The former Penn State wrestler turned Arizona State mat champ took the belt from defending champ Elias Boudegzdame in a unanimous five-round decision as a co-main event at Brave 16 in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
It's Jenkins' first major title in his pro MMA career launched in December 2011.
"Five rounds of wrestling domination was all Bubba Jenkins needed to wrest the Brave featherweight belt from defending champ Elias Boudegzdame," is how MMA-Today described the fight.
"'Smile' went to work trying to attack with submissions, which have been an Achilles' heel for Bubba in the past, but never came close to finishing in the early rounds," MMA-Today continued. "Elias landed his hardest shots of the fight in round 2, an illegal knee at the start of the frame and an illegal upkick late; those two fouls forced ref Leon Roberts to step in and take a point. Jenkins gamely fought onward, and even toughed out a really tight-looking heel hook that Boudegzdame threatened with late in a last-gasp effort late in the 4th round."
With the win, Jenkins has a 13-4 overall record... and the Brave featherweight title belt... while Boudegzdame falls to 15-5.
After winning the championship, Jenkins posted this message on his Facebook page: "I still don't have the words, but here's what I will say: I heard THEM... I heard THEM murmur and whisper against me, I heard THEM say I wouldn't be able, I heard THEM say I couldn't, and wouldn't, I heard THEM say I'm too confident and mouthy, I even heard THEM say my best days are behind me..."
Jenkins had signed with Brave in late July 2018... then, two weeks later, the organization announced that the former college star would be vying for their welterweight title. He had competed for Bellator from July 2013 to August 2016, then had a couple fights with ACB (Absolute Championship Berkut).
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