UFC on ESPN 48 ‘Strickland vs. Magomedov’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring

Blagoy Ivanov (259) vs. Alexander Romanov (264)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Romanov (-135), Ivanov (+115)

Round 1

The UFC continues its regular Saturday schedule with a fight card posted up at the Apex with a dozen fights in the middle of the day. The action begins with a fight among ranked competitors – there will be no “unranked heavyweight slobberknocker” tossed high on the prelims. Instead, two big men on the UFC’s outer edge of its top 15 throw down, when Romanov (16-2, 5-2 UFC) tries to get back on track against Ivanov (19-5, 1 NC; 3-4 UFC). The former is riding the first losing streak of his career, while the latter has had his hand raised just once in the last four years. This 523-pound rumble will be overseen by referee Kerry Hatley, and the hostilities commence with a sporting glove touch. Romanov moves to the center of the cage, while Ivanov circles along the outside. Neither fighter engages for the first minute, with a few off-target pawing jabs with nothing on them to find his range. Romanov steps in, 70 seconds into the fight, and lands the very first strike in the form of an overhand left. Ivanov shrugs it off, and the two return to a staring contest. Ivanov jumps in with a right hook, giving that one back, and Romanov cannot counter back in time before Ivanov is out of the way. Romanov tries to loop a right hand around the guard, and Ivanov blocks and aims a right straight down the pipe. Romanov kicks low and misses a lumbering left hook, and he follows that inaccurate blow with another leg kick. Ivanov sits down, waiting for the leg kick, to pop Romanov with a sharp left hook. Romanov shoots in for a takedown that is easily stonewalled before Romanov can even reach for a leg, and the two get back to boxing range. Romanov chips at the inner calf, and he jabs the body and swipes out with a right hook that misses the mark by a matter of inches. Ivanov rings his bell with a left hand, and Romanov flails back but is short of his intended target. “King Kong” gets off another leg kick and crashes the pocket for a takedown, and Ivanov shuts him down only to absorb a flush knee to the body. Ivanov walks into the tail end of a right hook, but he pays it no mind as he flicks out a jab that snaps the head back. Romanov chains a few missing punches into a solid leg kick, and Ivanov grits his teeth and punches his way into a combo. Romanov rails Ivanov with a left hook, and the iron chinned Bulgarian completely no-sells it and takes another one on the chin. Romanov hops away when Ivanov gives chase, and he ducks a looping strike to clinch up and press “Baga” to the wall. The slow round ends in this position.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Romanov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Romanov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Romanov

Round 2

The heavyweights meet in the middle and clap hands to begin the second round, and Ivanov is quick to get back on his bike and circling to the side. Ivanov pokes out a jab or two, and Romanov leaps forward with a left hook that brushes past the head of his adversary. The two start setting up jabs, and doubling up on them while taking turns doing so. Romanov chops at the inner calf a couple times, and Ivanov is offensively limiting himself to jabs. Romanov kicks on the outside of the lead leg and uses his own to kick high. The jabs from Romanov lands have marked up Ivanov’s left eye, but Ivanov does not register any blows. Romanov swings a left hook as hard as he can, and he almost falls over when it does not connect. Romanov pounds his shin on the outside of the calf, and he uses his jab to decent effect to stave off an advancing Ivanov. Ivanov reaches him with a pawing jab, and his follow-up left hand is rolled. Romanov drives a one-two in the chin and crashes the pocket for a takedown, and Ivanov absorbs the punches, halts the takedown and gets kneed in the torso. Romanov presses him against the fence, and he succeeds in hitting a trip to throw the Bulgarian to his back. “King Kong” lands in side control, but he elects to move back into the half guard to hold Ivanov down. Romanov grinds down with his elbow on Ivanov’s jaw, controlling him until he is able to posture up and drop down some left hands. Ivanov turns to his side as he leans himself on the fence, and Romanov connects with short but effective lefts to frustrate Ivanov further. The round ends with Romanov sitting on Ivanov.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Romanov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Romanov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Romanov

Round 3

There is a final glove touch to start off the last round, and Ivanov is light on his feet and prepared to check the leg kicks that inevitably come his way. Ivanov loops a left around the guard, but it does not have the mustard on it to shake Romanov up. They proceed to crash together with fists flung, and Romanov takes advantage of the close proximity to drive a knee into the sternum. Ivanov turns up his volume, string short combinations together, and Romanov tries to keep him backed off with low kicks or jabs. Romanov sneaks a left hand over the top, and he pumps out the jab to further harm Ivanov’s face. Romanov leans forward for a potential takedown, and Ivanov shuts it down with ease and puts his fists in Romanov’s face as a response. They both slug it out, and Ivanov’s high guard and enough head movement keep him from taking the worst of the blows. Romanov times a big strike from his opponent to close in and jam Ivanov up, and he presses the Bulgarian against the wire and knees him. Ivanov shifts to the side to get out of the tie-up, and Romanov backs up, gains a full head of steam and leaps at him with a flying knee. Ivanov blocks it and chains a series of punches together for a sharp retort. Romanov does not abandon his jab, and when Ivanov gets closer, Romanov times a clean knee up the middle. Ivanov gets off an uppercut, and Romanov blasts him with a counter left. The two heavyweights start trading viciously, and their beards are granite as they are absorbing the blows cleanly. Romanov surprises his man with a right hook, and Ivanov paws at his eye as if he is struggling to see from it. This lets Romanov advance fast enough to tie him up and squeeze him into the fencing, where he gets off short knees on the inside. When Ivanov attempts a throw, Romanov counters him, chucks his foe to the floor, and finishes off the round with some frantic ground-and-pound. Time expires, and the big men have gone the distance.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Romanov (30-27 Romanov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Romanov (30-27 Romanov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Romanov (30-27 Romanov)

The Official Result

Alexander Romanov def. Blagoy Ivanov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Luana Carolina (126) vs. Ivana Siric Petrovic (125.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Petrovic (-210), Carolina (+180)

Round 1

With the previous pairing between two ranked competitors, the next nine bouts including this one will feature unranked combatants in the weight class in which they are fighting. This women’s flyweight contest also is one of three tonight to bring in a UFC newcomer, and this debutant is the unbeaten Croatian by way of Norway Petrovic (6-0, 0-0 UFC). She will look to introduce herself and impress the boss at the expense of “Dread” Carolina (8-4, 3-3 UFC), whose .500 UFC record might undersell her talents. The ladies clap hands as referee Mark Smith watches on, and Petrovic is the one to take the middle of the cage but faces a head kick that soars towards her. Petrovic blocks it and absorbs a low kick, and when she advances, she takes a right hand on the way in. Petrovic whiffs on a high kick of her own, and the ladies are warned for outstretched fingers pointing towards their opponents. Petrovic wades forward into action, landing a left hand, and Carolina keeps good head movement and avoids the worst of the swings. Carolina takes a solid right hand, gives one back that reddens Petrovic’s nose, and she crashes the pocket in pursuit of a body lock takedown. Petrovic defends well and turns her opponent around, and she hooks her leg around the side to toss Carolina to the floor. The Brazilian times this well, flipping Petrovic over and claiming top position. Carolina presses her head and shoulder down while in half guard, setting up an arm-triangle choke but elects to step over to full mount instead to attack. Petrovic bucks at the right time and snatches up Carolina’s arm for a kimura, but Carolina wrenches her arm up and lands some decent ground strikes. Carolina stands back up, and she attacks the leg with kicks and walks through an upkick to lower herself down into the guard. Petrovic rolls over and grabs hold of Carolina’s knee, but this opens her up for punches to the side of the head. Petrovic manages to flip Carolina over with her kneebar attempt, and she releases it to settle down in the guard. “Dread” closes her guard up and elbows a few times from her back, until she times a push-off to knock Petrovic off of her. Petrovic jumps back down and sets up a calf slicer with her legs, and she bails on it and attempts a heel hook with seconds to spare. Carolina appears unconcerned, and she smacks Petrovic a few times until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Carolina
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Carolina
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Carolina

Round 2

The second round opens with an aggressive Carolina, who fires off a high kick and series of punches to follow. Petrovic sits down on one single counter left hand to slow Carolina for a moment, and she leaps forward with a Superwoman punch that soars past her foe. Carolina jabs and gets off a low kick, and she dodges a counter to knee Petrovic in the chest twice. Carolina presses forward to shove the undefeated fighter against the fence, and she flirts with a throw but is stifled when Petrovic turns her about. Petrovic considers her own takedown, looking for a body lock and a trip, and Carolina counters her and tosses Petrovic to her knees. When Carolina gets off a few punches, Petrovic explodes back to her feet, and the two jockey for position while Carolina is busy with short knees. Petrovic loops her leg between Carolina’s in pursuit of a trip, but Carolina shuts it down and knees her a few more times for good measure. Petrovic responds with a few knees with her back jammed against the wire, and both ladies spin the other around as they try to impose their will. Petrovic looks for another outside trip, and Carolina shuts it down and breaks away and pops Petrovic on the break. With Petrovic backpedaling, Carolina advances, throwing kicks and punches mixed together in wild salvos. Petrovic blocks some and counters with a left, but Carolina is the far more active woman. Petrovic connects with two big hooks, shaking the Brazilian up, and allowing her to tie Carolina up and reposition her against the fencing. Smith calls for them to work as soon as they hit the wall, and they do by turning the other around back and forth. Carolina controls for longer stretches, and Petrovic decides to pick things up with a quartet of short but solid knees. Petrovic secures a trip with 10 seconds to spare, and she dumps Carolina to the floor. Carolina shuts down all offense but one elbow, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Carolina
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Carolina
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Carolina

Round 3

The final frame commences with Carolina in the driver’s seat, flinging several punches and ending the series with a head kick. Petrovic spins with a feeble back fist, and Carolina walks through it and connects with a mean right hand. Petrovic aims a high kick but it slaps under the armpit. Carolina gets in her groove, landing shots, sticking and moving. A frustrated Petrovic races forward and looks for a takedown, and Carolina reverses her with a trip and deposits the undefeated fighter to her back. Petrovic scoots towards the wall, but Carolina is on top of her in half guard, dropping down punches. Carolina sits up, getting some more power on her punches, and Petrovic sits up and stands despite absorbing them on the chin. Carolina changes levels for a double-leg takedown, and when that fails, she elects to lift Petrovic up and try to slam her down. Petrovic counters by trying to roll for a kneebar, but Carolina truncates the attempt and drops down several punches. Carolina looks to take the back as Petrovic turns, only for the Croatian woman to shake that off and put Carolina on the floor. Carolina closes up her guard when the sweep does not work, and she kicks her feet off Petrovic’s chest to get a little space. Petrovic sits up and goes after a toe hold, and Carolina turns over and kicks out of it. Petrovic suddenly cranks for an inverted heel hook, and Carolina rolls through it and grits out any attempt. Carolina defends the attempts and winds up on top, and she stands up with 10 seconds to spare. Carolina boots her foe upside the head, and she lands a few punches, dips back and spins with a back fist that grazes past the head at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Carolina (30-27 Carolina)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Carolina (30-27 Carolina)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Carolina (30-27 Carolina)

The Official Result

Luana Carolina def. Ivana Siric Petrovic via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Elves Brener (155) vs. Guram Kutateladze (155)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Kutateladze (-600), Brener (+450)

Round 1

After over a year off, Georgia’s Kutateladze (12-3, 1-1 UFC) will return to the cage in hopes of not going to a split decision for his third bout in a row. He will take on Chute Boxe Diego Lima’s Brener (14-3, 1-0 UFC), who happens to have won a split decision in his promotional debut in February. While the judges could be split, referee Chris Tognoni will not be, and he observes a glove touch from the lightweights to get things going. Kutateladze gets off a body kick and left to the ribs to start things off, and his high guard defends from the counter. Kutateladze jabs into a vicious low kick, and Brener leans back with a huge right hand that misses the mark. Brener pushes out of a clinch to swing for the fences, and this results in a tie-up again. Brener surprises the Georgian with a trip takedown, and he throws Kutateladze to the floor. Kutateladze employs a rubber guard off his back, hooking his left leg over the shoulder to trap Brener on top. Brener pulls out of that and settles down in the guard, and Kutateladze threatens with a quick triangle choke setup on his back. Brener ignores it, and Kutateladze scoots his way to the fence and stands up. Brener trips Kutateladze up to bring him back to his knees, and the two scramble and ultimately get free. Kutateladze thanks him for a quick head kick, and Brener wades forward into action with a step-in elbow. Kutateladze connects at the end of a one-two, and he gets pushed back with a simultaneous front kick. Kutateladze replies with his own front kick that slaps into the chin, and Brener kicks and slips. Kutateladze does not tackle him over, and instead is shocked when Brener throws him to his backside. Kutateladze stands up and knees the Brazilian in the belly, and Brener responds in kind before they break. Kutateladze sneaks a right over the top, and Brener is right in front of him and rushes into a takedown entry from his foe. Kutateladze ends up pressing Brener to the wire, grinding his forehead and tossing up short knees to stay busy. Kutateladze rings Brener’s bell with a flush elbow, and he lets Brener have it with a surge of punches. Brener drops to a knee, and he works his way back up and throws heat back. Although Brener gets tagged with one more powerful elbow, he survives the round, wobbled and still hurt as he meanders back to his corner.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze

Round 2

Brener starts the second round with a fire lit under his belly, despite taking serious damage at the end of the last frame. The two engage in a wild brawl, and Kutateladze intercepts his man with a step-in knee right on the chin. Brener wobbles back, and he attempts a takedown and gets shoved to his back. Kutateladze rips down several ferocious elbows, and blood starts spraying from Brener’s forehead. Kutateladze stands back to admire his work, and he lets Brener stand back up. Kutateladze digs a shot to the body and attacks the lead leg with a kick, and he blasts Brener with a left hook. Brener hops forward with a flying knee, but when that and a high kick miss, Kutateladze smashes him in the face with a right hand. Brener takes it cleanly and is still surviving, and he gets thrown to the floor but is let back up again. Brener sports a crimson mask but he is still with it, and he shakes it off and tries to attack. Kutateladze meets him in the middle with heavier strikes, and he takes a moment to gather his thoughts. Brener turns things up when Kutateladze is recouping, and he walks straight into a powerful elbow. Brener is wobbled yet again, and Kutateladze chains body shots into punches up top and high kick to follow. Kutateladze strings several punches together as he presses forward, and Brener answers him with a sharp jab that snaps the head back. Brener gathers a head of steam and lashes out with a few strikes, and Kutateladze absorbs them and comes out firing. The two clash kicks together, and both men are wearing it and still going after it. Kutateladze is slowing, but when they get in close, he rips an elbow over the top any chance he gets. Kutateladze digs a left to the body, and Brener shells up for a second. This lets Kutateladze trip him to the mat, and he wades past upkicks to climb into the guard. Brener hacks with elbows off his back, and Kutateladze gives him one much sterner back. Brener flails with upkicks when Kutateladze stands, and the thrilling and bloody round comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Kutateladze

Round 3

The doctor comes in between rounds to check on the cut on Brener’s hairline, and he cleared to continue. The two lightweight embrace after 10 minutes of intense action, and Kutateladze strikes first with a long one-two. He leans back from a spinning back elbow, and he keeps moving when Brener wings high kicks at him. Kutateladze rips a left to the body and a right to the head, and he chains a few punches together into a high kick. The blood has transformed Brener’s hair into something reminiscent of Edwin Dewees back in “The Ultimate Fighter,” but he does not care, as he swings for the bleachers and tags Kutateladze a few times in a furious exchange. The strikes knock Kutateladze’s mouthpiece out, and Brener goes after a takedown but is stuffed. When they separate, Kutateladze is given his gumshield back, and he starts throw punches and tomahawk elbows. Kutateladze fights through his clear fatigue to land shots on the outside, and he lets go with a body kick. Brener marches forward throwing hammers, and he walks into a pair of heavy hooks. The blood flows again from down Brener’s forehead, and Kutateladze makes it worse with merciless elbows and knees to the head. Kutateladze aims a kick to the head, and he closes in to throw Brener to a knee. The Brazilian stands and is pushed up against the wall, as both men take a much-needed respite. Brener moves first to get an elbow off, and they proceed to batter one another’s body with punches, kicks and knees. Kutateladze loads up on a body kick, and Brener slips a follow-up punch, steels himself and unloads a devastating short left hook that slams into the neck behind the ear. As if he were shot with a tranquilizer dart, Kutateladze suddenly grinds to a near-halt, his arms slumped by his side. A melting Kutateladze drops to a knee, barely in control of his faculties, and the energized underdog races ahead to seal the deal. Brener hammers down a few punctuating punches, and Tognoni has no choice but to wave off the fight to conclude the huge comeback. This is a tremendous victory for the Chute Boxe Diego Lima product, who is now the first fighter to knock out the durable man known as “Georgian Viking.”

The Official Result

Elves Brener def. Guram Kutateladze R3 3:17 via TKO (Punches)

Karol Rosa (146) vs. Yana Santos (144.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Rosa (-175), Santos (+150)

Round 1

A few weeks ago, Santos (14-7, 1 NC; 4-4 UFC) was expecting to encounter Macy Chiasson at bantamweight in what would have been an important fight given the post-Amanda Nunes landscape. Instead, she moves up in weight to the practically empty featherweight category to throw down with Rosa (16-5, 5-2 UFC). In theory, this could be a no. 1 contender fight if the promotion keeps the women’s 145-pound category together, but that remains to be seen. It will go down under the watchful eye of referee Kerry Hatley, and it kicks off with a cordial fist bump. Rosa engages first and throws hands, and Santos meets her with a few powerful punches right back. Santos strides forward to get a few knees up the middle, and Rosa replies with a sharp elbow when they are clinched. The two frantically race at one another, and Rosa grips the clinch and gets elbows on the break. Santos punches her way in, and she shells up when Rosa counters with a left and a right. The two both swing hard, and this results in a tie-up that Santos uses to push the Brazilian to the wall. Santos clings to her foe, kneeing her a few times from either side. Santos grinds, and Rosa palms her on the ear a few times. Santos chips away with short knees to the midsection, staying busy in the position while keeping Rosa stuck with her back at the wall. Santos sneaks an elbow over the top and stays closely pressed to her adversary, as her strike totals add up in this clinch position. Santos peppers Rosa with short left hands as she hangs on, and another elbow gets over the top before Rosa explodes to turn her around. Rosa gives her one single knee back before Santos tries to turn her about, and they split up. Rosa walks Santos down, and she blocks a body kick and bounces back. Santos throws punches and a body kick, and Rosa takes a subsequent front kick to the body. Rosa counters a leg kick with an overhand right, and she chases Santos around until they bump heads together. They end up clinching in the middle of the cage, and Santos shoves her to the fencing and starts up her knee attack again. Santos elects to separate, and Rosa connects with an overhand right that makes Santos think twice about closing in. Santos tosses out a low kick, and she spins with a back kick to the body. They both try to elbow each other from up close, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Santos
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Santos

Round 2

The second round begins as Rosa moves to the center of the cage and starts chasing Santos around again. Santos ducks back from a big one-two, and Rosa lands a solid body shot before Santos can grab hold of her and initiate the clinch. Rosa backs off to find a better angle of approach, and she goes back in and is quickly turned around by the Russian. Santos throws knees to any target, squeezing Rosa tight against the fence before popping her with an elbow. Santos backs away, and crashes forward to clinch back up. Santos sneaks over another elbow and decides to break, and Rosa starts walking her down throwing punches. They trade blows, and Rosa ends with a good right hand. They tie up and trade knees in the Thai clinch, and Santos circles away to keep moving. Santos whiffs on an axe kick, and they crash together for a brief clinch until they push off. Rosa stalks down her opponent, and she lands a leg kick only to get countered with an overhand right. Rosa marches forward with impunity, and she knees Santos on the way in. The two ladies engage in single strike excursions, where they dart in, land something, and get out. They take turns in these kinds of engagements, and Rosa fires off a head kick and lets Santos brush past her. Santos kicks the body with a side kick, and she keeps strafing laterally. Rosa lands a right hand and has her head kick blocked, and she swats away a step-in elbow so she can close the distance. Santos welcomes this and turns her around without batting an eye, and the close round wraps with the two stuck together.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rosa
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rosa
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rosa

Round 3

The last round has been reached, and Rosa is the immediate aggressor as she throws big punches. Santos snatches her up and pulls her into the clinch game, but Rosa pushes her away to return to kickboxing range. Santos keeps moving, and she kicks the body a few times as Rosa walks towards her. Santos comes in to clinch, and she backs out with an elbow that grazes off the cheek. Rosa plants the ball of her foot on Santos’ midsection, and she fires off a one-two that gets Santos’ attention. They trade heavy leg kicks, and the pocket collapses as they both rush at the other to launch knees. Rosa pushes off, and she counters a body kick with a thudding right hand. Santos hops back and gathers her thoughts, and she kicks low again. They swipe at one another with big kicks, and Rosa lumps her foe up with a right hand and a low kick that does not give off a slapping sound. Rosa plods onward, beating Santos to the punch a few times in brief skirmishes, and she lands a right hand on the nose to make Santos blink it out. Rose aims a right to the body, and she checks a leg kick in response. Santos tries to keep Rosa away with a front kick, and Rosa walks through it and parries a body kick that follows. Rosa splits the guard with a one-two, and the Brazilian is the aggressor and swinging with heavier blows. Santos peppers the lead leg with a kick, and Rosa delivers one much heavier. Rosa ties her up to land one single elbow, and she pushes off to gain space and not get trapped. Rosa lumbers towards her opponent constantly, throwing punches and the occasional kick, and Santos is stuck looking for counters. A high kick from Rosa grazes off the top of the head, and she plants a one-two on the chin. Rosa trips Santos out with 15 seconds left in the fight, and she jams down elbows to the face and punches to the side to conclude the fight.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Rosa (29-28 Rosa)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Rosa (29-28 Rosa)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rosa (29-28 Rosa)

The Official Result

Karol Rosa def. Yana Santos via Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

Joanderson Brito (145.5) vs. Westin Wilson (146)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Brito (-1400), Wilson (+850)

Round 1

The biggest betting favorite on the card by a country mile, Brito (14-3-1, 2-1 UFC) at -1400 odds is widely expected to blaze through his short-notice replacement foe. Rather than fighting Khusein Askhabov, the well-traveled Wilson (16-7, 0-0 UFC) steps in for his UFC debut as around a +800 underdog. The sport is a wild one and even massive favorites can lose – just look at Kutateladze earlier tonight – and Wilson does celebrate a 100% finish rate across his 16 pro victories. Referee Chris Tognoni will need to be on his A-game for what should be a fast and furious affair for as long as it lasts. Before the two featherweights engage, they touch gloves to signal they are glad to be competing tonight. Brito is the one to push the pace early, and Wilson fades back and eats a right hand. Brito wings another overhand right, and Wilson is out of the way in time. The karate style and stance from Wilson works against him, as Brito busts him in the chops with a pair of furious hooks. Wilson wobbles back to the fence, and Brito is so aggressive that Wilson grabs him to slow him down. Brito wings a right hand over the top, and Wilson responds with a potential trip attempt. Brito presses Wilson tightly on the fence, and he takes a knee to the chest. Brito slings him to the mat, and Wilson pulls on the cage with his toes. Brito lands in side control, keeping his shoulder pressed tightly on the Utah native. Wilson is again warned for grabbing the fence, and Brito stands up and grabs it to fight off a sudden, unexpected leglock. Tognoni swats his fingers out of the fence, and Brito drops down and busts Wilson in the face with a right hand. Wilson latches on to a sudden kneebar, and Brito pushes off and batters Wilson with thunderous right hands. As Wilson hangs on, rolled to his side with the submission no longer a serious option, Brito does not let him off the hook. “Tubarao” concludes his bombardment with fierce flurry of fists, and Tognoni jumps in to stop the fight as Wilson’s lights go out. The enormous favorite made short work of the late replacement, having now performed three first-round finishes in a row. An energized Brito loudly and angrily calls out Dan Ige for a future fight, flipping off double birds and calling for a main event spot. If not Ige, he will also take Alex Caceres, as he is very interested in a ranked adversary.

The Official Result

Joanderson Brito def. Westin Wilson R1 2:54 via KO (Punches)

Rinat Fakhretdinov (171) vs. Kevin Lee (171)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fakhretdinov (-200), Lee (+170)

Round 1

Closing out the prelims is the return of lightweight and welterweight stalwart Lee (19-7, 11-7 UFC), who left the UFC in 2021 and came back courtesy of a victory over fan-favorite Diego Sanchez in Eagle FC. The promotion is not doing him any favors in this comeback fight, as they have matched him at 170 pounds against the once-beaten Russian Fakhretdinov (20-1, 2-0 UFC), who has won 19 straight dating back almost exactly 10 years. There is no touch of gloves to kick off this contest, and referee Herb Dean will draw the charge for this preliminary headliner. Lee pushes out with a one-two, and Fakhretdinov fires off a leg kick and two big hooks to respond. Le swings back, and Fakhretdinov snaps the head back with a jab. Fakhretdinov pierces the guard with a one-two that knocks Lee clean off his feet, and he leans over and instead of pounding Lee out to pursue a submission. “Gladiator” secures a guillotine choke when Lee sits up, and he squeezes with all of his might as the two are dry as a bone. Lee, on his knees, wriggles, and the power guillotine is extremely tight. Lee tries to counter with a takedown, but before he can push through, the choke puts him all the way out. Dean checks on Lee and discovers that Lee has drifted off to dreamland, totally unconscious from the nasty maneuver. Dean halts the fight, and Fakhretdinov has passed a huge test with flying colors, putting away a former interim title challenger in under a minute. In victory, the Russian has now won 20 fights in a row, and the already stacked welterweight division has yet another contender to watch.

The Official Result

Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Kevin Lee R1 0:55 via Technical Submission (Guillotine Choke)

Brunno Ferreira (185) vs. Nursulton Ruziboev (183.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ferreira (-195), Ruziboev (+165)

Round 1

Make no mistake, the UFC chose violence for this main card opener in the middleweight division. With an astounding 42 finishes across their 44 pro wins, both Ferreira (10-0, 1-0 UFC) and the debuting Ruziboev (34-8-2, 2 NC; 0-0 UFC) would not like to leave this one on the hands of the judges. Ready to intervene at any second will be referee Mark Smith. The fighters clap hands together, and Ruziboev moves to the center of the cage while Ferreira switches stances several times. Ferreira absorbs a clean calf kick from a safe distance, and he blocks a jump kick and throws a front kick back. Ferreira slams his shin on the outside calf, and Ruziboev turns his leg to prevent some of the damage. Ruziboev steps in with a few punches, and Ferreira springs out of the way. Ruziboev catches a low kick and drills a straight right hand down Broadway. Ferreira hits the mat, his head bouncing off the floor, and he is stunned badly. “Black” hammers the nail with a fierce series of punches, putting “The Hulk” to sleep with his final onslaught. Smith waves the fight off, and Ruziboev has just stamped the significant upset while becoming the first fighter to beat the hard-charging Brazilian. With 33 finishes in his 35 victories, including this crushing knockout of a well-regarded talent, Ruziboev names himself as one to watch going forward.

The Official Result

Nursulton Ruziboev def. Brunno Ferreira R1 1:17 via KO (Punches)

Ismael Bonfim (156) vs. Benoit St. Denis (156)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Bonfim (-295), St. Denis (+245)

Round 1

From one group of finishers to another the UFC goes, this time at lightweight. Even though Bonfim (19-3, 1-0 UFC) has gone the distance in three of his last four, that is an aberration for the Brazilian had earned 12 of his previous 15 wins via stoppage. Looking to match him and then some is France’s St. Denis (10-1, 1 NC; 2-1 UFC), with 10 victories all inside the distance. Referee Herb Dean dons his proverbial hard hat before the two fighters get after it, and they start things off with a glove touch. The two immediately start gunning for one another, as St. Denis lines up several kicks to the body and head. Bonfim responds with huge counters, and he points to his body and urges St. Denis to come on keep kicking him. St. Denis obliges, hammering the ribs with kick after kick, and Bonfim blocks some of them and comes out swinging, but his big hooks miss. St. Denis backs him away with a swinging high kick, and he ducks a massive overhand right to secure a takedown and dump Bonfim on his back. Bonfim appears frustrated, and as he makes faces, St. Denis slices straight into full mount. The Frenchman works the body, and as he gets a little complacent, Bonfim sweeps him and turns him over. This results in a scramble that forces them both upright, and St. Denis kicks the body again and smacks Bonfim with a left hook. Bonfim bites down on his mouthpiece and flings a massive right hook, and St. Denis takes it flush and presses forward. Bonfim intercepts him with a stern knee, and St. Denis is stung but he still has the wherewithal to dive after a single-leg takedown. Bonfim sprawls and aims a knee at the chin, and St. Denis leans back just in the nick of time. St. Denis advances and lets loose two kicks before shooting for a double, and he changes to a single. When that too fails, he elects to switch to a body lock to toss Bonfim down, but Bonfim keeps his balance by leaning his gloves on the mat. St. Denis uses his body weight to lower Bonfim to the floor, and he takes the back when Bonfim rolls. St. Denis secures both hooks with a minute to spare, and he starts fishing for a choke. Bonfim hand-fights well to defend from a choke getting set up, but St. Denis clamps onto a neck crank as he turns it to the side. Bonfim wriggles out his head just enough, until the forearm of his opponent crushes down on his jaw. The rear-naked choke grip is not under the chin, so St. Denis decides to simply crank on the face with the full extent of his power. The pain maneuver is enough to force a surrender from the surging Bonfim, who bids farewell to a 13-fight win streak thanks to the vice-like squeeze of “God of War.” The victorious Frenchman retains his 100% finish rate, and he now celebrates nine subs in his 11 triumphs.

The Official Result

Benoit St. Denis def. Ismael Bonfim R1 4:48 via Submission (Face Crank)

Melissa Gatto (125.5) vs. Ariane Lipski (126)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Gatto (-210), Lipski (+180)

Round 1

It’s a battle royale in the women’s flyweight category as the main card rolls on, with “Queen of Violence” Lipski (15-8, 4-5 UFC) hoping to dish out some violence against fellow countrywoman Gatto (8-1-2, 2-1 UFC). The two are joined in the cage by referee Chris Tognoni, who will oversee the action and also oversees a glove touch. Gatto moves swiftly on the outside while Lipski stands in the middle of the Octagon, and Gatto does multiple rotations around her opponent before anything comes from it. Gatto tosses out a half-hearted one-two, and Lipski ignores it as it is nowhere close to the mark. Lipski reaches out with a left hook, and Gatto shadowboxes from a safe range. The two kick at the same time, and Lipski’s shin bounces off Gatto’s knee to no effect. Gatto sneaks in a right, and she hops away before Lipski can line up a counter hook. Lipski walks Gatto down, and she fires off a knee to the chest and a pair of punches. Gatto circles away and slaps a leg kick on the inside calf. Lipski gives her a few kicks back to the lead wheel, and Gatto darts in with a right hook. Lipski walks into a short combination, face-first, and she pays it no mind as it has nothing on it. Lipski aims a high kick when Gatto comes at her, but it grazes off the shoulder. Lipski loops a few punches to the body, and Gatto is gunshy and does not counter. A few successful punches from Gatto have marked up Lipski’s nose, and Lipski does not slow down her advancement, even if she does not cut off the cage or use much offense of her own. Lipski punches her way into a close range, where she kicks the ribs. Gatto snipes with a left hand, and she strafes away when Lipski bears down on her. Lipski turns her hips into a low kick, and she swarms Gatto with a few hooks only to get popped with a right hook as well. Lipski again tries to throw a head kick as Gatto pressures back, and she connects with a knee as Gatto crashes the pocket. One knee from each woman lands in the clinch before the tepid frame ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lipski
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lipski
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lipski

Round 2

The flyweights clap hands together to start off the second stanza, and they reintroduce themselves to one another with high kicks that bounce off their respective guards. Lipski eats a sharp right hand when she tries to put punches together, and Gatto has marked up Lipski’s face under the right eye and nose a bit. Lipski swings hard, and Gatto is able to move well enough to dodge them. Gatto fails to land a flying knee, and she does stick out a right hand on the landing. Lipski replies with a body kick and a pair of punches, leading Gatto into a takedown attempt. Gatto lands a few knees while she presses her weight on Lipski, and Lipski replies in kind. During a scramble, Lipski whips Gatto to the floor. Gatto springs right back up and turns the tables to drop Lipski to a knee for a moment. As Lipski works her way up, she ignores a knee or two to her thigh as she looks to escape. With Gatto holding on tight, the two decide to trade knees one after the other. On the break, both women look for right hooks, only to find they are out of range. Lipski wades into action pushing out a front kick, and Gatto backs her off with a one-two and a low kick. Lipski stands firm and smacks Gatto with a few punches, and she delivers a hard leg kick on the thigh. Gatto scores a one-two and is away before Lipski reaches her with a similar blow, and “Queen of Violence” manages to loop a right hand around the guard for one of her better clean strikes in the round. Lipski lands a body kick, and Gatto ties her up and pushes her into the wire. The round ends in this position.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Gatto
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Gatto

Round 3

Hands are clasped to begin the final frame, and it is Gatto who moves to the center of the cage first. Lipski lets loose a body kick, and she dings Gatto at the end of two hooks. Lipski follows them with a kick to the side, and she blocks a high kick to aim one low. Lipski strings strikes together and hurts Gatto, and Gatto responds with a takedown effort. Gatto works her way up, and Lipski is on her with strikes, including high kicks and leg kicks mixed in together. Gatto bounces a right hand off the guard, and she splits the guard with a right hand only to be answered back. Gatto dives after a single-leg takedown, and Lipski hops towards the fence to keep herself upright. Gatto holds on from behind, and she looks to get a hook in and tries to go for a choke grip. Lipski bucks her off and puts Gatto on her back. The former KSW champ settles down in the closed guard of her opponent, and then she postures up and stands up without landing much. Gatto has a high kick bounce off the chin, and Lipski grits her teeth and advances with a punch combination and a low kick. Lipski ducks into an uppercut, and her nose has started bleeding. Gatto fails to land another uppercut, and Lipski clips her with a big right hook. Lipski kicks Gatto in the head, and Gatto wears it well. Time expires in this close one as both women block kicks from the other. It could go either way.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Lipski (29-28 Lipski)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Lipski (29-28 Lipski)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Lipski (29-28 Lipski)

The Official Result

Ariane Lipski def. Melissa Gatto via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)

Max Griffin (170.5) vs. Michael Morales (170.5)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Morales (-240), Griffin (+200)

Round 1

Welterweights take center stage in the “featured fight of the night” slot, as Griffin (19-9, 7-7 UFC) has clawed his way back towards a .500 record courtesy of four wins in his last five appearances. While the last 14 fights for Griffin have been 50/50, the same cannot be said about opponent Morales (14-0, 2-0 UFC), who is a perfect 14 up and none down. The two are 14 years apart, and referee Kerry Hatley stands guard for the battle of 14s. There is no glove touch, and Griffin is active early on moving from side to side and staying on the outside. “Pain” causes some early pain with low kicks, and he is met with sharp jabs from the unbeaten youngster. Morales reaches his foe with a looping one-two, and he backs off when Griffin kicks the inside of his calf. They both snap out jabs, but Morales’ is faster and prods the nose. Griffin swings and misses, with Morales dancing out of the way of the punches but not the follow-up leg kick. Griffin charges with a stream of punches, and Morales bends over to avoid them and leaps at his man with a jump knee. There is a reset period, and Morales then attacks again with a flying knee that claps off the cup of the American. Griffin waves Hatley off, and he surges into action with a takedown attempt. Morales turns him around and separates, but Griffin is on him and his left hand has developed some swelling on Morales’ right eye. Griffin presses his weight on his opponent, and he gets kneed in the face by the younger man. Morales shakes Griffin off to get away, and he leaps at his opponent with a Superman punch. Morales lands and comes out swinging, and Griffin backs him into the fence with a clubbing right hand. Morales jumps with another kick, and his foot once more bounces into Griffin’s cup. Hatley does not recognize it, and the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Griffin
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Griffin

Round 2

The welterweights meet in the middle, and Morales claims the center of the cage and flashes out his jab. Griffin lunges in with a long left hand, and he backs away when Morales jumps at him with a kick. Morales tags Griffin with three punches, and Griffin shakes it out and gets staggered by a right hand. Morales charges into action, throwing so hard he almost falls over, and he rocks Griffin with another overhand right. Griffin sits down on a counter right, but Morales walks through it and is now in stalking mode. Griffin sticks him with a right but eats one right back, and his chin is durable and his counters effective enough to slow Morales down for a moment. Griffin gathers his thoughts and absorbs a jab, and he skirts out of the way when Morales tries to bust him in the chops. Morales flicks out a few jabs to open a cut under Griffin’s left eye, and he stays composed and walks through a body kick to aim a right over the top. Morales lands two more jabs, and Griffin looks for an overhand right and backs away when Morales charges. Griffin lets loose with a leg kick, and he ducks a huge right hand that blows past his hair. Morales swings so hard that Griffin is able to duck it, change levels and go for a takedown. Morales shuts down the attempt and circles away, thanks in part to a kimura threat of his own. Morales pops his foe again with a few jabs, and he resets with a minute left in the round. Griffin blitzes but misses, and Morales nods at him and makes him backpedal. Morales tags Griffin with a Superman punch, and as he pours it on, a knee from up close bumps into Griffin’s cup and forces a 30-second pause. Griffin gets jabbed when they restart, and he throws a simultaneous head kick that is easily blocked. Morales jabs into a high kick, and he raises his arm in the air with a few seconds left in the round to lure Griffin into a slugfest. Morales gets off a few more shots before the bell rings.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Morales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales

Round 3

Five minutes remain, and it could be tied up going into this last round. They proceed to throw big hands, and Morales eats a left hook and nods. Morales pushes out a jab, and he slides away when Griffin throws a haymaker. Griffin misses with a head kick and attacks a takedown, and he gets nailed with a flying knee. Griffin bounces off the fence and the two gets back to striking range. Griffin tries to close in on his opponent, and he crashes right into Morales’ hip and bounces off the fence. Griffin manages to grab Morales from behind while the Ecuadorian leans against the cage, and he turns around and goes after a double. Lifting the unbeaten fighter off the ground, he dumps Morales down for a second. Morales hits a quick switch to move around and grab hold of Griffin’s back, before they split up. Morales jabs when he gets back to a safe berth, and Griffin responds with an overhand right. Griffin dings Morales with a left and presses him into the clinch, and there is no takedown to be found. Morales stands him up with a few punches after they break, and he jumps with a knee that crashes right into Griffin’s head. Griffin gets kicked low a few times to shake up his balance, and he tries to time a jab with a right hook. Morales leans back to dodge a sweeping left hook, and he takes a deep breath with a minute left. Morales ushers Griffin aside when Griffin charges recklessly, and he tries another jump knee that misses the mark. Griffin walks his foe down, and he chambers a big right hand and connects with it. The impact leads to a clinch, and he gets thrown to the mat by the unbeaten fighter for emphasis. Morales tries to get off some ground-and-pound, but the fight comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Morales (29-28 Morales)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Morales (29-28 Morales)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Morales (29-28 Morales)

The Official Result

Michael Morales def. Max Griffin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Grant Dawson (156) vs. Damir Ismagulov (156)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ismagulov (-115), Dawson (-105)

Round 1

We have reached the co-main attraction, which takes place at 155 pounds between fringe contenders and exceptional grapplers Ismagulov (24-2, 5-1 UFC) and Dawson (19-1-1, 7-0-1 UFC). The former has gone the distance in six of his last seven, while Dawson has prevailed in six of his last seven – Ismagulov can say the same there as well. The two lightweights show ample respect as they shake hands in front of referee Herb Dean, and Ismagulov is the one pressure out of the gate. Dawson flings a left hand and a kick to make Ismagulov think twice, and he dives low for a single that is easily stuffed. Dawson wings a left hook that misses the mark, and Ismagulov skates to the side from a jab and clips Dawson with a right hand. Dawson throws right back with a left hook, and he digs a right hand to the body. Dawson snatches up the Russian’s leg and secures the single, and he succeeds in planting Ismagulov on his back. Dawson, in half guard, drops down a single left hand. Ismagulov turns over and gives up his back as he looks to escape, and Dawson follows him and wraps up a rear-naked choke. The arms cannot find the neck or even the chin, and Ismagulov fights the grip as he finds himself trapped in a body triangle. Ismagulov is warned for grabbing the inside of Dawson’s gloves to fight the hands, and Dawson stretches him out with the body triangle. Ismagulov tries to turn through it, and he sits up only to get pulled back down and his mouth covered. Dawson frustrates him with a combination of the body lock, mouth covering and hand-fighting, and Ismagulov turns to the side to shake off the leglock around his midsection. Dawson readjusts his leg grip on the body, and Ismagulov sways from side to side. Dawson locks down on a rear-naked choke with one of Ismagulov’s arms between his head and the choke grip, and Ismagulov fights out of it and turns around to his knees. Dawson stays tightly pressed to him, following him every step of the way and opening up with right hands when he has Ismagulov stuck on his side. Ismagulov turns frantically, and Dawson keeps a very high hook around the chest even as Ismagulov bucks him like a bronco. Ismagulov turns to his back again, and he rides out the round without being tapped.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Dawson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Dawson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Dawson

Round 2

The lightweights clap hands, and as Ismagulov is coming out of his corner, he is wincing and closing his right eye. Both fighters swing haymakers at the other, and Ismagulov catches Dawson with a left and a right. Dawson lifts up a knee, but Ismagulov does not walk into it. Instead, Ismagulov snaps the head back with a jab, and a straight right hand sends Dawson backpedaling. Dawson drops down, grabs hold of both of Ismagulov’s legs, picks him up like a 155-pound sack of potatoes and gingerly deposits him to the floor. The two end in a very unusual situation, as Ismagulov and Dawson were stuck in an odd north-south position for a moment. Dawson recovers faster to partially wind up on top, but Ismagulov also has his own hands clasped. Dawson slides around to get on top, and he snags Ismagulov’s back to get both hooks in. Dawson recovers his body triangle, and he racks up more back control time as he occasionally softens Ismagulov up with fists upside the head. Ismagulov answers with elbows to the thigh, and he fights a choke setup off but is still stuck in the body triangle. Dawson snakes an arm over the chin but cannot sneak it under it, and he settles for making Ismagulov’s life miserable. The round ends with Dawson hold on from behind, and he helps Ismagulov back to his feet as they return to their corners.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dawson
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dawson

Round 3

The fighters hug it out to start off the last round, and Ismagulov is urgent to push the action knowing he is likely way down on the scorecards. Dawson slides to the side and pegs Ismagulov with a left hand, and Dawson grabs his foe from behind and elevates him. “KGD” tosses Ismagulov to the ground, and the body triangle is snatched up immediately as he secures back control. Dawson grabs the arm of Ismagulov and torques it back for something more frequently seen in the pro wrestling ring, like a full nelson or a reverse can opener. Ismagulov grits it out, as this is nothing more than an irritation to him, but Dawson is squeezing him and completely nullifying him. Dawson loops punches over the guard that are light and frustrating, and Dean asks for Dawson to work in this back control position. The hand-fighting from Ismagulov stop Dawson from a choke getting anywhere near close, and Dawson tries as hard as he can to even get one arm around the head of his adversary. Dawson switches his body lock from leg to leg as Ismagulov leans to one side or the other, and Ismagulov has no answers. Dawson considers an arm-in rear-naked choke again, and Ismagulov punches from behind to signal to Dawson there is nothing to it. With five seconds to go, Ismagulov explodes to turn himself around, but the fight ends before he can do anything with it. Barring something extremely bizarre, this should be a clean sweep for Dawson. Man, this kid is good.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dawson (30-26 Dawson)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dawson (30-26 Dawson)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Dawson (30-26 Dawson)

The Official Result

Grant Dawson def. Damir Ismagulov via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)

Sean Strickland (186) vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov (186)

BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Strickland (-145), Magomedov (+125)

Round 1

In the next 25 minutes or less, one of two outcomes could play out, barring something crazy. Either a top contender in Strickland (26-5, 13-5 UFC) holds the line against a surging up-and-comer, or the hard-charging Magomedov (25-4-1, 1-0 UFC) stamps his ticket towards the top echelon of the 185- pound division in a hurry. Referee Mark Smith will be on the final call of the night, and the potentially intriguing striking affair will begin with a glove touch. Magomedov pushes off early with two front kicks, and Strickland brushes his side and absorbs a low kick. Magomedov crashes forward with looping strikes, and as Strickland circles away and lines up a jab, Magomedov pushes off and a finger slides into his eye. Smith calls time, and after 30 seconds, he calls in the doctor. Strickland mentioned that he cannot see, and he takes the cloth from the physician and wipes out his eye. Strickland paces back and forth, trying to clear his vision, and he is struggling to see. After two minutes of attempted recover, Strickland mentions he has double vision. Strickland states the he is good to go at just under three minutes of time off, and the two clap hands on the reset. Magomedov is quick to loop at front kick at him, and several front kicks follow that in rapid succession. Magomedov digs a kick deep on the upper calf, and he takes a jab and aims a second leg kick to the same spot. Magomedov gives chase, throwing wide strikes, and Strickland’s partial Philly Shell guard is allowing him to block and parry the worst of the strikes. Magomedov slings a left hand that gets around the guard, and Strickland has to shake it out. Strickland prods out with a few jabs, and Magomedov’s volume and power is far higher. Strickland dodges and weaves the power punches, and he circles into a front kick to his midsection. Strickland peppers Magomedov with jabs, reddening the nose up, but Magomedov chambers and fires several harmful leg kicks. Magomedov connects with a straight left up top and one to the body, and he gets backed up with a stream of jabs. Strickland pressures his foe and leans when a right hand brushes past his hair, and he splits the guard with an increasingly steady diet of jabs. Strickland takes a head kick right on the jaw, and Magomedov shoots in for a double and manages to throw the defensively sound Strickland to his seat. As Magomedov attempts to take his back, Strickland scoots out and works back to his feet. Strickland follows one jab with a solid right hand, but he is generally relying on his jab. Strickland takes a clean left hand over the top, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores

Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov

Round 2

The middleweights bump fists to start off the second frame, and Strickland lifts his leg up early to take the sting out of a leg kick. Magomedov swings for the fences with two hooks, and Strickland snipes Magomedov with a one-two. Strickland walks down Magomedov, who appears surprised by the blows, and he stumbles when he meets the cage behind him. Strickland drills Magomedov with another one-two, and he stalks after the Russian putting his punches together. Magomedov’s offense is limited to big counter punches, and Strickland senses his opening and lays into “Abus.” Strickland is in his groove, snapping out sharp jabs and follow-up punches, and Magomedov is reeling. Magomedov shells up, and Strickland accurately gets strikes around it and through it. Magomedov is fatiguing fast, his strikes telegraphed, while Strickland is not missing a beat as he lands with impunity. Strickland rattles Magomedov with a right hand, and he rolls through a counter that does not have nearly as much on it. Magomedov winces and gets backed up to the cage, and Strickland unleashes a vicious combination of punches to mess Magomedov up. Magomedov’s mouth wide open, he backs off while Strickland is comfortable to beat on him. Magomedov digs a pair of huge left hands to the body, but for every one he lands, Strickland gets off five or more. Magomedov takes a long look at the clock, and he frowns as Strickland jabs his face off. Magomedov crumbles from the methodical bludgeoning, his knees giving way as he slumps his back to the cage. Strickland shoves him over to his side, and he force-feeds his fist into Magomedov’s face again and again without any signs of slowing. Magomedov is barely hanging on at this point, just taking damage, and Smith watches on cautiously until he decides that enough is enough and “Abus” is done. After likely dropping the first round, Strickland came on strong, reminding the division that he is still a force to be reckoned with, and notching another win at the UFC Apex. A gracious Strickland thanks the fans and says he would not do what he does – or get paid – were it not for the fans. He then declares his love for the country, after calling for either a title shot or “meat” to fight. Whether Strickland ends up getting a crack at the belt after beating an unranked opponent in Magomedov, or he posts up at the Apex for another few headliners, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.

The Result

Sean Strickland def. Abusupiyan Magomedov R2 4:20 via TKO (Punches)