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UFC 280 Prelims: Belal Muhammad Swarms Undefeated Sean Brady to Stoppage



Non-stop pressure was the name of the game for Belal Muhammad.

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The VFS Academy product proved his worth in the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight division yet again, as he took out the previously unbeaten Sean Brady with punches in the second round of their featured UFC 280 prelim on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Muhammad (22-3, 13-3 UFC) brought it to a close 4:47 into Round 2, posting his first victory via knockout or technical knockout since September 2016.

Brady (15-1, 5-1 UFC) tried to keep the former Titan Fighting Championship titleholder at bay with leg kicks and counters but never managed to draw the action to the canvas, where his world-class jiu-jitsu skills might have come into play. Muhammad connected with an overhand right late in the second round, hit the accelerator and unleashed a burst of unanswered punches that prompted referee Lukasz Bosacki while a visibly compromised Brady was still upright.

Promising Borralho Flummoxes Muradov


Dana White’s Contender Series alum Caio Borralho called upon takedowns, positional advances and an active submission game in capturing a unanimous decision over Monster Gym standout Makhmud Muradov in a three-round middleweight clash. Borralho (13-1, 3-0 UFC) carried all three scorecards: 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Muradov (25-8, 3-2 UFC) was a step or two behind for much of the match. Borralho achieved full mount in all three rounds, stayed busy on top and diligently hunted for rear-naked chokes, arm-triangles and armbars. While his efforts failed to net the desired finish, they forced Muradov to play defense and kept him out of his comfort zone for long stretches.

Borralho, 29, will ride a 10-fight winning streak into his next assignment.

Determined Krylov Sinks Oezdemir


Former Fight Nights Global champion Nikita Krylov overcame an inauspicious start to lay claim to a unanimous decision over Volkan Oezdemir in a three-round confrontation between Top 10 light heavyweights. All three members of the cageside judiciary scored it for Krylov (29-9, 10-7 UFC): 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

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Oezdemir (18-7, 6-6 UFC) had the Ukrainian on the run with a series of clubbing right hands in the opening round but failed to dictate the terms of their engagement. Krylov slowly turned the tide in his favor throughout a chaotic first five minutes, then seized the reins. He battered Oezdemir with power punches and thudding kicks to the head but did his best work with takedowns, ground-and-pound and top control. Krylov kept his foot on the gas down the stretch, stamping out whatever fight was left in the fading Swiss striker.

It was just the second decision win of Krylov’s 38-fight career.

Resurgent Nurmagomedov Handles Omargadzhiev


Onetime Professional Fighters League quarterfinalist Abubakar Nurmagomedov posted his second win in as many outings with a unanimous decision over Gadzhi Omargadzhiev in a three-round welterweight tilt. Nurmagomedov (17-3-1, 2-1 UFC) swept the scorecards with 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 nods from the judges.

In what was a pedestrian effort on both sides, Nurmagomedov managed to keep his nose in front. He delivered timely takedowns, used an effective sprawl and made the more memorable connections with his hands. Omargadzhiev (13-2, 0-2 UFC) moved on a guillotine choke in the first round and a kneebar in the second but went nowhere with either maneuver. Fatigue took a bite out of the two men in Round 3, the collective pace slowing to a crawl.

After a 13-0 start to his career, Omargadzhiev has come up short in back-to-back bouts.

Crafty Petrosyan Outpoints Dobson


Sharp leg kicks and crisp one-twos spurred Armen Petrosyan to a unanimous decision over fellow Dana White's Contender Series graduate A.J. Dobson in a three-round middleweight scrap. All three cageside judges struck 30-27 scorecards for Petrosyan (8-2, 2-1 UFC).

Output was an issue for Dobson (6-2, 0-2 UFC), who seemed hesitant to pull the trigger against the Armenian muay thai stylist. The Mark Coleman protégé was also ineffective with his takedowns, failing to consolidate them with meaningful follow-up attacks. On the feet, Dobson was little more than a sitting duck. Petroysan picked him apart with a death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach from the perimeter, leaning on his technical and tactical superiority in the standup exchanges.

Petrosyan has rattled off four victories in five appearances.

Mokaev Armbar Dismisses Gordon


KHK MMA Team prospect Muhammad Mokaev kept his perfect professional record intact, as he put away onetime TKO Major League MMA titleholder Malcolm Gordon with an armbar in the third round of their flyweight pairing. Gordon (14-6, 2-3 UFC) conceded defeat 4:26 into Round 3, his modest two-fight winning streak having run its course.

Mokaev (9-0, 3-0 UFC) took charge with takedowns and positional control, dodged a bullet late in the second round—he wandered into a rear-naked choke attempt—and largely controlled the exchanges. The Brave Combat Federation veteran executed a takedown midway through Round 3, snuck around to Gordon’s back and transitioned to the fight-ending armbar.

The 22-year-old Mokaev has submitted three of his past four opponents.

Rosa Stifles Struggling Lansberg


Repeated takedowns, effective ground-and-pound and asphyxiating top control carried Parana Vale Tudo’s Karol Rosa to a majority decision over former Superior Challenge champion Lina Lansberg in a three-round women’s flyweight affair. Scores were 29-27, 29-27 and 29-28.

Rosa (16-4, 5-1 UFC) weathered an early knockdown and went about exploiting the weaknesses in her counterpart’s approach. She struck for takedowns in the first and second rounds, settled in half guard and piled up points with short-range punches and elbows. Lansberg (10-7, 4-6 UFC) offered little resistance. Rosa—who was docked a point for an illegal knee strike in the middle stanza—turned to the clinch in Round 3, where she connected in combination, mixed in standing elbows and put the Swede in genuine peril.

Lansberg, 40, has lost three fights in a row.
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