow, and roared when no fighter went down.

Social media exploded. Clips of the clearest moment—Rebecki slipping in for single-leg entries or Duncan landing stiff elbows—went viral. Analysts called it a “Fight of the Night that lived up to the title,” and fans shared memes of the “bloodied warriors” who refused to yield.

Did the audience anticipate a breathtaking fight? No. But by Round 3, they weren’t just watching—they were emotionally invested.

Mindset Under Fire: Two Warriors, Two Journeys

Mateusz Rebecki

From the walkout, Rebecki exuded purpose. Calm, deliberate, and confident. Early in the fight, he implemented a strategy: chop Duncan’s base, stay relentless, and control the cage. Even as his face swelled, he pressed forward—showing mental toughness beyond his years.

After the fight, in interviews with UFC.com, Rebecki reflected on preparedness:

| Rebecki: “It was always going to be a mental test. I trained for this—visualized this. I didn’t come here to play—I came to prove.”

He spoke about trust in training, repeated drilling of scrambles, and breathing techniques between rounds to stay composed.

Chris Duncan

Duncan arrived with a storm behind him—having lost his mother at a young age, he pressed forward from childhood pain into MMA with purpose. After winning, he stated:

| Duncan: “All this blood, this pain—this is nothing compared to what I’ve lived. I cry sometimes—this? It’s just part of the game.”

He admitted the fight felt like a war, and that real trauma from the past still haunted him more than any Octagon exchange.

His ability to remain active, recover from takedowns, and press the action late demonstrated a deep reservoir of self-belief and emotional endurance.

Tactics & Technique Breakdown

Rebecki’s Toolkit: Control, Takedowns, Resilience

• Distance management: Leg kicks to Duncan’s lead, jabs to rehab entry.

• Entry precision: Slips inside range and drags Duncan to the mat.

• Ground dominance: From half guard to mount and occasional back control.

• Pressure pacing: He absorbed damage smartly, stayed on the attack.

Duncan’s Strategy: Power, Heart, Escape

• Heavy shots: Overhand rights, elbows, knees in the clinch.

• Scrambling ability: Effective escapes from Rebecki’s grips.

• Durability: Continued pressing forward despite swelling and cuts.

• Cardio perseverance: Unflagging gas tank late in Round 3.

While Duncan landed more visually damaging strikes, Rebecki landed more volume takedowns and control time. Judges scored it narrowly in Duncan’s favor, citing effective striking and forward movement.

Aftermath & Implications

Fight of the Night & Awards

Both fighters were awarded $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses for their effort—an homage to the brutal, exhilarating nature of their war. Even UFC officials confirmed both Rebecki and Duncan were transported to a local hospital post-fight for precautionary scans—recognition of how punishing the fight truly was.

Rankings Impact & Future Matchups

• Duncan, now with a three-fight UFC win streak, is climbing toward top‑15 contention. MMAmania recommends a next match vs. Mike Davis, a fighter on a similar run.

• Although Rebecki lost, his performance boosted respect. Analysts at UFC.com noted his composure and vision under fire—and expect him to return stronger in his next bout.

Fans and pundits alike speculate future opponents: Rebecki’s wrestling and grappling are scalable against mid-tier ranked fighters; Duncan’s striking and resolve could pair him with experienced power punchers.

Conclusion: A War to Remember

Mateusz Rebecki vs. Chris Duncan was more than a fight—it was a testament to MMA’s duality: fragile humanity and hardened will. Duncan took the win, but both men walked away as victors—fans cheered, analysts raved, and the lightweight division earned a new classic.

This bout wasn’t just about who punched harder or took more downs—it was about heart, strategy, and refusing to quit. And that’s why it will be remembered.