Winners And Losers From Sandhagen Vs. Nurmagomedov Card

The UFC has a brand new contender within the bantamweight division. That fighter, Umar Nurmagomedov, entered Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi card because the No. 10 competitor within the promotion’s 135-pound division. He’ll transfer up these rankings subsequent week after his Battle Evening win over the No. 2 ranked Cory Sandhagen.

Nurmagomedov and his crew, which incorporates his cousin, former UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, did a masterful job in Abu Dhabi. They put collectively a wonderful sport plan, adjusted effectively in struggle, and stored their fighter, who entered the bout at 17-0 with out UFC fundamental occasion expertise, on activity for 25 minutes. Nurmagomedov, at 28, is simply six fights into his UFC profession, however he seems to be the a part of a future champion. On the very least, he’s a future title challenger. And that gained’t occur too lengthy into the longer term.

Within the night’s co-main occasion of Saturday’s Battle Evening card, the closely hyped Shara “Bullet” Magomedov continued his unbeaten UFC run with a dominant win over Michal Oleksiejczuk in a short-notice middleweight contest.

In the meantime, former UFC flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo picked up an necessary bantamweight victory by defeating latest title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera.

Beneath, we take a look at the UFC Abu Dhabi outcomes, winners and losers, official scorecards, highlights and fight-night bonus winners.

UFC Abu Dhabi Winners

Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov: Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov had an satisfying five-round scrap in the principle occasion of UFC Abu Dhabi, with Nurmagomedov successful by unanimous resolution.

Sandhagen did an admirable job of placing strain on Nurmagomedov and taxing his general expertise. One situation with Sandhagen’s strain was that it didn’t result in numerous injury. One other drawback was that when Sandhagen elevated his strain, Nurmagomedov was in a position to land counter strikes with authority.

Sandhagen averted making errors by taking pointless possibilities and dangers on Saturday, however he didn’t have sufficient to beat the surging Nurmagomedov.

As for Nurmagomedov, his win over Sandhagen ought to reply any questions on his upside. There was criticism that he had not defeated anybody of observe earlier than UFC Abu Dhabi, however with a dominant win over the quantity two-ranked bantamweight, these questions must be put to relaxation.

On Saturday, Nurmagomedov regarded the a part of a future champion. He went 5 rounds, by no means misplaced his cool, stayed inside himself, and caught to a powerful sport plan. He’s going to be a tough fighter to beat.

Shara “Bullet” Magomedov: The jury is out on simply how excessive Shara Magomedov can climb within the UFC, however he regarded superb on Saturday in choosing up a choice win over Michal Oleksiejczuk in a short-notice contest.

Magomedov spent a lot of the struggle backing up, however he was extremely comfy combating from there. He combined up his targets and strategies whereas placing numerous injury on Oleksiejczuk, plus he by no means pale regardless that Oleksiejczuk pressured him for nearly the complete 15-minute scrap.

Magomedov is an efficient striker, however his willingness to permit his opponent to dictate the place the struggle takes place may very well be an issue when he faces higher-level competitors underneath the UFC banner.

With the win, Magomedov is 3-0 within the UFC.

Deiveson Figueiredo: Deiveson Figueiredo scored the largest win of his UFC bantamweight run on Saturday, cruising to a choice win over former 135-pound title challenger Marlon “Chito” Vera. With the win, Figueiredo moved to 3-0 within the bantamweight division, calling for a title shot in his subsequent outing.

Figueiredo, a former UFC flyweight champion, used a strong mixture of wrestling and putting to choose up the win, changing into the primary fighter to attain a knockdown on the resilient Vera within the course of.

Michael Chiesa: Persistence, poise and method got here collectively for Michael Chiesa on Saturday towards Tony Ferguson.Chiesa waited to discover a spot to land a takedown towards the slumping Ferguson, and as soon as he put the struggle on the mat, Chiesa slickly took Ferguson’s again and locked in a rear-naked choke that ended the bout at 3:44 of Spherical 1. Chiesa ended a three-fight dropping skid with the win, choosing up his first victory since he downed Neil Magny in Abu Dhabi in 2021.

Bonus factors for Chiesa giving his time on the mic to Ferguson after his victory.

Mackenzie Dern: If Mackenzie Dern had takedowns to enhance her mat expertise, she can be harmful. Nevertheless, at 31 and with 19 professional MMA fights to her identify, it’s unlikely that she is going to develop these expertise. With that, Dern is a flawed fighter. She has good putting when she’s shifting ahead, however when she backs up, she retains her chin too excessive, which permits her foes to attain with strikes.

The times of discussing Dern as a possible title challenger are previously.

Sure, she gained on Saturday, ending a two-fight dropping streak, however it’s questionable how a lot this victory will assist her.

Joel Alvarez: Joel Alvarez put collectively a wonderful efficiency in dispatching Elves Brenner within the third spherical of their light-weight scrap. Alvarez, who had not fought since a July 2023 submission win over Marc Diakiese, was targeted and affected person all through the scrap. He used his size and energy effectively and did a incredible job mixing his strategies and targets. He additionally pressured Brenner to struggle at his tempo.

When Alvarez had Brenner harm within the third stanza, he confirmed glorious ending instincts, unloading a litany of knees that overwhelmed his opponent.

Alvarez is 6-2 within the UFC with six finishes.

Azamat Murzakanov: Azamat Murzakanov stored his excellent document intact, shifting to 14-0 with 10 knockouts with a nasty stoppage win over Alonzo Menifield within the closing struggle of the UFC Abu Dhabi prelims.

Murzakanov, who had a attain deficit, used his velocity, technical expertise, and goal choice to piece up Alonzo Menifield on the toes. Then, together with his foe slowing and getting a bit sloppy attempting to land huge blows, Murzakanov dropped and finshed the scrap within the second spherical.

Murzakanov had been out of motion for greater than a yr earlier than Saturday’s struggle card. He entered the bout because the No. 14-ranked UFC gentle heavyweight. After the win, he requested a matchup with an opponent ranked inside the highest 5.

Kaue Fernandes: Kaue Fernandes’ sport plan for Mohammad Yahya labored completely. That plan was to assault the lead leg with calf kicks after which go up excessive when Yahya was targeted on staying on his toes. Fernandes’ leg assaults led to a knockout win when he dropped Yahya with a nasty punch. With the win, Fernandes moved to 1-1 within the UFC.

Guram Kutateladze: Expertise, tenacity, and struggle IQ helped Guram Kutateladze choose up a hard-fought resolution win over Jordan Vucenic. Kutateladze had a tough first spherical however bounced again and took management of the struggle, by no means easing up and getting the win. The victory ended a two-fight dropping skid for the 32-year-old.

Sam Hughes: Sam Hughes picked up a break up resolution win over Victoria Dudakova with accuracy, takedown protection and cardio. Hughes has some work to do together with her motion on the toes, however she is lively and difficult, which helped her on this matchup.

Jai Herbert: Jai Herbert’s boxing was crisp and clear as he fought Rolando Bedoya behind an excellent jab. Herbert was additionally aggressive however managed in that aggression, at the very least for the primary 10 minutes of the welterweight bout. Mild on his toes, Herbert showcased good motion and velocity. He additionally did a pleasant job of not accepting the place when Bedoya closed distance and regarded to struggle within the clinch. Nevertheless, one mark towards Herbert within the third spherical was that he appeared to retreat for a lot of the closing 5 minutes.

Sedriques Dumas: Sedriques Dumas and his crew devised an excellent plan for Dumas’ middleweight scrap with Denis Tiuliulin. That plan was to struggle at distance on the toes, utilizing jabs and kicks to maintain Tiuliulin away after which taking pictures takedowns when a gap introduced itself. Then, when the struggle was on the mat, the purpose was management over injury. It was not probably the most thrilling scheme, and it was dangerous since injury was not excessive on the to-do checklist. Dumas picked up the choice win.

UFC Abu Dhabi Losers

Shara Magomedov: Calling out Nick Diaz shouldn’t be a strategy to transfer up the rankings, however that’s what Magomedov did, whereas additionally calling Diaz previous. That was not an excellent name out.

Michal Oleksiejczuk: Michal Oleksiejczuk did an excellent job of pushing ahead and making Shara Magomedov struggle off his again foot all through their middleweight bout, however the issue with that was that Magomedov was glorious combating in that fashion. Oleksiejczuk absorbed numerous injury within the scrap. With the loss, Oleksiejczuk is on a three-fight dropping skid.

Marlon “Chito” Vera: As soon as once more, Marlon Vera began slowly, and as soon as once more, that lackadaisical method price him as he dropped a choice to Deiveson Figueiredo in Abu Dhabi. Vera additionally did not make the most of his peak and attain benefits on this scrap, permitting Figueiredo to set the tempo and decide the placement of the motion. Vera must be extra aggressive from the opening of his fights if he hopes to get again into the title image at 135 kilos.

Tony Ferguson: Tony Ferguson dropped his eighth straight UFC struggle on Saturday. As soon as probably the most feared fighters within the UFC, Ferguson ought to retire.

Crazy Godinez: Crazy Godinez is on the primary dropping skid of her profession after dropping a choice to Mackenzie Dern on Saturday. Godinez fought behind a excessive guard, which appeared to attract Dern in and permit Godinez to attain with counters, however she additionally allowed Dern to land via that guard. Dern was simply extra lively all through the struggle.

Elves Brenner: Elves Brenner couldn’t get shut sufficient to the lanky Joel Alvarez to do important injury. When he did handle to get in tight, Brenner couldn’t get his longer opponent to the mat. To make issues worse, Brenner allowed his opponent to manage the tempo and site of the struggle. With the knockout loss, Brenner is now on a two-fight dropping skid.

Alonzo Menifield: Alonzo Menifield proved he can take a shot and preserve coming, however his putting offense was labored and gradual, particularly within the second spherical on Saturday. Together with his loss to Azamat Murzakanov, Menifield has been knocked out in his previous two outings.

Jordan Vucenic: Jordan Vucenic, a former Cage Warriors champion, signed with the UFC on quick discover to face Guram Kutateladze at UFC Abu Dhabi. He regarded good within the early going of the light-weight scrap, however he allowed his opponent again within the struggle.

Some fault for the loss could be positioned on the toes of Vucenic’s nook, as they reportedly advised him he was up 2-0 after the second spherical, which could have prompted him to be much less aggressive within the third stanza. Total, this was an excellent exhibiting for Vucenic, and he’s somebody to keep watch over.

Victoria Dudakova: If Victoria Dudakova had been only a bit higher in her putting, cardio and finishing takedowns she may need defeated Sam Hughes. Nevertheless, Hughes picked up a break up resolution win, handing Dudakova her first profession loss, dropping her to 8-1.

Rolando Bedoya: Rolando Bedoya struggled at distance all through his welterweight matchup with Jai Herbert. The rationale for his troubles was Herbert’s boxing. Bedoya’s kicks had been touchdown, which had been there to gradual Herbert’s motion, however he might by no means determine the velocity and timing of his foe, nor might he preserve Herbert near the place Bedoya might have scored. Bedoya dropped from welterweight to light-weight after a 0-2 begin with the UFC for this struggle. He’s now 0-3 with the promotion, and that is not an excellent document for a fighter trying to stick with the promotion.

Denis Tiuliulin: Denis Tiuliulin was 1-4 within the UFC with 4 stoppage defeats. For somebody with 19 professional fights to his identify, Tiuliulin’s wrestling was extraordinarily underdeveloped. Every time Dumas scored a takedown, Tiuliulin nearly instantly glanced up on the ref, seeming to implore him to place the fighters again on their toes. That lack of wrestling price him the struggle and moved his dropping skid to 4 straight. Seeing the UFC reduce ties with Tiuliulin will not be a shock.

UFC Abu Dhabi Full Battle Card

Principal Card

Umar Nurmagomedov defeats Cory Sandhagen by way of unanimous resolution (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)

Sharabutdin Magomedov defeats Michał Oleksiejczuk by way of unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Deiveson Figueiredo defeats Marlon Vera by way of unanimous resolution(29-28. 29-28, 30-27)

Michael Chiesa defeats Tony Ferguson by way of submission at 3:44 of Spherical 1 (Rear bare choke)

Mackenzie Dern defeats Crazy Godinez by way of unanimous resolution (29-28 x 3)

Joel Alvarez defeats Elves Brenner by way of TKO at 3:36 of Spherical 3 (Knees to move in clinch)

Prelim Card

Azamat Murzakanov defeats Alonzo Menifield by way of knockout at 3:18 of Spherical 2 (Punches to move at distance)

Kaue Fernandes defeats Mohammad Yahya by way of TKO at 4:45 of Spherical 1 (Punches to move at distance)

Shamil Gaziev defeats Don’Story Mayes by way of unanimous resolution (30-27 x 3)

Guram Kutateladze defeats Jordan Vucenic by way of unanimous resolution (29-28 x 3)

Sam Hughes defeats Victoria Dudakova by way of break up resolution (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)

Jai Herbert defeats Rolando Bedoya by way of unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Sedriques Dumas defeats Denis Tiuliulin by way of unanimous resolution (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

UFC Abu Dhabi Video Highlights

UFC Abu Dhabi Bonuses

Battle of the Evening: Shara “Bullet” Magomedov vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

Efficiency of the Evening: Joel Alvarez

Efficiency of the Evening: Azamat Murzakanov

UFC Abu Dhabi Official Scorecards

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