Shara Bullet and Michael “Venom” Web page, UFC Saudi Arabia face-off Credit score: Youtube/UFC
English striker Michael “Venom” Web page had known as out Shara Magomedov (higher often known as Shara Bullet) after the latter had known as for a battle towards Israel Adesanya.
Because it turned out, all three males discovered themselves competing at UFC Saudi Arabia on Saturday, MVP and Shara Bullet going through off, and Adesanya headlining towards Nassourdine Imavov.
A win for each Magomedov and Adesanya may put them on a collision course, however Bellator vet Web page had made the transfer as much as middleweight seemingly to stop precisely that. All this performed out below the looming shadow of Du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 subsequent weekend.
Kickoff off the motion, Web page was in his standard sideways karate stance, arms down, mild on his ft. Magomedov ripped a kick to Web page’s lead leg, touchdown squarely on the skin, maybe giving a glimpse of his recreation plan. Shara Bullet took one other huge swing at a low kick and missed, spinning round. Web page exploded ahead at one level, touchdown a punch and pushing Magomedov down; the Dagestani rapidly scrambled again up.
Moments later, Web page modified ranges, maybe pondering takedown, although there was additionally a slip; that left him warding off a guillotine. Again at vary, the pair traded low kicks; Web page went to the physique with a punch, and later landed a charging proper hand.
Spherical two of what was turning right into a high-stakes chess match opened with one other MVP assault. His aspect kicks and lunging assaults had given him a slight edge within the first, leaving Magomedov stymied most of the time. A spinning kick to the midsection appeared to point Web page was loosening up. He’d cost in for one more assault, resulting in a quick clinch. Via two and a half rounds, Magomedov had did not land a single vital head strike, connecting with low kicks and physique assaults solely. But because the second spherical wore on, Magomedov appeared to lastly be determining Web page’s vary. Web page then fired a few spinning assaults, together with a backfist that was blocked.
Within the last minute, the pair clinched up, Web page placing Magomedov towards the fence. They completed off a clear break, Shara having fought off what amounted to a half-hearted takedown try.
Between rounds, Magomedov’s nook urged it was 1-1, which could have been a finest case situation, as there was an argument for MVP being up 2-0. Magomedov did look to get busy early, and Web page confirmed some stance switches in response. “Venom” additionally related with a proper hand as Magomedov closed the space. He’d tie issues up shortly after, although the clinch didn’t final lengthy. One other adopted, with Magomedov almost slipping on his approach out. A left then landed for Web page as he got here up from ducking a punch. Michael Web page was definitely proving a puzzle for the undefeated Shara Magomedov; he launched a flying knee on the halfway mark of the spherical, then tied up. This time, nonetheless, Magomedov reversed, firing some knees to his opponent’s thigh, inside and outside. The group, considerably surprisingly, bought a quick “MVP” chant going, earlier than Shara put him again on the fence ever-so-briefly.
With 90 seconds left, Shara Bullet wanted to hit the mark on one thing. He’d go on the assault within the last minute, touchdown a kick to the physique and placing Web page below hearth. Web page took a giant swing and a miss. Shara tried to showboat MVP-style, then missed on a nasty wanting excessive kick. Web page missed on a soar knee. Clearly each had some gasoline left within the tank, and Web page fired one thing akin to a cartwheel kick, landed on his again, then launched upkicks earlier than the horn wrapped issues up.
No shock with Web page taking the win, serving up the primary lack of Shara Bullet’s profession. “Look at me. Look at me. I am the captain now,” he exclaimed following the win, quoting a line from the Tom Hanks movie Captain Phillips.
🗣️ “Look at me, I am the captain now!” #UFCSaudiArabia
Official End result: Michael Web page def. Shara Magomedov by unanimous choice (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
