Hamady Abdelwahab and Jamal Pogues, UFC Saudi Arabia face-off Credit score: Youtube/UFC
UFC heavyweight Hamdy Abdelwahab appeared to bounce again from a tough promotional debut towards Jamal Pogues at UFC Riyadh on Saturday.
Abdelwahab (3-0) had his UFC debut at UFC 277 towards Don’Story Mayes. He went onto earn a split-decision victory, however that was overturned after Abdelwahab examined optimistic for PEDs.
Pogues (11-4) is a way more skilled fighter, and was coming off a win over Thomas Petersen final February. 2-1 in his UFC run he hoped so as to add to that at UFC Riyadh.
Spherical 1 Abdelwahab got here out firing large photographs up prime touchdown two large proper arms on Pogues forcing his opponent to shoot. Abdelwabah was capable of flip Pogues to the cage, take him down, however didn’t do a lot harm. The remainder of the spherical was all Pogues utilizing his boxing to land fixed jabs and straight arms to Abdelwahab’s face.
Spherical 2 Abdelwahab got here out rather more aggressive with the stress and combos, however was nonetheless consuming method too many straightforward jabs. The stress was there, however Pogues was capable of transfer laterally relatively simply.
Spherical 3 was all Pogues with the crisp boxing and Abdelwahab’s incapability to chop the cage off. He tried to throw some heavy photographs and discover a end, however was unable to.
It didn’t matter because the judges nonetheless awarded Abdelwabah the split-decision victory in Riyadh.
Official End result: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Jamal Pogues through Break up Choice (30-27, 29-28, 28-29)
