Muhammad Naimov and Kaan Ofli, UFC Saudi Arabia Credit score: Youtube/UFC
Featherweights Muhammad Naimov and Kaan Ofli closed out the UFC Saudi Arabia preliminary card on Saturday.
Ofli had been thought of a favourite to win The Final Fighter 32, however had fallen within the closing to Mairon Santos. As for Naimov, he was seeking to bounce again from a loss in opposition to Felipe Lima.
Motion was halted early on within the UFC Saudi Arabia featured prelim when Ofli related with a kick that landed flush with the groin. About 40 seconds later, Naimov was able to go; he fired a punishing low kick nearly instantly off the restart.
A little bit of scrappy motion adopted, till they tied up alongside the fence, Naimov within the driver’s seat. He landed some brief punches to the physique, however Ofli was capable of get his again off the fence with simply over a minute remaining. Ofli would then land a low kick, answered with an elbow; a minute later, Ofli was drilled to the physique, then clipped with a shot that despatched him off-balance. Robust finish to the spherical for Muhammad Naimov.
Spherical two noticed Kaan Ofli go on the assault early, punching his approach ahead till Naimov clinched up and put him again on the fence as soon as once more. In an trade after transferring again to heart, Ofli cracked Naimov proper on the jaw with an uppercut, although Naimov ate it effectively. The trade noticed Ofli then put Naimov on the fence, double underhooks giving him management for a second till Naimov lastly reversed. Ofli reversed once more a second later, and fired knees to the thigh and an elbow excessive. When Naimov reversed as soon as extra, nevertheless, he uncorked a 5 – 6 punch combo, forcing Ofli to cowl up.
With simply over two minutes remaining, it was Naimov then touchdown a key takedown, nearly instantly discovering himself in aspect management. No end, however a number of time for Naimov to work.
Regardless of Naimov possible being up within the combat, he began spherical three with some flash, firing a spinning kick up excessive. Ofli did handle to seize a leg and almost dump him, however Naimov stayed upright, then took the combat down, moved to mount, and started raining down floor n’ pound. Ofli gave up his again, permitting Naimov to clamp on a bodylock. From there, he had over three minutes to hunt a rear-naked choke. Ofli fought the physique triangle whereas defending the choke, battling for leg place and seeking to reverse, to no avail.
With a minute or so left, Ofli would scramble out, returning to his ft and unleashing a combo to the physique. He tied up Naimov after that, not the most suitable choice for a person needing a end. A few stable photographs did land, nevertheless, with Naimov masking up, however time spherical out earlier than Ofli might make something occur. No surprises on the scorecards, with Muhammad Naimov incomes a transparent resolution victory.
Official End result: Muhammad Naimov def. Kaan Ofli by unanimous resolution (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
