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On Saturday, the blended martial arts chief returned for its newest occasion, UFC Combat Evening: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.
After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s main promotion remained on the highway for a card contained in the Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi.
Earlier than returning to the venue for its annual numbered occasion this October (Topuria vs. Holloway! Topuria vs. Holloway! Topuria vs. Holloway!), the UFC placed on a Combat Evening occasion topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The previous interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent have been trying to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.
Saturday’s co-headliner, in the meantime, noticed one other fighter look to maintain their 0 as Sharabutdin Magomedov tried to make it three from three within the UFC on the expense of Michał Oleksiejczuk.
Earlier than that, a second essential contest at 135 kilos went down. Making the stroll for the primary time since his defeat to O’Malley of their UFC 299 title struggle, Marlon Vera hoped to revive his championship ambitions by stalling the two-weight targets of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.
Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim light-weight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern have been amongst these in motion. However did these names come collectively to placed on an entertaining few hours of MMA motion?
Let’s discover out with all of the positives and negatives from UFC Combat Evening: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov.
Adverse – Howard? Anyone Residence?
UFC Combat Evening Abu Dhabi began out with zero finishes and a judging horror present. Not precisely ultimate, is it?
In one of many many selections that kicked off the preliminary card on Saturday, Sam Hughes handed Victoria Dudakova the primary defeat of her profession, outpointing the Russian on two of the three judges’ scorecards after three rounds.
However the win for “Sampage” (certainly prime three for the worst nicknames in MMA? Sorry, Sam) wasn’t a certainty as Bruce Buffer learn out the scorecards. That was courtesy of Howard Hughes, who confirmed that he has no enterprise sitting cageside by scoring all three rounds for Dudakova.
Two? Justifiable. However to provide the second body to the 25-year-old is totally ludicrous.
I largely don’t purchase into judging criticism when loads of ‘theft’ cries derive from misplaced bets and fan favorites not getting the nod. However put Howie’s Saturday scorecard within the group of genuinely horrible verdicts in 2024.
Adverse – Effectively, Keith, That Was Nonsense?
At what level can we settle for that the “No Nonsense” Keith Peterson does, certainly, enable nonsense?!
Every week on from a UFC 304 occasion that noticed fence grabs galore and essentially the most egregious occasion of dishonest in latest reminiscence from Muhammad Mokaev — none of which have been truly punished with level deductions, by the way in which — referee incompetence additionally arrived within the Center East.
In equity to Peterson, he was tasked with watching the heavyweightest of heavyweight fights in Don’Story Mayes vs. Shamil Gaziev. I’m unsure there’s a human on the planet who might have watched that slop and stayed targeted on their activity.
Throughout one alternate that noticed the one-time UFC headliner (a travesty) provoke grappling and push Mayes up in opposition to the cage, the American had a handful of Gaziev’s shorts and stored ahold regardless of the ref’s agency warning.
Peterson broke issues up and took a degree, proper? RIGHT?! After all not, he merely mentioned he would, after which didn’t. Guidelines don’t exist in MMA, of us. The worst half about that is, if Peterson was going to take zero motion, why pause the struggle and hamper Gaziev’s momentum in that place?
I don’t usually agree with Daniel Cormier’s commentary, however his take was so spot on that it’s solely proper to let him shut out this unfavorable…
Optimistic – Murzakanov Atomics ‘Atomic’
Exterior of some names (Alex Pereira, Jiří Procházka, and co.), the sunshine heavyweight division isn’t precisely essentially the most enthralling. However one man who’s shortly becoming a member of the highest figures on Mt. Leisure excelled once more in Abu Dhabi.
That man is Azamat Murzakanov, a hard-fisted Russian who has remained unbeaten in his profession by 4 appearances contained in the Octagon to this point. That run has seen just one bout go the gap, and of his three knockouts, essentially the most brutal got here on the Etihad Area on Saturday.
The sufferer of his cost was Alonzo Menifield, who returned lower than three months on from a 12-second KO by the hands of Carlos Ulberg. Whereas not fairly as fast, Murzakanov sent “Atomic” to a similar fate, placing him on wobbly legs with some exhausting punches earlier than totally flattening him with ground-and-pound for the stoppage.
Whereas wins over the likes of Dustin Jacoby and Menifield make it exhausting to tout “The Skilled” for title rivalry at 205 kilos at this level, he’s actually a significant menace to these above him within the ladder. And if he retains delivering finishes like the sort he did on Saturday, we’re in for some enjoyable.
Optimistic – ‘El Fenómeno’ Strikes
I assume many might have been in the identical boat once I say that Joel Álvarez is a reputation I’d largely forgotten about main in to the newest UFC Combat Evening occasion.
In all equity, the Spaniard hadn’t competed in over a yr since his submission of Marc Diakiese in London. “El Fenómeno” had beforehand had his undefeated UFC document blemished in vicious and bloody style by some Arman Tsarukyan elbows.
With one struggle in three straight calendar years, Álvarez was in want of some momentum after having two canceled fights already in 2024. Effectively, contemplate momentum acquired, and contemplate his title firmly again in our minds.
For his comeback struggle, the Spanish standout was tasked with including to the woes of the extremely regarded Elves Brener. The Brazilian broke by in 2023 with a 3-0 yr that noticed him end seventh for MMA Information’ Newcomer of the 12 months award, however his first outing of 2024 concluded with him falling to the fast-charging Myktybek Orolbai.
And Brener was unable to bounce again in Abu Dhabi, as Alvarez placed on a mightily advantageous efficiency en path to a TKO within the third and remaining spherical. The end was arrange by some brutal knees, earlier than ground-and-pound obtained the job achieved.
Again within the Octagon, again on a win streak, and again on the radar at 155 kilos.
Adverse – How Many Extra?
Tony. Tony, Tony, Tony (to be mentioned in a gradual and nervous tone, not some kind of English soccer chant).
Tony Ferguson’s latest outing inside the Octagon was close to worst-case scenario, as he fell to one more defeat in simply minutes — though, in all honesty, it’s a reduction at this level to see him exit a struggle with out main harm.
Like most, a loss is at all times the anticipated final result once I see “El Cucuy” enter the cage as of late. However even with that outlook on his floundering profession, the fast nature of his submission loss to Michael Chiesa was a shock.
A retirement has been overdue for some time now, however after losses to Pimblett and “Maverick” to depart him with the undesirable document of struggling essentially the most straight defeats in UFC historical past, there may be zero doubt about what the long run ought to maintain for Ferguson.
Sadly, whereas the gloves got here off and it appeared as if Chiesa had handed over his microphone time for the tip, Ferguson solely half-retired. And in all honesty, together with his frequent remarks about making one other run as just lately as final yr, that’s nearly as good as calling for an additional five-fight contract within the case of “El Cucuy.”
Given how lengthy this time period has been applicable, it’s now not proper to say ‘it’s time’ for him to name it quits. It’s time for the UFC to take action for him.
Optimistic – Figgy
Deiveson Figueiredo is totally an issue within the bantamweight division.
Though a transfer up appeared clearly due following the tip of his second stint on the flyweight throne, I’m unsure many predicted this type of begin to life at 135 kilos for “Deus Da Guerra.”
His debut in opposition to Rob Font was slick and spectacular. His end of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 300 added a former champion to his document within the division. His domination of Marlon Vera has little question earned him a top-five rating.
Extra than simply outpointing “Chito” in Abu Dhabi, Figueiredo grew to become the primary to knock the Ecuadorian down — a feat that even Sean O’Malley and his knee failed to attain at UFC 299 this previous March.
When it comes to pure ability and combating potential, I’m unsure the Brazilian’s superiority over Vera was ever doubtful. However to see him handle a tricky customer like “Chito” in that fashion was eyebrow-raising, and it additionally sees one other huge title added to the title equation at 135 kilos.
What. A. Division.
Optimistic – Bantamweight Primary Occasions
We’ve had extra heavyweight UFC major occasions in 2024 than bantamweight. Has there ever been a much bigger farce in blended martial arts?
For all of the Shamil Gaziev vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruiks we now have to take a seat by, there’s one cause we maintain watching. As a result of a Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov might come alongside ultimately.
Expertise! Precise combating expertise, with approach, and technique, and techniques. As anticipated, “The Sandman” and his undefeated Russian opponent battled in a extremely entertaining chess match to shut out Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening in Abu Dhabi.
The man having his hand raised at the end of it was Nurmagomedov, who rose to the event in what marked by far the hardest check of his blossoming profession thus far. And whereas his title ambitions have taken a slight hit, it’s exhausting to say Sandhagen’s inventory dipped.
A spherical of applause for a bantamweight major occasion, of us — solely the second of the yr and the primary to not embrace the title. Wouldn’t it take a rocket scientist to clarify that there are 50 totally different 135-pound matchups that might be higher headliners than the Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac atrocity we’re in for subsequent weekend?
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