Action was what the UFC Abu Dhabi card promised, and it was plenty of it. Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov’s highly anticipated bantamweight title bout took place at the Etihad Arena. There was a lot on the line in this fight because Sandhagen was coming off a convincing three-fight winning streak. But Nurmagomedov, with his perfect record, presented Sandhagen with a serious task. In spite of Cory Sandhagen’s best efforts, Nurmagomedov displayed his remarkable skills in a tough battle that gave Sandhagen his first defeat in the bantamweight class and cemented his own ascent to prominence.
Nurmagomedov ultimately prevailed over Sandhagen by unanimous decision after a well contested battle. Nurmagomedov prevailed in a tough competition between judges, as evidenced by his higher accuracy and ability scores. Nurmagomedov’s unrelenting speed and holding power proved too much for Sandhagen to handle, even with his best attempts and decisive moments. Umar Nurmagomedov is now firmly established as a rising talent in the bantamweight class thanks to the victory.
Main Action Co-stars: Magomedov and Oleksiejczuk
The co-main event saw Shara Magomedov and Michal Oleksizchuk dominate the middleweight divisions. The two fighters engaged in a technical battle, with Magomedov winning via unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 in favor of Magomedov, who displayed his accurate effort and defensive skills. Oleksizechuk fought bravely but struggled to find ways to counter Magomedov’s disciplined approach.
Highlights from the Main Form
Another highlight of the evening was Daveson Figueiredo’s win over Marlon Vera. In a tricky battle, Figueiredo earned a unanimous decision victory, with scores of 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27. Figueiredo’s crisp striking and tactical grappling earned Vera a nod from the judges. Michael Chiesa was outstanding against Tony Ferguson, winning by submission in the first round. Chiesa locked in a rear-naked choke at 3:44, forcing Ferguson to tap out. This decisive victory highlighted Chiesa’s grappling dominance and flexibility.
Mackenzie Dern also showed off her grappling skills, earning a unanimous decision win over Loopy Godinez. The judges fought 29-28 across the board, pointing to Dern’s effective ground game and dominance. Joel Alvarez scored a thrilling TKO win over Elfs Brenner. Alvarez got the finish at 3:36 of the third quarter, showing off his scoring ability and relentless pressure.
First Highlights of the Card
The first card was filled with thrilling finishes and competitive matches. Azamat Murzakanov defeated Alonzo Manifield via KO in the second round, while Koue Fernandes scored a first round TKO over Mohamed Yahya. Shamil Gaziev earned a unanimous decision over Don’Tel Mayes, showing his superior grit and endurance.
Guram Kutateladze earned a unanimous decision win over Jordan Vusenik, while Sam Hughes defeated Victoria Dudakova via split decision. Jai Herbert and Cedric Dumas earned unanimous decision wins in their fights against Rolando Bedoya and Dennis Tiulilin.
Fans are anxiously awaiting the next move for Sandhagen, Figueiredo, Chiesa, and other fighters as they pursue UFC greatness. This event laid the framework for interesting future matches, with Umar Nurmagomedov’s unexpected victory establishing him as a vital figure in the bantamweight class.
