Nurmagomedov Title shot Ready after Triumph Over Sandhagen
A workmen like effort may have Umar Nurmagomedov fighting for a crown in his next fight.
Umar Nurmagomedov played the counter striker allowing Cory Sandhagen to pressure and forcing him to make his way through a hailstorm of dynamic kicks and straight punches that open a cut in the first round. The fable Nurmagomedov wrestling coming into play collecting takedowns in every unable to rack up control time until the final round where he controlled the final two and half minutes. The bow on a dominate display that should see Nurmagomedov awaiting the winner of the UFC Noche main event between Sean O’Malley & Merab Dalishvili.
Highly touted Russian prospect Shara Magomedov is now 3-0 in the UFC. The Muay Thai style striker countered Michal Olksiejczuk pressure with a vast array of kicks. Magomedov sliced Olksiejczuk open from a step-in elbow. Olksiejczuk somehow survived a head kick to finish the fight on top from a single leg. A fun and exciting performance from Magomedov who still must sure up his wrestling game.
The resurgence of former champion Deiveson Figueiredo as a bantamweight continued with a third consecutive decision win. Figueiredo’s cardio is much better up ten pounds and his speed advantage like against Marlon Vera makes his fakes so much more believable. Wrestling has become a bigger part of his game getting two ttakedowns in the first round. While he was 0-11 in the second and the third, Figueiredo still made Vera constantly defend. And the power is there, a right hand in the third knocked Vera down for the first time in his career.
It looks like it’s the end of the line for “El Cucuy”. Michael Chiesa got on Ferguson’s back drug him to the ground and after a few adjustments finds the rear naked choke. The11th submission win of Chiesa’s career. But more importantly the 8th loss in a row for the former interim champion who had an incredible 12-fight win streak. In the most Tony Ferguson way possible he laid down one glove, taking the other home just in case.
Mackenzie Dern will maintain her number seven in the Women’s Strawweight rankings after a decision win over Luita Godinez. Dern got the fight on the ground in the first getting close to an armbar. The bigger story for Dern was a more muscular definition and improved striking that felt more intentional and snappy draw blood from multiple cuts on Godinez face.
It came close to ending but Joel Alvarez’s streak of finishes continues after a third round TKO of Elves Brener. Alvarez’s striking looked the cleanest it ever has, sticking Brener with big right hands, right high kicks and jump knees. The finished developed from Alvarez battering Brener with knees to the head.
It was 14-months since Azamat Murzakanov’s last fight. The Russian striker made a big statement in his return stopping Alonzo Menifield by seconds round knockout. Murzakanov’s exploding into looping punches around the Minefield guard. A left hook and left uppercut stunning Menifield an onslaught on hooks to ground strikes for the finish a 10th win by knockout.
In his second try Kaue Fernandes earned his first UFC win, and it came with some flair. Fernandes launch a heavy calf kick assault before sitting down Mohammad Yahya with a left hook overhand right combination. The follow up ground strikes gave Fernandes his 5th knockout win.
Shamili Gaziev collected his second UFC win; both have come by unanimous decision. Accurate punching combined with takedowns that kept Don’Tale Mayes couldn’t get up from seeing Gaziev sweep the scorecards.
Grum Kutateladze halted a two-fight skid by defeating replacement opponent Jordan Vucenic by unanimous decision. The debuting Vucenic took the first round landing a big right hand and finishing on top. Kutateladze’s takedown in the second round solidified a momentum change. Kutateladze went back to grappling in the third finishing on Vucenic’s back after an acrobatic recovery off the fence.
Sam Hughes knocked Victoria Dudakova from the ranks of the unbeaten by split decision. Dudakova had early success with her grappling and pressure. As the Russian’s gas tank drained the veteran making the fight a grueling gritty experience.
Jai Herbert showed the hard work of a year away from action as his boxing shut down the Rolando Bedoya kicking game with big right hands to earn the unanimous decision.
A strong start to the fight with his grappling and an allusive jabbing saw Sedriques Dumas make it two for two in successful trips to Yas Island defeating Denis Tiuliulin by unanimous decision.
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