UFC on ABC 7 ‘Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Round 1

Fight fans on the West Coast of the U.S. will be having combat with
coffee this morning, as the UFC takes to Abu Dhabi with a show
featuring a number of fighters that struggle to get into the U.S.
Plenty of international talent litters this event, with over a
dozen countries repped at one point tonight. The fist pairing of
the evening is more regular rivalry between America and Russia, as
the much-maligned Dumas (9-2, 2-2 UFC) battles the
struggling Tiuliulin (10-9, 1 NC; 1-4 UFC) in a match that might
lead to at least one roster cut. Both men prefer the knockout, with
the Evolve Gym fighter more inclined to headhunt. The middleweights
choose not to bump fists to start the day’s festivities, and
referee Keith Peterson is ready to cut all nonsense out of the
equation. They lash out with dueling low kicks, and Dumas whiffs on
a head kick. When Dumas fires off a low kick, he is countered by a
knee that busts him in the chops. Tiuliulin gets his foe’s
attention with a few additional punches, but Dumas surges forward
and takes him off his feet with a sudden tackling takedown.
Tiuliulin works his way towards the wall to get back up, and Dumas
holds him down and knees him in the thigh repeatedly. Peterson asks
for more activity, with Dumas in a holding pattern while the
Russian is stuck on a knee. Dumas drags Tiuliulin down to his seat
for a second, peppering the same spot with knee after short knee.
Tiuliulin muscles his way upright, turning the corner and falling
on top of his opponent in a surprise reversal. Dumas is on his
backside and bursts his way up, and he eats a knee while standing
but is no worse for wear as he looks to chuck Tiuliulin to the mat.
The American presses his foe to the wire, and Dumas’ knees work the
body and thigh until one bangs into the cup. There is a quick
apology from Dumas, and Tiuliulin knows it was a total accident and
takes a little under 30 seconds to get his wind back. When they
resume, Dumas lunges forward with a right hand, and he belts
Tiuliulin in the face with a lead-leg high kick. Dumas shoots in on
a takedown and gets rebuffed, with Tiuliulin shoving him away and
resetting. They fire off alternating jabs when upright, and
Tiuliulin reaches with a one-two that leaves him vulnerable for a
takedown effort from Dumas that drags Tiuliulin back to a single
knee again. Dumas peppers the leg with irritating knees on the
welted area until the horn awkwardly blares.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dumas

Round 2

Tiuliulin is the immediate aggressor to begin the second stanza,
firing off frantic offense including a knee that catches the chin.
Dumas swings back, calming himself down and sticking out jabs, but
Tiuliulin stings him with a few more wild strikes before slowing.
Dumas flicks out a few more jabs and shoots for a reactive double,
and Tiuliulin shuts it down and is pushed away. Dumas blasts the
thigh with another kick—the first developed a huge welt in the
previous round—and fights behind his sharp jab. Dumas whips a kick
up around the guard, and ducks a punch in pursuit of a double.
Tiuliulin counters with a step-in knee, and Dumas pushes through it
and presses the Russian to the wire. Dumas successfully drags
Tiuliulin to his backside, and Tiuliulin is quick to return to a
knee and grabs the fence to try to improve position but is warned.
Tiuliulin bops his man with a number of meaningless right hands,
ones that are technically scoring but have absolutely no effect
while Dumas hangs on and knees him. After a lengthy stalemate,
Tiuliulin finally works his way upright with the fence behind him
and a minute remaining on the clock. Dumas stays pinned to him like
a cheap suit, and Peterson splits them apart. Dumas restarts with a
big one-two, and Tiuliulin walks him down a shrugs off a right
hook. Dumas intercepts the advancing Russian with an uppercut, and
his range is giving Tiuliulin fits with jabs and long punches.
Dumas lets a knee fly past him, and a body kick grazes him. Dumas
ends the round with a reverse crescent kick that ricochets off the
raised guard.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dumas

Round 3

Dumas reintroduces himself with piston-like jabs, and Tiuliulin
senses he might be down on the scorecards and approaches the last
frame as such. Tiuliulin walks Dumas down, loading up on strikes,
but it is his partial jump knee that catches Dumas on the jaw.
Dumas staggers briefly and gets his bearings, strafing to the side
and winging a right hand over the guard. Dumas ducks into a looping
uppercut that comes up short, and Tiuliulin walks forward with his
own uppercut that also misses the mark. Tiuliulin digs a left to
the body and gets out of range of the kicks that fly at him, and
Dumas spams body kicks and avoids a huge pair of hooks. Dumas jabs
into a takedown, and Tiuliulin flips him all the way over and winds
up on top at the three-minute mark. Tiuliulin smothers his man from
above, dropping down some sporadic ground-and-pound while staying
just busy enough to remain in the position. Dumas hand-fights in
hopes of getting a standup, but when that does not come, he kicks
off his opponent and explodes to his feet. With 60 seconds left on
the clock, Tiuliulin is loaded for bear, but he finds that he has
to dodge a quick spinning back fist and stifle a takedown.
Tiuliulin is about to unleash a big right hand, but Dumas shoots
again on the hips. Tiuliulin gets away from it and leaps with a
knee that is way off the target. Tiuliulin cracks Dumas with a
right hand, and Dumas appears rocked and totally spent. This does
not stop Dumas from pitching kicks and looping strikes back at him.
Tiuliulin ends the fight with a final takedown, with Dumas
considering a guillotine but not nearly enough gas in the tank to
get it.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28 Dumas)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28 Dumas)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28
Dumas)

The Official Result

Sedriques Dumas def. Denis Tiuliulin via Unanimous Decision (29-28,
29-28, 30-27)

Round 1

Like the last pairing, these two combatants have their backs
against the wall here. Winner of just two of his seven UFC outings,
Herbert (12-5-1, 2-4-1 UFC) needs to get his hand raised today, but
the same can be said for Chute Boxe’s Bedoya (14-3, 0-2 UFC), who
wants the third time to be a charm. Something’s gotta give between
these lightweights, and referee Lukasz Bosacki will be the first to
know. There is a quick glove touch between the two, and Bedoya
takes to the center of the cage pushing out a front kick and a body
kick to find his range. Bedoya lands with a low kick as he bounces
from stance to stance, keeping Herbert guessing early. Herbert paws
out a jab that is at least two feet away, and Bedoya pitches a few
kicks his way. Herbert gets one leg kick back, and he counters a
leg kick with a jab to the body as the kick bounces into his cup.
Herbert adjusts his athletic supporter and does not need a pause,
and Bedoya takes a moment before drilling him in the face with an
overhand right. Bedoya remains busy with low kicks, and Herbert
looks for overhand right counters. One lands perfectly, briefly
short-circuiting “The Machine,” who drops to a knee. Bedoya is able
to get his bearings before Herbert can finish the job, and he works
his way upright but is still not totally clear. Herbert pins a
one-two on the jaw, forcing the Peruvian to tie him up against the
fencing. Herbert gets off a pair of knees and escapes from the
clinch, and he puts out a front kick that slaps off the chest of
his opponent. Herbert slips from side to side, a cut suddenly
developed under his right eye, and Bedoya walks him down throwing
hands. Herbert replies with a big knee that is caught, and Bedoya
slugs him backwards. Bedoya leaps in with a right hand that misses,
and a leg kick does connect. Bedoya goes for another low kick that
is not accurate, and he has a winging right hand ricochet off the
shoulder. Herbert just misses on a counter right, and he takes two
low kicks from the Chute Boxe Diego Lima fighter. Bedoya jams more
kicks on the front leg, and Herbert replies with a combination
ending with a stiff body kick. Bedoya does not slow kicking the
front leg of the Brit, with it glowing red, but he eats another
power right hand before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert

Round 2

Any bleeding beneath Herbert’s right eye is ceased between rounds,
but some serious swelling has developed. Bedoya is quick to target
that damage, going after straight left hands and following them
with leg kicks. Bedoya gets off a right hook and a left on the eye
socket, and he parries a body kick and skirts away. Bedoya loads up
on power punches as Herbert tries to keep him at bay with a push
kick, resulting in some damage on the Brit’s nose. Bedoya gives
chase with a few lunging kicks, and he snaps the head back with a
right hand when Bedoya gets careless. Bedoya gets excited and wants
to brawl, and Herbert clips him two more times when Bedoya comes at
him. Herbert gets caught with a right hand as Bedoya corners him,
but he manages to pay him back. As Bedoya rushes at him, they tie
up, and he knees Herbert square in the groin. Bosacki calls time
and warns Bedoya for the foul, and gives Herbert 30 seconds to
recover before Herbert is good to go. Herbert is active at the
restart with jabs and front kicks, and Bedoya responds with similar
strikes and some to the front leg. Herbert uses a number of jabs to
catch Bedoya coming at him with his hands down, and he kicks the
ribs and just misses with a high kick. Bedoya strides towards him,
belts him with an elbow and escapes. Bedoya kicks at the same time
as his opponent, but Herbert doubles up on the body kick. Herbert
quadruples his jab and dances away from a looping punch, although
he does absorb a low kick. Herbert gets a sneaky left hook in when
Bedoya is bearing down on him, and Bedoya tanks it and swings back
with reckless abandon. Bedoya assaults the front leg and kicks the
body, and they trade heavy punches. Herbert backs him off with a
thudding knee, and he ducks the swarming punches when Bedoya
approaches him again. Herbert zings a right hand that catches
Bedoya flush, and a second stuns Bedoya for a moment. Herbert
drills the front leg and rips a left to the ribs, and Bedoya
replies with a heavy low kick. They clash together, and the horn
sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Bedoya
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert

Round 3

The fighters pick up right where they left off, trading strikes
from kickboxing range. Bedoya is a bit more reckless than before,
swinging just a little harder and slower. Herbert is accurate and
quick, beating Bedoya to the punch and mixing things up to throw
Bedoya to the mat. The Peruvian springs back up without issue and
looks for a trip and throw, only for Herbert to thwart it in part
due to a fence grab. Herbert counters with a throw, and Bedoya
pulls himself back to his feet by grabbing the fence too—offsetting
fouls, but a not particularly thrilled Bosacki. They resume
striking, with Herbert jabbing his way into twos, and Bedoya gets
his chin checked a few times but is able to take them cleanly.
Herbert’s boxing remains crisp, and he mixes in body kicks and
slides away from counters. Bedoya reaches him with a low kick, and
Herbert doubles up on it and backs off with a right hand. Herbert
stumbles, but that might be more due to an awkward step on the edge
of the cage, and he recovers. Bedoya closes in on him and tries to
take advantage of the moment, but Herbert gets out of danger.
Bedoya slips several punches but walks into jabs, and Herbert
scoots away from him and again takes a funny step. Bedoya clips
Herbert with a right hand, and he lands it again after absorbing a
jab. Herbert steps in with a knee, and he chops at the front leg.
Bedoya walks him down consistently, keeping his guard up to block a
pair of punches. Bedoya connects with a low kick, eats a knee and
comes back with a right hand. Bedoya attempts to check a kick and
eats a few punches for his effort. Herbert gets in a few punches,
and Bedoya goes wide with responsive strikes. Bedoya loads up on a
right hand that is easily dodged, and he gets blasted with a right
hand but wears it shockingly well. Bedoya misses with a lumbering
hook and runs into the wall, and when he recovers, he catches
Herbert with a left. Bedoya attempts a spinning back fist, and
Herbert boxes him up to the horn.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (30-27 Herbert)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (29-28 Herbert)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Herbert (30-27
Herbert)

The Official Result

Jai Herbert def. Rolando Bedoya via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)

Round 1

While the previous two bouts saw both competitors with their backs
against the proverbial wall, it is a one-way potential pink-slip
derby for this next strawweight contest. Dudakova (8-0, 2-0 UFC)
has won eight straight, so her place on the UFC roster is not
likely at risk with a defeat. The same cannot be said for “Sampage”
Hughes (8-6, 3-5 UFC), who is dangerously close to a .500 MMA
record. The ladies touch gloves before getting after it, with
referee Dan Movahedi on call to handle the particulars. Hughes
sprints into action, and Dudakova slows her down with a jab. Hughes
loads up on right hands that redden the nose up early, and Dudakova
is ready and willing to oblige her in short bursts of slugfests.
They tag one another cleanly in combinations, and both women sport
a little damage on their noses after a minute of face-punching.
Dudakova shoots with a double-leg entry to successfully plant
“Sampage” on her seat, and Dudakova traps the left arm to pin
Hughes to her back. Hughes uses a rubber guard to set something up,
briefly getting hold of an omoplata shoulder lock in an effort to
sweep. This allows Hughes just enough of a scary moment to make
Dudakova adjust, and she fights back to her feet. Dudakova presses
her against the fence, and is elbowed on the break. Hughes misses
on a one-two, and Dudakova responds with a pair of punches that
shred the bridge of the American’s nose. Dudakova pushes forward to
go after a level change, and she hooks her fingers in the fencing
to keep Hughes stuck there until she is warned for her foul. Hughes
turns her around when the fingers are removed, and she works knees
to the body and elbows over the top. Dudakova looks to counter with
a trip but breaks off to return to striking range, only to get
beaten to the punch a few times and forced to shoot again. Hughes
defends the effort but eats a few knees up the middle after doing
so. Hughes jabs several times and follows with a few right hands,
and she clubs the Russian with hooks, a front kick and a low kick.
Dudakova grabs hold of her to jam a knee on the beak, and Hughes
wears it well and absorbs another to the same spot. Hughes takes a
moment to recover and kicks the front leg, and Dudakova snatches up
a Thai clinch and peppers “Sampage” with a number of knees. One
last knee from Dudakova ends the round, as she takes a jab in
response.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dudakova
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dudakova
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dudakova

Round 2

The strawweight touch ‘em up and immediately start trading hands,
and Dudakova considers a takedown but is stood up and slashes with
elbows. Hughes punches her back, stinging her with two short right
hands on the inside. Dudakova ties her up briefly to get off a few
knees to the body, and Hughes breaks away lobbing right hands. The
pendulum swings quickly in favor of one, then the other, as they
trade hard strikes. Dudakova gets tired of absorbing flush punches
and ducks down in pursuit of a double, dumping “Sampage” to the
floor. Hughes is quick to go for rubber guard, and when she is
unable to get anything from it, she answers from her back with
elbows. Hughes pushes the Russian off of her for a moment, but
Dudakova is persistent in keeping the fight horizontal. Hughes
times a perfect moment to push off and get to her feet, and she
parries a few jabs but absorbs a combination when backing off.
Hughes responds with a few punches, jabbing the head and body, and
Dudakova steels herself and slings back with two wide hooks. Hughes
splits the guard with a jab, and she connects with a low kick that
turns her opponent. Dudakova whiffs on a jab and gets her bell rung
with a right hand, and she attacks a single only to get shoved back
to the fencing. Hughes tries to do some damage on the inside, but
Dudakova escapes and takes several very deep breaths. Hughes walks
her down throwing hands, and Dudakova meets her every step of the
way with fierce combinations. Hughes slugs the unbeaten woman in
the chops with a right hand, and she sees that Dudakova is
compromised and strings a long chain of punches together to hurt
Dudakova and back her against the wall. Dudakova frees herself from
the bludgeoning, takes a huge breath and shoots for takedown.
Hughes bowls her over and falls into a leglock, but she fights it
off and lands a few hammerfists before the momentum-shifting round
ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes

Round 3

There is one final glove touch to commence the last round, and
Hughes is the aggressor by darting in with several jabs. Dudakova
responds with a crisp combination of short hooks, showing she is
not done just yet. Hughes follows her around, measuring with the
jab, and she is met with a few snappy jabs in response. They pop
one another at the same time, and Hughes follows a few with hooks.
Dudakova uses head movement to stay at the edge of the blows,
prompting Hughes to kick her front leg twice. Hughes jabs and
slips, and Dudakova shoots low for a single and rolls through but
falls to her back. Hughes claims top position, and Dudakova is busy
with elbows from her back. Dudakova closes her guard and absorbs a
flush elbow, and Hughes relishes this by opening up with further
ground-and-pound. Hughes drops down elbows until she is pushed off
with Dudakova’s feet. The Russian returns to her feet, and she
rifles off a jab and a head kick that bounce off the raised guard.
Dudakova splits that guard with a sharp jab, and Hughes replies
with a right hand over the top. Hughes gets another in and digs a
punch to the body, only for the Russian to push through the hips
and take “Sampage” to the mat. Hughes is warned for strikes to the
back of the head, and she complains that Dudakova is grabbing her
glove. Dudakova attacks with ground strikes, and Hughes does the
same. Hughes scoots her way to the wall and walks her way up, and
Dudakova clings to her like Saran wrap in hopes of securing a mat
return. Dudakova sells out for the ground pursuit, and Hughes jams
her elbow in the Russian’s face. Hughes threatens with a guillotine
choke to end the fight, and it is entirely possible that Hughes has
ruined another opponent’s undefeated record—ask Jaqueline
Amorim.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28 Hughes)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes (29-28
Hughes)

The Official Result

Sam Hughes def. Victoria Dudakova via Split Decision (27-30, 29-28,
29-28)

Round 1

Everything was coming up roses for Georgia’s Kutateladze (12-4, 1-2
UFC), who introduced himself to the UFC brass in 2020 by
outhustling the well-regarded Mateusz Gamrot. Inactivity and a pair
of losses have let him slip down the pecking order, and he gets a
tough one in violent late replacement and walking tattoo Vucenic
(13-2, 0-0 UFC). Winner just two weeks ago, Cage Warriors export
Vucenic would have been in line for a title in that league but for
the call-up to replace Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady. The 155ers will
engage under the oversight of referee Greg Kleynjans, and a glove
touch precedes the action. They are not quick to get going, with a
single jab the only strike in the first 20 seconds. Vucenic looks
for a counter when Kutateladze advances, and Kutateladze has his
guard u. Kutateladze parries a high kick and sticks out a jab.
Vucenic replies with a jab and a lead hook, and he fakes a level
change. Vucenic darts forward with a left hook, and he does this
again much to the surprise of the Georgian. Vucenic scores an
uppercut and a few punches, and Kutateladze is stuck in first gear
unable to get off much of note. Vucenic sticks and moves, loose and
unconcerned as Kutateladze manages to land on him once. Vucenic
sticks a jab and parries a response to loop a left over the top.
Kutateladze escapes the first but eats a second, and swelling grows
beneath his right eye. “The Epidemic” makes Kutateladze sick by
blasting him with a fast right hand, separating Kutateladze from
his senses for a moment and setting him down. Vucenic leaps after
him, threatening with a guillotine but letting it go so he can
claim top position as he has slashed open Kutateladze’s left cheek.
Kutateladze sets up rubber guard and holds on, preventing Vucenic
from landing any more on him. The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Vucenic
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Vucenic
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Vucenic

Round 2

There is a clap of hands to begin the second round, and Kutateladze
starts off first with two front-leg head kicks that are blocked.
Vucenic swipes at him with a left hook, and he defends from a right
hand and ducks another to get in on his man. Vucenic backs
“Georgian Viking” up with his punches, and Kutateladze tackles him
over with a takedown but is rolled by the Brit to force them both
back to their feet. Vucenic jabs as he gets clinched, and he pushes
Kutateladze to the wire and knees him in the belly. Kutateladze
lands an elbow on the break, and Vucenic’s jab has opened a cut on
the bridge of the nose as well. Kutateladze fakes low and goes high
with a jump knee, and Vucenic sees it coming from a mile away and
subsequently avoids the body kick. Vucenic misses with a big right
hand and shakes his head, and he runs after his man and boots him
with a head kick. Vucenic smushes Kutateladze against the wire and
tries to drag him to the floor by sheer force of will, and he fails
and looks for trips. Kutateladze stifles those efforts and turns
his foe around, kneeing Vucenic in the gut a few times. Vucenic
answers with his own knees, but Kutateladze’s are much more
forceful. Vucenic hunts for a trip and spins Kutateladze around,
and he keeps his footing when Kutateladze goes for his own trip.
They split apart, and Kutateladze slashes out with an elbow that
just misses by a matter of inches. Kutateladze splits the guard
with a front kick, and he blasts the liver with a left hand and
kicks him in the same spot. Kutateladze zings out an elbow that
opens a significant cut on the hairline, and the two clash heads
together and need a moment to get their respective balance. When
they get back to it, Kutateladze attacks a takedown, successfully
planting Vucenic on his back with seconds left in the round.
Kutateladze uses grinding elbows to his benefit, jamming a few down
on the face until it concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze

Round 3

Gloves are touched to commence the final frame. Kutateladze jabs
and follows with a right hand, and he evades a Vucenic counter and
tags him with a right. Vucenic shoots low for a double, and he
dumps the Georgian to the floor for a moment. Kutateladze scrambles
madly to get back to his feet, leaning against the wall and
defending multiple takedown attempts. Kutateladze grabs the fence
to not get taken down, and he slides out the back door after the
cheeky foul and deposits Vucenic to his back. Kutateladze
reintroduces himself with a power elbow, thwarting submission
setups and landing some ground-and-pound along the way. Vucenic
scoots himself to the fencing, and now it is Kutateladze who is
nearly slid off the back. In an unorthodox but dazzling move,
Kutateladze kicks off the fencing before falling off to take
Vucenic’s back. Kutateladze completes the body triangle and
threatens with strikes from behind. When Vucenic turns to one
direction to break up the body lock, Kutateladze shifts his legs to
the other, disallowing Vucenic to escape. Vucenic sits up,
Kutateladze’s back against the wall, and he absorbs punches,
punches and more punches. Kutateladze raises his arm in the air as
he pounds on the side of his foe’s head, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze (29-28
Kutateladze)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze (29-28
Kutateladze)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze (29-28
Kutateladze)

The Official Result

Guram Kutateladze def. Jordan Vucenic via Unanimous Decision
(29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Round 1

The lone heavyweight contest on the fight card plays out on the
prelims rather than slotted undeservedly on the main card. Fresh
off a deflating headlining loss to suffer his first pro defeat,
Gaziev (12-1, 1-1 UFC) is hungry to bounce back from that setback
at the expense of Kentucky judoka Mayes (11-6, 1 NC; 4-4, 1 NC
UFC). The reputation of the fictitious Kentucky Judo Federation is
at stake over the next 15 minutes, and referee Keith Peterson is
ready to handle the nonsense. There is a clap of hands, and Mayes
says hello with punches, a low kick and a looping left hand. Gaziev
backs him off with a one-two, and Mayes fires back but is tagged
with a right hand. Mayes backs up to the wall as he tries to get
his mind right, and Gaziev shoots for a double and clasps his
hands. Gaziev slams his man to the floor, and the entire Octagon
shudders at the impact. The Bahraini by way of Russia moves to half
guard with ease, where he frames off the face with his elbow and
jams it down. Gaziev frees his hand from the grasp of his foe to
slug him in the chops with two right hands, and he keeps “Lord
Kong” flat on his back with no sign of getting back to his feet as
there are over three minutes left in the round. Gaziev considers
taking side control but prefers the half guard to maintain control,
and he winds up with a hard right hand that bounces off the
forehead. Gaziev lands right hands when he is able to wriggle his
arm out of the grip of his adversary, landing enough to keep
Peterson from standing them up. Gaziev presses down with his
shoulder for a potential arm-triangle choke, and he sits up to land
more offense. Gaziev fights off Mayes trying to sit up and punches
him in the face. Gaziev hooks his arm around the neck again to keep
Mayes flat, lumping him up with short but powerful blows. When the
10-second clapper sounds, Gaziev punches his way into an
arm-triangle choke from the other side, but the horn toots before
it is completed.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev

Round 2

The heavyweights meander towards one another as the second round
opens, and Mayes keeps his man honest by busting him in the chops
with several hooks. The blows are strong but largely one, and then
another, rather than chained together. Mayes gets in an uppercut
and shoots for his own takedown, and Gaziev grabs pursues a
takedown. Mayes grabs the shorts of his foe, pulling them way up,
and Peterson warns him for the grab and calls time to issue another
warning instead of taking a point. They resume where they left off,
and Mayes ducks, seeing an elbow whiz by his head. Mayes gets back
to boxing range, slinging hooks, and Gaziev clashes forward and
slams his head into the chin of his foe. Peterson observes it but
does not call time, and Gaziev fights his way into a clinch as
Mayes is not overly thrilled. Gaziev drives knees to the solar
plexus, and he rings Mayes’ bell with an elbow. Mayes staggers
back, away from the clinch, but Gaziev snags him again and starts
peppering him again with knees. As the heavyweights slow to a
crawl, the commentary booth remarks that the temperature feels like
over 100 degrees Fahrenheit with humidity in the arena around 75%.
The big men are pouring sweat and are totally wiped out, kneeing
one another with short shots as Gaziev is warned by draping his
hands over the fencing. Mayes sneaks in a left hand, and Gaziev
pays him back with a thumping knee. Gaziev has no interest in
letting go or deviating from his approach, clinging to the Kentucky
native and spamming knees until the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev

Round 3

Mayes starts out the final round with a fresh head of steam, racing
in with punches that are telegraphed and largely miss the mark.
Gaziev avoids some, eats others, and responds when caught. Mayes
swings hard to the liver, and Gaziev runs at him and bowls him
over, landing in half guard and returning to smothering top control
form. Gaziev stays just busy enough to not have Peterson warn him
for inactivity, smacking Mayes in the dome and otherwise making his
life miserable. Gaziev holds on with his forearm, and Mayes
complains about something. Mayes starts talking to Gaziev, and
Peterson does call for more action. Gaziev answers with a few
fists, and Mayes answers him with words that Gaziev may or may not
understand. Gaziev postures up to drop down heavy left hands, and
Mayes keeps chattering and softly lands punches to the side from
his back. Mayes holds on and is trying to have a conversation,
mentioning that the fans are booing Gaziev. Gaziev controls and
grinds, sapping time away and ending the rough matchup
disappointingly.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27 Gaziev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27 Gaziev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gaziev (30-27
Gaziev)

The Official Result

Shamil Gaziev def. Don’Tale Mayes via Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)

Round 1

The only one of 26 competitors directly from this host nation,
Yahya (12-4, 0-1 UFC) reps the UAE tonight as a regular of the
Etihad Arena. He welcomes Nova Uniao prospect Fernandes (8-2, 0-1
UFC) overseas, in a lightweight affair where one of these two will
finally get their name on the board in the UFC—barring something
unusual. Before they engage, referee Marc Goddard clocks them in,
and the fighters with opposing 75% finish rates touch ‘em up. It
becomes a low battle of leg kicks after they touch gloves, with
Fernandes’ heavier. One kick from the Brazilian is countered with a
right hand over the top that marks up Fernandes’ nose, and he is
not overly concerned and keeps tossing heavy kicks. Yahya fires
them back, clipping the Brazilian with a short combo, but Fernandes
fires right back at him. Fernandes hammers the front leg with a
kick, compromising it just two minutes in. Yahya switches stances,
and when he moves back, Fernandes kicks him again. The calf is
welted and swelling badly for the UAE native, and Fernandes is
loose and goofing around, sticking his tongue out with a wide
stance and his hands down. Fernandes rings off a one-two and a
front kick before Yahya can get to him, and he nails the front leg
with another kick to force “The UAE Warrior” to change stances.
Fernandes pushes away when Yahya closes in on him for a body lock
takedown effort, and he darts in with a high kick that goes wide.
Fernandes clobbers the front leg once more, and Yahya can barely
put weight on it. Fernandes sneaks up a question mark kick that
buzzes the hair, and he jabs the body with front kicks. Fernandes
intercepts his man with a right hook, and he pins a few punches on
the chin as Yahya tries to go for broke. Yahya tanks the power
punches but is completely outgunned, and even walking is tough for
him. Fernandes has a hard kick countered, and he reels and fires
another one off that makes Yahya limp badly.
Yahya rushes in, and Fernandes knocks him off his feet with a setup
left hook and a blistering right hand. The Brazilian pounces,
knowing that Yahya is in a bad way, and he unleashes a blazing fury
of punches and hammerfists. Goddard implores Yahya to fight back,
but Fernandes is battering him with unanswered, undefended
blows. It does not take long for Goddard to see
enough, and he waves the fight off in our first stoppage of the
night. Yahya needs to be helped back to his feet, and Fernandes is
on the map after a one-sided shellacking.

The Official Result

Kaue Fernandes def. Mohammad Yahya R1 4:45 via TKO (Punches)

Round 1

It took seven fights for the promotion to matchmake a fight between
two members of the UFC roster with records in it over .500.
Murzakanov (13-0, 3-0 UFC) puts his unbeaten record on the line as
the winner of three straight in the Octagon, while powerhouse
Menifield (15-4-1, 8-4-1 UFC) hunts to take that “0” away. Fists
are sure to fly in a moment, but the light heavyweights first wait
for referee Dan Movahedi to check in the fight. They hesitantly
touch gloves, and Menifield is the one looking for offense first
but is not running at his opponent. Murzakanov times an uppercut as
Menifield dips down, and he snaps out a powerful jab. Menifield
gets jabbed and reaches with a right hand, and he tries again but
is out of range. “The Professional” steps in with a heavy left, and
he backs Menifield up and drills him with a clean knee. Menifield
shakes it off and blocks a head kick, and Murzakanov bears down on
him and lays into him with heavy punches and a knee. Menifield
blocks the worst of the blows, but the body shots are landing
cleanly on him. Menifield ties him up, and Murzakanov lands a few
punches to the back of the head before pushing the Texan to the
wire. Murzakanov is warned twice for hooking his fingers in the
cage, and again strikes Menifield in the back of the head. They
jockey for position against the wall, and fans in the building grow
restless while Movahedi asks for more from the two. Menifield
breaks away and ducks into an uppercut, and he takes a knee and
winds up with a big right hand. Murzakanov is warned for another
foul, and he blocks a right hand as they clash heads due to both
going forward. Menifield takes a body shot and gives a right back,
and he eats a short combination and gets his bell rung. Murzakanov
bullies him to the fencing again, and Menifield wants nothing to do
with it and breaks off. Murzakanov lashes out with an elbow, and
his uppercut clangs off the forehead. The Russian plants a right
hand on the dome and a left to follow, and he slips away from a
punch and draws some blood over the eye of his foe. Menifield goes
up with a kick that is blocked, and he absorbs a flush body kick.
The horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Murzakanov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Murzakanov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Murzakanov

Round 2

The light heavies are ready to get after it, and Movahedi has to
ask them to back off before beginning. When they do, Menifield
swarms into action, only to walk into a knee and an uppercut.
Menifield launches big shots back, but Murzakanov’s defense is
solid and his counters are sharp. Murzakanov draws further blood
with an uppercut on the left eye that is leaking, and he slips
punches and does not stand still long enough to eat big strikes.
Menifield shrugs off two uppercuts that would knock out lesser
fighters and punch his way into the distance. Murzakanov loops two
right hands around the guard, and Menifield tanks vicious punches
without batting an eye. Murzakanov drives a knee to the chin and a
huge right hand on the temple, and gets caught with a clean
uppercut that surprises him. Murzakanov punches and pushes off, and
he jumps with a knee and rips a left to the body. Menifield lumbers
forward swinging hooks, and Murzakanov is the faster and crisper,
and he blocks a head kick. Murzakanov whiffs on a booming uppercut
and ties his man up, pushing the Fortis MMA-trained fighter to the
wall while watching the clock. Menifield turns him around and
shoots low for a double, bailing on it when Murzakanov stands him
up and threatens with a counter trip. This results in a reset, and
both men attack with uppercuts. Menifield walks face-first into a
monster left hand, and he hurts Murzakanov with a sudden counter.
This only infuriates the Russian, who swings with bad intentions
and rocks Menifield badly.
Three ferocious punches from “The Professional” knock Menifield’s
head around, who stumbles back and falls over when retreating.
Murzakanov runs at the downed man, bludgeoning him with a
hammerfist and a punctuating right hand, with the second shutting
Menifield’s lights out. Movahedi pulls Murzakanov off
of the doomed Menifield, and Murzakanov walks off to celebrate with
his corner. Menifield comes to, spitting out his mouthpiece, and
his team might need to explain what happened. Murzakanov is now
14-0 with 10 knockouts, with this one undoubtedly the biggest of
his career.

The Official Result

Azamat Murzakanov def. Alonzo Menifield R2 3:18 via KO
(Punches)

Round 1

The main card kicks off with a potential banger at 155 pounds,
between two athletes who combine for two decision wins across their
36 pro victories. Alvarez (20-3, 5-2 UFC) sports a marvelous 100%
finish rate, while the two triumphs on the scorecards can be
attributed to Brener (16-4, 3-1 UFC). In this Spain vs. Brazil
battle, referee Lukasz Bosacki takes charge to make sure there are
no ill international relations. There is a fist bump to get things
started, and Brener engages with a pair of leg kicks. Brener jabs
his way into range, and he kicks the lead leg and gets knocked back
with a right hand. Alvarez loads up on a power right hand to get
Brener’s attention, and he walks the Brazilian down while measuring
him with a jab. Alvarez calmly cuts off the cage, and he pins a
one-two on the chin. Brener ducks down, directly into a standing
guillotine choke, and he furiously throws Alvarez off of him.
Alvarez resets and jabs the body, and he hops away from a jumping
low kick. Brener keeps working on the leg and tosses out a front
kick to mix things up, strafing to the side when Alvarez advances.
Alvarez boots his man in the head, rings his bell with two punches
and rails him with a jump knee. Brener absorbs it all without
flinching, and he ties Alvarez up and looks to throw him down. The
gangly Alvarez does not go down, landing in a 50-50 position and
getting back up. Alvarez targets the liver with a left and kicks
his man as well. Blasting Brener in the body and then kneeing him
on the chin, Alvarez lines up a few more knees until Brener shoots
in on his hips. Alvarez welcomes this as he fastens a brabo choke,
and Brener rolls to his side and back in hopes of defending the
submission. Brener pulls on Alvarez’ shorts to defend it, and
Alvarez puts as much pressure as he can muster on the choke. Brener
miraculously survives to the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez

Round 2

Alvarez is so ready to get back to it, he paces in his corner
before they begin. When they do, gloves are briefly touched, and
Alvarez moves right to the middle of the cage. Brener awkwardly
moves back and forth, hands up and down, but Alvarez does not
flinch even when absorbing a clean left hand on the jaw. Alvarez
swings his way in, and Brener counters with a left and digs a body
shot to open up a right hand over the top. Alvarez pushes with a
front kick and irritates Brener’s nose with a long jab, and he aims
a jab at the body while backing away from a front kick. Alvarez
zips a left and a right to the midsection, and Brener charges,
landing and getting caught with a right at the end. Brener kicks
the body a few times, and Alvarez jabs him up. Brener works the
body and shoots for a takedown, where he pushes Alvarez to the wall
but cannot wrench him to the canvas. Alvarez splits off and jabs a
front kick to the ribs, and Brener kicks him and rushes away.
Brener swipes out with a left hook, and it is one-and-done. Alvarez
continues to plod forward, sneaking a left around the guard and
aiming a right hand to the sternum. Alvarez blocks a kick aimed at
his noggin and keeps the pressure going, doubling up on a jab to
make Brener scoot away. Alvarez follows him around, jabbing and
following one with a low kick. Brener kicks him back in the same
spot, and he darts in with a leaping left. Alvarez catches Brener
coming in with a sniping left, and he just misses with a long right
hand and a head kick. Brener keeps moving to not take anything
flush, and he scoops a left hand under the guard. Alvarez paws out
a few jabs to stay busy, and he backs off when Brener charges him.
Brener walks through a jab to connect with a right hand, and
Alvarez walks him down and boots him in the raised guard. Brener
tries to jump knee him, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alvarez

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result

Round 1

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 2

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 3

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 4

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

Round 5

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round:
Brian Knapp scores the round:
Tristen Critchfield scores the round:

The Official Result