What a comeback victory for @MerabDvalishvil
[
#UFC266 | Live on @ESPNPlus &
ESPNews ] pic.twitter.com/tk1wM7wgbi— UFC (@ufc)
September 26, 2021
Merab
Dvalishvili now has the world wondering whether or not he is
human. The Serra-Longo Fight Team product staged a remarkable comeback and
climbed another rung on the Ultimate Fighting Championship
bantamweight ladder, as he put away Marlon
Moraes with punches in the second round of their featured UFC
266 prelim on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Dvalishvili
(14-4, 7-2 UFC) brought it to a close 4:25 into Round 2, extending
his current winning streak to seven fights.
Moraes (23-9-1, 5-5 UFC) slammed kicks into the former Ring of
Combat champion’s lower leg, ripped combinations to the head and
connected with a crippling left hook in the first round. He swooped
in for a potential finish on the Georgian but emptied his gas tank
and conceded a takedown. The indomitable Dvalishvili cleared his
head and chipped away with hammerfist-laden ground-and-pound,
increasing the intensity of his strikes with each passing second.
By the end of the period, Moraes was teetering on the brink; and
the one-minute intermission did not afford him enough time to
recover. Dvalishvili followed a right hand into a takedown, worked
punches to the body and eventually trapped the Brazilian in a
kneeling position. Punches continued to fly until referee Keith
Peterson had seen enough.
Hooker Rights Ship, Sinks Haqparast
City Kickboxing star Dan Hooker
put the brakes on a two-fight losing streak with a comprehensive
effort, as he laid claim to a unanimous decision over Nasrat
Haqparast in a three-round lightweight scrap. Hooker (21-10,
11-6 UFC) swept the scorecards with 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26 marks
from the cageside judges.
Haqparast (13-4, 5-3 UFC) struggled and ultimately failed to
established a foothold in the match. Hooker controlled the center
of the cage, attacked the body with kicks and kept the Tristar Gym
export honest with consistent jab and close-quarters knee strikes.
He incorporated level changes, takedowns and ground-and-pound once
fatigue set in, as he turned in one of his most complete
performances to date.
The win was Hooker’s first since Feb. 23, 2020.
Daukaus Wrecks Returning Abdurakhimov
Chris
Daukaus wiped out former Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship
titleholder Shamil
Abdurakhimov with punches and elbows in the second round of
their heavyweight battle. In his first assignment since Sept. 7,
2019, Abdurakhimov (20-6, 5-4 UFC) met his end 1:23 into Round
2.
Daukaus (12-3, 4-0 UFC) was quicker on the draw. He swept
Abdurakhimov off his feet with a leg kick in the first round and
nearly finished him later in the period when he folded him with a
left hook, climbed to high mount and cut loose with
ground-and-pound. The Fighting Eagle rep survived, but the
proverbial writing was on the wall. Daukaus sent spit flying with a
crushing right cross to the Russian’s finely manicured beard early
in Round 2, swarmed into top position and
sealed the deal with punches and elbows.
The 31-year-old Daukaus now finds himself on a five-fight winning
streak.
Ascending Santos Outclasses Modafferi
Astra Fight Team contender Taila
Santos outstruck and outgrappled “The Ultimate Fighter” Season
26 finalist Roxanne
Modafferi to a unanimous decision in a three-round women’s
flyweight encounter. A short-notice substitution for Tatiana
Suarez, Santos (18-1, 3-1 UFC) drew 30-27 scorecards from all
three judges.
Modafferi (25-19, 4-7 UFC) found herself outmatched no matter where
she turned. Santos executed multiple takedowns, successfully
navigated the Syndicate MMA rep’s guard and piled up points with
punches and control time. The Brazilian did her best work on the
feet, where she pieced together clean combinations and sat down
Modafferi with a left hook in the third round.
Santos, 28, has recorded three straight wins and looks like an
emerging force at 125 pounds.
Turner Throttles Unbeaten Medic
Dana White’s Contender Series alum Jalin
Turner submitted Uros Medic
with a rear-naked choke in the first round of their lightweight
affair. Medic (7-1, 1-1 UFC) succumbed to blows 4:01 into Round 1,
as the Kings MMA rep tasted defeat for the first time as a
professional.
Turner (11-5, 4-2 UFC) struck for a takedown off a head kick,
worked from side control and later returned to his feet. From
there, he chopped down Medic with lightning-quick body-head
combinations, powered into top position and
moved to the back before snaking his arms in place for the
fight-ending choke.
The still-developing Turner has rattled off three consecutive
victories.
Maximov Subdues Replacement Brundage
Takedowns paired with ground-and-pound and positional control
carried the unbeaten Nick
Maximov to a unanimous decision over Factory X standout
Cody
Brundage in a three-round middleweight tilt. All three cageside
judges scored it 29-28 for Maximov (7-0, 1-0 UFC).
A short-notice replacement for Karl
Roberson, Brundage (6-2, 0-1 UFC) performed well under
less-than-ideal circumstances. Maximov more often than not closed
the distance and stayed glued to his hips, transitioning to
takedowns before either applying his ground-and-pound or targeting
the neck with chokes. He withstood a late surge from Brundage in
the third round, reversing into top position in the waning
seconds.
Brundage has lost two of his last three fights.
Surging Semelsberger KOs Sano
Clinch Academy representative Matthew
Semelsberger knocked out Martin Sano
in the first round of their brief welterweight confrontation. In
his first outing since Feb. 18, 2017, Sano (4-3-1, 0-1 UFC) bowed
out just 15 seconds into Round 1.
The 28-year-old Semelsberger (9-3, 3-1 UFC) pushed out his jab,
feinted to the body and
uncorked a devastating right hand upstairs that froze the
Californian where he stood. An unconscious Sano collapsed to
the canvas and ate a hammerfist before referee Mark Smith
could rescue him from further damage.
Semelsberger has won six of his past seven bouts.
Pearce Choke Submits Morales
Fight Ready export Jonathan
Pearce submitted Omar
Morales with a rear-naked choke in the second round of their
featherweight pairing. Morales (11-2, 3-2 UFC) conceded defeat 3:31
into Round 2, suffering his second setback in three
appearances.
Pearce (11-4, 2-1 UFC) dictated the terms of their engagement from
the outset, as he countered effectively and executed multiple
takedowns in a largely one-sided first round. He freed himself from
an attempted brabo choke in Round 2, transitioned to Morales’ back
and climbed to full mount before threatening with an arm-triangle
choke. Pearce advanced to the back when the Sanford MMA rep stood,
cinched the choke and let his squeeze do the rest.
The 29-year-old Pearce has recorded back-to-back victories, both of
them second-round finishes.