The UFC returned to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi with a card headlined by supremely skilled bantamweights Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomdeov. A potential title shot at 135 pounds was on the line and so was Nurmagomdeov’s perfect professional record.
That anticipated headliner was one of 13 fights scheduled for at Etihad Arena. Official results from UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov below:
MAIN CARD
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Nurmagomedov started quick, got a hold of one of Sandhagen’s legs and used a single-leg attempt to briefly take the back. Sandhagen craftily used the cage to help peel Nurmagomedov off his back and they separated. Sandhagen looked great defending Nurmagomedov’s second takedown attempt in the centre of the Octagon. Nurmagomedov ended the opening round with a well-timed takedown after slipping a punch.
The second started with more defensive wrestling from Sandhagen who landed a slip counter left Nurmagomedov took note of. A cut over Sandhagen’s right eye opened during the round and a late scramble initiated by Nurmagomedov was a display of both fighters’ advanced skill sets.
Sandhagen spent the majority of the third round defending. The fourth was evenly matched and a pure striking match until around 40 seconds remaining when Nurmagomedov shot in. Sandhagen would roll out of trouble whenever this would happen but moments like that were the ultimately difference in close rounds. Nurmagomedov got Sandhagen down again in the fifth and accumulated a bit of control time. Nurmagomedov out-struck Sandhagen 91-64 after 25 minutes to improve to 18-0 in mixed martial arts.
What a fight. If you love high-level MMA, this was a terrific display of it.
Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 39-28)
The underdog from Poland had Magomedov backing up early with his usual pressure. Oleksiejczuk would go to the body when Magomedov’s head was out of range. Magomedov used plenty of kicks and left Oleksiejczuk bloody with a counter elbow. Magomedov’s speed and kicks were a big difference as he also marked up Oleksiejczuk with accurate punches. Magomedov looked sharp in clinch situations and gained style points with some of his combinations in the final round. A late single leg takedown was not enough for Oleksiejczuk and he ate some more elbows for his troubles.
Deiveson Figueiredo def. Marlon Vera via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Vera’s size advantage over the former flyweight champ was apparent early and he began by landing strong leg kicks on the outside before Figueiredo timed a takedown. Figueiredo spent the next couple minutes in Vera’s guard until Vera attacked with up-kicks as his opponent looked to pass. Both fighters frequently switched stances when striking. Figueiredo ended the round on top after timing a second takedown off a Vera knee attempt.
The close second round was spent entirely on the feet. Vera began finding his timing and range as Figueiredo showed his cardio is not an issue up at 135 pounds the way it was at times at 125 pounds. He also showed he can strike with a rangy opponent like Vera. Figueiredo rushed out of the gates in the third with two unsuccessful takedown attempts but showed his power by rocking Vera with a hard right hand. The pair spent much of the final minute trading haymakers as Figgy moved to 3-0 at bantamweight.
Michael Chiesa def. Tony Ferguson via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:44 of Round 1
Ferguson set a record no fighter wanted. He has now lost eight consecutive fights in the UFC after getting rear-naked choked by Chiesa. There wasn’t much action during the first three minutes of the bout but once Chiesa found an opening to take Ferguson’s back, it didn’t take him long to cinch in the RNC and after some adjusting the squeeze became too tight for Ferguson to withstand. Eight in a row for Ferguson likely means that was his final fight in the UFC. Chiesa had lost three in a row prior to this.
Mackenzie Dern def. Loopy Godinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Dern is never in a boring fight and this one started fast. One of Godinez’s younger sisters in currently in Paris representing Canada in wrestling so the Mexican-Canadian is used to training with world class grapplers. Dern is a multiple time jiu-jitsu world champ and she came close when attacking an armbar late in Round 1 but Godinez stayed poised and defended well. The Brazilian was the more aggressive striker even though Godinez landed some quality counter punches when Dern lunged in. Godinez closed the second round strong with a takedown and briefly threatened with a standing-arm triangle.
Dern began the final round with a clean double-leg takedown and landed in side control. Godinez got back to her feet when Dern rushed a mounted guillotine attempt but even on the feet it was Dern landing the cleaner shots and it was enough to snap her two-fight losing streak. Godinez has now lost unanimous decisions in back-to-back outings.
Joel Alvarez def. Elves Brener via technical knockout at 3:36 of Round 3
Alvarez hadn’t fought in more than a year yet looked like he didn’t miss a day in the gym with some early offence against Brener. Alvarez used his 6-foot-3 frame to land strikes at range and any time his opponent left his neck exposed would attempt a choke. Brener trains with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira so he is no stranger to escaping choke holds and he was able to persevere through an Alvarez D’Arce attempt late in the opening round.
The Spanish lightweight was able to keep Brener at bay with his length in a more methodical second round. Alvarez wobbled Brener with a left hand with two minutes remaining in the third round and his measured follow-up attack was beautiful to watch. Brener’s durability deserves applause but he ate repeated knees from Alvarez who became the first fighter to finish the Brazilian.
PRELIMINARY CARD
Azamat Murzakanov def. Alonzo Menifield via knockout at 3:18 of Round 2
Murzakanov is an intelligent striker and Menifield was coming off a 12-second knockout loss earlier this year, so wasn’t surprising to see Menifield slightly tentative during this light-heavyweight contest. Murzakanov rocked Menifield with a left hook and multiple power shots midway through the second round and that was that. Another great performance from the still-undefeated Murzakanov.
Kaue Fernandes def. Mohammad Yahya via technical knockout at 4:45 of Round 1
Fernandes was a heavy favourite over Yahya who was representing the UAE and it showed early. Fernandes battered Yahya’s lead leg, which had several visible lumps, and then he began landing power punches. Yahya was dropped with a perfect left-hook, overhand-right combination and a sequence of follow-up shots later the referee stepped in for the first finish of the card.
Shamil Gaziev def. Don’Tale Mayes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
The heavyweights didn’t waste much time, getting after it with striking exchanges in the first 30 seconds before Gaziev landed a takedown and the action slowed. Gaziev, who suffered his first career loss in his last outing, was content to work from half guard. The second round was much of the same with the pair spending roughly 90 seconds trading punches before Gaziev began leaning on Mayes.
This was not Aspinall-Blaydes, folks!
Mayes clearly needed a finish entering the third but a minute in Gaziev secured another takedown and he landed in half guard. He predictably remained there for the rest of the round with Mayes unable to improve his position so he began to trash talk during the final minute. Make that five for five on decisions to start things off.
Guram Kutateladze def. Jordan Vucenic via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Vucenic looked at home in his short-notice UFC debut but after a strong opening round lost a decision to Kutateladze who snapped a two-fight losing streak. Vucenic, known more for his submission skills, the former Cage Warriors champ dropped Kutateladze with a piston right hand midway through the first that sent his opponent to the mat. Kutateladze, a well-conditioned athlete and training partner of Khamzat Chimaev, survived Vucenic’s first-round onslaught and was able to turn the momentum in his favour.
Kutateladze began landing more frequently and split his younger opponent’s forehead open with an elbow in the second. Vucenic began the final round controlling along the fence and was reversed from a high back mount by Kutateladze, a fighter who holds a notable win over No. 5-ranked lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot. A great showing for Vucenic who looks to have some star potential either sticking at 155 pounds or moving back down to his more natural 145 pounds.
Sam Hughes def. Victoria Dudakova via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Hughes handed Dudakova her first pro loss in a strawweight bout that went to script. Dudakova started strong and had her best success throughout the fight when she was able to control the position as Hughes’s pace, cardio and volume ended up being the difference. Even though one judge saw Dudakova winning all three rounds, Hughes gained momentum as the fight progressed and the other two judges had her winning two of three rounds.
Jai Herbert def. Rolando Bedoya via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Both fighters were looking to get back in the win column. Bedoya, a training partner of main card fighter Elves Brener, was dropping down to lightweight from welterweight and used a kick-heavy attack. Herbert effectively countered a few of Bedoya’s kicks with straight right hands, one of which sent Bedoya briefly to the canvas. Bedoya threw more volume and pressed forward as Herbert was able do some nice work with his boxing by sticking and moving. Herbert was coming off a loss and had been relatively inactive and not won a fight in more than two years.
Sedriques Dumas def. Denis Tiuliulin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Middleweights were first into the cage for the prelims and after Tiuliulin came out aggressive, Dumas took his opponent to the ground and looked to establish control. Tiuliulin’s preferred defensive grappling technique was using a whizzer to defend takedown attempts. He had modest success. Tiuliulin was more comfortable on the feet striking but Dumas found a home for his long jab and timed his takedowns well. That was the story for the majority of the 15-minutes bout as Dumas handed Tiuliulin his fourth consecutive loss in the UFC.