UFC Saudi Arabia ‘Adesanya vs. Imavov’ Play-by-Play, Results &

Sherdog’s live
UFC Saudi Arabia coverage will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. ET. The
event is also known as
UFC Fight Night 250.

Round 1

Heavyweights kick off festivities at the anb Arena, where the
unbeaten Abdelwahab (5-0, 0-0 UFC) returns to the cage for the
first time since July 30, 2022 to lock horns with Pogues (11-4, 2-1
UFC). Chris Tognoni draws the officiating assignment. Glove touch
gets us going. Abdelwahab takes the center of the cage and pushes
his counterpart onto the back foot. They trade leg kicks, then
exchange jabs. Not much action to start. Overhand right from
Abdelwahab, followed by a takedown. Pogues builds a base to all
fours and eats a series of punches and hammerfists. Pogues gets
back to his feet, and they float into open space. Nice jab from the
American. Abdelwahab already breathing heavily. The Egyptian scores
with a leg kick, then eats a pair of jabs for his troubles. Two
minutes to go. Pogues follows a one-two with a leg kick, then
another. Abdelwahab struggling with output here. Pogues doubles up
on his jab, dodges an overhand right and counters with a right
cross. Leg kick from Abdelwahab. Pogues answers. Pace slows. We
could be in for a slog with this one. Pogues again doubles up on
his jab and scores with a leg kick.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab

Round 2

Time to see if the respite benefited either man. Abdelwahab again
commands the center of the cage. They trade jabs. Strong leg kick
from Abdelwahab. Pogues fires a double jab but eats a right hand on
the counter. Tognoni warns Pogues about extending his fingers.
Abdelwahab not doing much in terms of sustained offense, even as he
pressures his opponent onto the back foot. Pogues circles. They
trade left hooks. Two minutes left in the period. Sneaky overhand
right from Abdelwahab, followed by a leg kick. Pogues answers with
one of his own, then another. Abdelwahab crashes forward with a
left hook but misses his target. Pogues slides away into open space
and hammers away with his jab. Leg kick from Abdelwahab. They spend
the final seconds throwing and largely missing.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdelwahab

Round 3

With neither man setting the world on fire, it’s anyone’s guess as
to what the scorecards look like. Abdelwahab stalks from the
center. Pogues circles. Similar narrative to the first two rounds.
Pogues smiles after they trade punches. He then narrowly misses on
a head kick. Abdelwahab trudges forward, controlling the cage and
throwing intermittently. Both men flurry. Nothing consequential
finds the mark. Surprising that Abdelwahab has not made a pass at a
takedown since the first round. Risk-averse approach from both men
has turned this into a forgettable encounter. Leg kick from Pogues.
Sharp two-punch burst from Abdelwahab, staring with a right hook.
More jabs from Pogues, followed by a pair of straight rights.
Abdelwahab responds with an inside leg kick and presses the
American into the fence, only to hesitate and allow Pogues to
escape to open space. Fifty seconds left. Pogues connects with
hooks from both hands, eats an overhand right and returns fire.
Sharp one-two from Abdelwahab. Pogues beckons him forward. They
trade at the end but hit nothing but air.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Pogues (29-28 Abdelwahab)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Pogues (29-28 Abdelwahab)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Pogues (29-28
Abdelwahab)

The Official Result

Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Jamal Pogues—Split Decision (27-30, 29-28,
29-28)

Round 1

Featherweights are next to the stage, as Alexander (8-4, 1-2 UFC)
collides with Grad (14-2, 0-0 UFC) at 145 pounds. Kerry Hatley
serves as the third man in the cage. Grad immediately pushes
forward and walks into a few punches and leg kicks. He shoots on
the hips, then settles into the clinch. Alexander turns him into
the cage, and they jockey for position. They separate. Grad presses
forward. Alexander narrowly misses on a flying knee. Overhand right
from Grad, followed by a short left hook. He threatens with a
single-leg and uses it to sneak behind Alexander. Grad feeds the
Brazilian knees to the legs. Elbows from Alexander, who counters a
takedown into top position. Ground-and-pound ensues. Alexander now
hovering above his counterpart. Grad kicks at the knees from the
butt-scoot position. He scrambles to his feet and secures a
double-leg takedown. Alexander sweeps and again stands above his
opponent, kicking at the legs. A minute to go. Grad stands.
Multi-punch combos from Alexander. Alexander clips Grad with an
elbow on the way in, shrugs off a takedown attempt and scrambles
into a position from which he can strike.

Sherdog Scores

Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Alexander
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Alexander
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Alexander

Round 2

Grad charges forward, and they exchange leg kicks. Alexander
circles off the cage. Powerful leg kick from Alexander sits down
Grad. Sharp one-two from the Brazilian, then another. Alexander
snaps back Grad’s head with an uppercut. Not going well for Grad.
Alexander cutting loose with two-, three- and four-punch bursts.
Grad counters a leg kick into a takedown and sets up in half guard,
then progresses briefly to full mount. Alexander scrambles. Grad
settles back in mount and gets his ground-and-pound in gear.
Alexander reclaims half guard, but the tide seems to have turned,
at least for now. Elbows and hammerfists from Grad.

Back to full mount. Alexander fading here. Crushing elbow from Grad
and another. Punches fall in bunches, with Hatley hovering
overhead. More unanswered punches from Grad, and the veteran
referee intervenes.