UFC Fight Night 260: Colby Thicknesse vs Josias Musasa

The bantamweight showdown between Colby Thicknesse and Josias Musasa kicked off with immediate fireworks. Thicknesse opened with a sharp head kick that barely missed, followed by another that Musasa caught, countering with a stiff right hand that forced Thicknesse to step back and reset. The Australian prospect quickly turned to his wrestling, shooting for a takedown and successfully dragging Musasa to the mat. From there, he worked to mount and landed clean ground strikes, forcing Musasa to defend intelligently. In the closing seconds of the round, Thicknesse nearly secured a bulldog choke before the horn saved Musasa, giving Thicknesse the clear edge early.

Round two brought a noticeable change in momentum. Musasa came out more aggressive, peppering Thicknesse with calf kicks and sharp punches, while stuffing the first two takedown attempts. He also found success in the clinch, landing knees to the body and short elbows that slowed Thicknesse’s forward pressure. The exchanges were competitive, but Musasa’s striking output and ability to keep the fight standing seemed to swing the round in his favor. By the time the horn sounded, the Perth crowd could feel the tension as the bout looked dead even heading into the final frame.

The third and final round was the most dramatic of the fight. After a brief exchange of body kicks, an accidental low blow from Thicknesse paused the action and allowed Musasa to recover. Once they resumed, Thicknesse pushed forward with urgency, finally timing a double-leg takedown perfectly in open space. He advanced to mount and began landing heavy ground-and-pound, forcing Musasa to cover up. Despite Musasa’s attempts to hip-escape and scramble, Thicknesse maintained control, staying busy with short elbows and punches until the final horn.

When the fight went to the judges, all three scorecards read 29-28 for Thicknesse, awarding him a unanimous decision victory. The score reflected Thicknesse’s dominant first round, Musasa’s strong comeback in the second, and Thicknesse’s late grappling control that sealed the third. It was a high-paced battle that showcased Thicknesse’s ability to dig deep under pressure and secure a win in front of his home crowd.

In his post-fight interview, Thicknesse thanked the Perth fans for fueling his performance and acknowledged Musasa as his toughest test to date. He admitted that he “had to bite down and trust the wrestling” after losing the momentum in Round 2, a strategy that clearly paid off. For Musasa, the fight was a narrow loss but a strong showing against a hometown favorite, and his striking flashes suggest he will remain a dangerous name to watch in the division going forward.