UFC Abu Dhabi outcomes: Sooo … About final night time | Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov

Final night time (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024), Final Combating Championship (UFC) ventured forth to the Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for UFC Abu Dhabi. A uncommon non-PPV card inside Etihad, the present was nonetheless stacked with extra expertise and larger names than the standard free occasion. The afternoon showtime was a pleasant change of tempo as nicely — why couldn’t we try this final week for the English followers and fighters once more? — which all in all made for a standout occasion. It was nearly sufficient to miss the newest ritual sacrifice of Tony Ferguson!

Let’s have a look again over at UFC Abu Dhabi’s finest performances and strategies:

The Subsequent Title Challenger

There’s no method round it: Umar Nurmagomedov is absolutely rattling good.

Cory Sandhagen got here absolutely ready to upset the Russian and steal away his undefeated document. Within the first spherical, he successfully denied all of Nurmagomedov’s takedowns and commenced chewing up the lead leg. It was as sturdy a begin as Crew Sandhagen might have hoped for, but it wasn’t destined to final.

Nurmagomedov slowly closed the hole within the rise up. His personal kicking recreation was efficient in slowing Sandhagen’s toes, and although his takedowns weren’t leading to a lot management, they nonetheless restricted Sandhagen’s quantity and general work price. Subsequently, Nurmagomedov’s personal palms began getting nearer and nearer to the goal, and by the third, he was straight up out-landing Sandhagen upstairs.

Sandhagen discovered himself in fairly the dilemma. He was falling behind on the scorecards, but he wasn’t profitable the vary battle. He tried to up the strain, however that’s by no means actually been his recreation. With out the feints and footwork trickery he’s recognized for, Sandhagen’s elevated strain actually solely noticed Nurmagomedov land extra typically.

Don’t get me unsuitable: each spherical was aggressive from begin to end. On the similar time, Nurmagomedov remained a step forward all through. Although his wrestling expertise actually didn’t damage, it’s wild to think about a grappler as dominant as Nurmagomedov can also be expert sufficient on the toes to out-fox a veteran kickboxer like Cory Sandhagen.

Sean O’Malley or Merab Dvalishvili have their work minimize out.

A Excessive-Quantity Middleweight

Shara Magomedov’s finest side may simply be conditioning.

Critically, the man fights at an outrageous tempo. Simply final weekend, we noticed Giga Chikadze wilt from making an attempt to make use of the identical recreation plan in opposition to Arnold Allen, however Chikadze fights 40 kilos decrease! Michal Oleksiejczuk is a gamer and pushed a tough tempo. He (principally) did what he was imagined to do to check the prospect, and Magomedov was largely in a position to reply these questions in good type.

All of it comes again to conditioning although. How is such an enormous man in a position to kick so shortly whereas working circles across the cage with out badly fatiguing? In actual fact, it was Oleksiejczuk who ended the struggle extra worn out, as a result of he walked by means of so many exhausting physique and low kicks whereas making an attempt to press the Russian.

Even when Magomedov did begin to sluggish, it was delicate, and Oleksiejczuk was too battered to actually take benefit. I’m not offered on Shara “Bullet” as a future champion, however he clearly has some distinctive attributes in his favor.

A Pointless Combat

Michael Chiesa choked out Tony Ferguson in brief style, identical to everyone anticipated. Ferguson refused to decide to retirement, identical to everybody anticipated. Now that the struggle is finished, it’s time for one thing rather less predictable: will UFC truly give Ferguson a ninth alternative after eight straight defeats?

I hope not.

The Greatest Joel Alvarez But

I anticipated Joel Alvarez vs. Elves Brener to be a banger — everybody did! I additionally anticipated it to be a really aggressive struggle, which gave the impression to be the final consensus as nicely however in the end proved to be very unsuitable!

Alvarez beat the crap out of Brener. From the primary bell, he was in a position to set up his vary and stick Brenner with highly effective, lengthy punches. The Brazilian is understood for his grit, his skill to take injury and fireplace again, however the strikes of Alvarez have been attending to him. Alvarez was in a position to damage his opponent badly sufficient that Brener just about accepted Alvarez’s vary somewhat than danger strolling by means of pictures.

That strategic resolution delayed the end to the third spherical however didn’t forestall it. Alvarez’s shot choice was so good: chopping low kicks, exhausting straights, and onslaughts of clinch knees and elbows. He broke Brener down, threatened him with a number of tight submissions, and in the end completed with just a few dozen connections in a row.

The late end was additionally spectacular as a result of Alvarez cuts a variety of weight. He saved his tempo all the struggle and nonetheless had the power to surge in direction of the stoppage late, hopefully incomes himself one other alternative in opposition to a ranked foe.

Gentle Heavyweight’s Greatest Boxer? (Apart From Pereira)

Azamat Murzakanov stands out from the Gentle Heavyweight pack.

The Russian improved to 4-0 final night time by knocking out Alonzo Menifield, a harmful if flawed veteran of the division. Murzakanov just about took him aside from the primary bell, and he did so through good ol’ boxing. There are a variety of strikers within the Gentle Heavyweight High 15, however what number of of them truly construct combos? What number of of them feint their method into exchanges, land, after which exit at an angle? Hardly any. It’s a division stuffed with rangy kickers, wild males, and occasional grapplers.

At 35 years of age, Murzakanov’s window to do one thing main at 205-pounds is small, and his behavior of slowing down over the course of fights isn’t nice. Nonetheless, he’s an fascinating participant within the division, and he may simply be capable of crack just a few heads within the High 10 earlier than all is alleged and finished.

Lastly!

The night began with 5 straight choices, and solely a kind of fights (beneath) was significantly fascinating. Luckily, Kaue Fernandes broke the streak, completely battering Mohammad Yahya en path to a first-round end.

Because it so typically does, the destruction started with the calf kick. Fernandes attacked the lead leg early, capitalizing upon his opponent’s upright stance. Earlier than lengthy, Yahya was compromised and began wanting uncomfortable in exchanges as a result of he was having issue planting his weight.

“The UAE Warrior” was in a nasty method, and he made the choice to cost. Sadly for him, Fernandes stood his floor with a cracking 3-2 mixture. Each punches landed exhausting, flooring Yahya and forcing the end.

Not a nasty first UFC win for the Brazilian!

Extra Ideas

Guram Kutateladze defeats Jordan Vucenic through unanimous resolution: This was a top quality scrap between gifted unranked Lightweights! Quick-notice debutant Vucenic began sturdy, utilizing feints and good motion to line up a tough proper hand that floored Kutateladze. The Georgian was in a position to rally again, nevertheless, utilizing physique work and takedowns to sluggish the struggle and pressure himself again into the motive force’s seat. Vucenic is a welcome addition to the division, and Kutateladze appears to repeatedly finds himself in shut, hard-fought battles no matter opponent.

For full UFC Abu Dhabi: “Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!