PFL Champions Series ‘Road to Dubai’ Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring
- Usman Nurmagomedov (154.9) vs. Paul Hughes (155)
- Tim Johnson (264.2) vs. Vadim Nemkov (242.4)
- Nathan Kelly (145.6) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.7)
- Ibragim Ibragimov (146) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (147: Missed Weight)
- Cleiver Fernandes (135.9) vs. Renat Khavalov (136)
- Tarek Suleiman (194) vs. Ahmed Sami (199.6: Missed Weight)
- Mirafzal Akhtamov (156) vs. Mike Thompson (155.4)
- Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (125.3) vs. Ruel Panales (126)
- John Mitchell (155.2) vs. Souhil Tahiri (155.8)
- Haider Khan (185.5) vs. Mostafa Rashed Nada (184.6)
- Saeed Alhosani (154.1) vs. Talal Alqallaf (155.7)
Saeed AlHosani (154.1) vs. Talal AlQallaf (155.7)
Round 1
An amateur lightweight affair between the UAE’s AlHosani and Kuwait’s AlQallaf kick off festivities at Coca-Cola Arena. Sam Amidi draws the officiating assignment. Glove touch gets us going. Both men paw with their lead hands. Inside leg kick from AlHosani, who switches stances fluidly and feints a right hand over the top. AlQallaf answers with a lead left hook, then eats jab on the way in. He swarms with punches and drops AlHosani with a left hook. The Emirati gets back to his feet, only to be immediately taken down. AlHosani gets back to his feet, and they clinch along the fence. AlQallaf scores with another takedown and follows it with some ground-and-pound. AlHosani moves back to his feet, only to be taken down again. AlQallaf sets up In half guard and peppers his counterpart with short punches. The round closes in the clinch.Advertisement
Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 AlQallafTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf
Round 2
Amidi does some housekeeping and dries the canvas in one of the corners before Round 2 starts. AlHosani jabs at the bod and follows up with a kick to the midsection. AlQallaf presses forward, flurries and presses him into the fence. AlHosani takes a defensive posture against the cage. He breaks briefly and connects with a sharp right hand. AlQallaf clinches and clears the cobwebs. AlHosani with a close-range knee strike up the middle and breaks free into open space. Inside leg kick from AlHosani. AlQallaf answers with one of his own. Less than a minute to go in the middle stanza. Body kick from AlHosani. AlQallaf follows an overhand right into the clinch and executes a takedown in the closing seconds. He moves behind AlHosani as the round concludes.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 AlQallafTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf
Round 3
One round to go, and AlQallaf appears to be in control. They paw with their lead hands. AlHosani steps into a right hand over the top. AlQallaf clinches, shakes off a low blow and presses his opponent into the cage yet again. AlHosani tosses an off-balance AlQallaf to the canvas and takes top control. AlQallaf gets to his feet, delivers a takedown and sets up in half guard. Ninety seconds left in the match. AlHosani recovers full guard but does not appear to have the wherewithal to get back to his feet. AlQallaf pressures him from the top and hunts for openings while Amidi calls for more action. AlQallaf fires away with short punches. No damage, but they count. AlHosani gets back to his feet with 10 seconds left but fails to offer any meaningful offense.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf (30-27 AlQallaf)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf (30-27 AlQallaf)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 AlQallaf (30-27 AlQallaf)
The Official Result
Talal AlQallaf def. Saeed AlHosani—Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)Haider Khan (185.5) vs. Mostafa Rashed Nada (184.6)
Round 1
Action now moves to the 185-pound weight class, where the England’s Khan (8-1, 0-0 PFL) awaits Saudi Arabia’s Nada (9-3, 2-0 PFL) in a three-round middleweight prelim. Mike Bell administers the law and order. No glove touch. Khan stalks from the center of the cage, looking to exploit his significant height and reach advantages. Rear-leg front kick to the body from Khan. Nada circles on the outside. Khan stays active with kicks to the legs and body. Nada feints an overhand right and narrowly misses with a sweeping left hook. Sharp jab from Nada. Khan blocks a head kick, then steps into on overhand right. Nada cuts loose with a three-punch volley, but nothing lands. Tepid start to this one. Khan connects with his jab and a switch knee to the body. They clinch briefly, then separate. Inside leg kick from Nada. Front kick from Khan lands and appears to break Nada’s left forearm. Fight is over.The Official Result
Haider Khan def. Mostafa Rashed Nada—TKO (Arm Injury) 3:18 R1John Mitchell (155.2) vs. Souhil Tahiri (155.8)
Round 1
Lightweights are next to the stage, as Ireland’s Mitchell (9-2, 2-1 PFL) collides with Algeria’s Tahiri (7-5-1, 1-1 PFL) at 155 pounds. Bell serves as the third man in the cage. No glove touch. Mitchell starts with a push kick, as Tahiri commands the center of the cage. Mitchell shoots and secures a takedown. Tahiri flirts with a guillotine but bails. Mitchell works from full guard, driving home elbows and punches. Tahiri stays active with his legs and looks to get to his feet. Mitchell is wise to those efforts and pins him back to the canvas. Knees to the ribs from the Irishman, who has passed to side control. Mitchell applying heavy chest-to-chest pressure. Midway through the first round. Not going as Tahiri had hoped. Tahiri reclaims full guard. Mitchell crowds him with punches. Bell asks for more action. Short elbow from Mitchell, who is staying busy enough to avoid a restart. Less than a minute to go in the first round, and Mitchell has established that he holds a clear advantage on the ground. Heel strikes to the kidneys from Tahiri. He eats another elbow as the bell sounds.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 MitchellTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell
Round 2
They touch gloves to start the middle stanza. Mitchell gets busy with his jab. Low kick from Tahiri. Overhand right from Mitchell, followed by another. Tahiri swings wildly in response. Mitchell returns to his jab and connects with an inside low kick. Mitchell shoots and secures a takedown but wanders into a tight guillotine. Mitchell nearly taps. Tahiri moves to a mounted position, then scrambles behind the Irishman. Mitchell reverses into top position. Tahiri threatens with a triangle choke, but it goes nowhere. Mitchell now feeding him elbows and punches from top position. Two minutes to go. Mitchell has some work to do if he wants to get back in this round. He works from full guard with punches and elbows. Tahiri hunts another guillotine—unsuccessfully. More elbows from Mitchell. Thirty seconds left on the clock. Pace slows, as fatigue sets in.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 TahiriTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tahiri
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Tahiri
Round 3
Anyone’s fight, with Round 3 underway. Overhand right from Mitchell. Tahiri moves to the center of the cage and fires a front kick to the body. Mitchell backs him up with a jab. One-two to the body from Tahiri. Mitchell answers with a leg kick, then another. Tahiri answers with one of his own. They trade while circling each other. Mitchell shoots on a single-leg, re-shoots and secures the takedown. Short punches from the Irishman. Tahiri moves to a seated position, only to be planted back on his back. Shoulder strike from Mitchell. Tahiri builds a base and gets back to his feet. Mitchell shoots again, sheds an attempted guillotine and secures another takedown. Back in full guard. Mitchell works punches from both hands with a minute to go. Bell urges more action. Both men look exhausted, and understandably so. Looks like Tahiri is resigned to his fate, as his last attempt to get back to his feet fails.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell (29-28 Mitchell)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell (29-28 Mitchell)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Mitchell (29-28 Mitchell)
The Official Result
John Mitchell def. Souhil Tahiri—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Hadi Omar Al Hussaini (125.3) vs. Ruel Panales (126)
Round 1
Attention shifts to the flyweight division, where UAE’s Al Hussaini (5-1-1, 0-1 PFL) takes on the Philippines’ Panales (6-2, 0-0 PFL). Kerry Hatley officiates. Glove touch gets going. Al Hussaini rushes his opponent with punches, drives him to the canvas and sets up in full guard. Panales looks to weather the storm. Body-head combos from Al Hussaini, who passes to half guard. Panales reclaims full guard. All Hussaini postures and punches. Panales wearing damage already. He manages to get back to his feet. Al Hussaini dumps right back to the canvas and once again goes to work with his ground-and-pound. Elbows, punches and forearm strikes all land. Panales having real issues with swelling around his right eye. Al Hussaini works from half guard, stays busy and climbs to full mount. Situation going from bad to worse for Panales. Ninety seconds to go. Panales needs a respite. Al Hussaini unleashes his hands from the top, then transitions to elbows. Getting ugly here. Panales reverses into top position with 30 seconds left. He fires away with elbows, perhaps doing enough to avoid a 10-8 round. They stand with 10 seconds to go and catch their breath.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Al HussainiTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-8 Al Hussaini
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Al Hussaini
Round 2
Back at it for Round 2. Inside leg kick from Al Hussaini. Panales looks weary, his movements labored. Al Hussaini steps into an overhand right, followed by an inside leg kick. Panales answers with a body kick. He could use a few more of those. Al Hussani presses forward with his jab. Pace much slower in this round. Leg kick from Panales countered by an overhand right. Al Hussaini lands a right hook. Panales responds with another body kick. He goes high with a side kick but misses the mark. Midway through Round 2. Front kick from Al Hussaini. He changes levels and completes a double-leg takedown. Panales scoots himself to the cage and absorbs some punishment but escapes to his feet. Side kick to the body from Panales, who has kept himself in the fight. Al Hussaini looks winded himself and fires off a leg kick. Panales answers with one of his own and moves forward, forcing his adversary onto the back foot. Tough round to score. Jab from Panales, who sneaks in a head kick near the end of the period.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 PanalesTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Panales
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Panales
Round 3
Who has more in the tank? They greet one another with jabs in the center of the cage. Left cross from Panales glances off its intended target. Body kick from Al Hussaini. They circle in the center. Al Hussaini counters a high kick with a takedown and sets up in full guard. He cuts loose with short punches to the body and head, mixing in the occasional hammerfist for good measure. Panales flat on his back here. Al Hussaini moves to half guard and scores with a few shoulder strikes. Al Hussaini steps into full mount and laces the legs. Panales scrambles out of danger but stays on his back. Al Hussaini dodges a few upkicks and settles in side control. Panales reclaims full guard. Body-head combos from Al Hussaini. Panales gets to a seated position but progresses no further. Al Hussaini draws him away from the cage. Al Hussaini once again works in full guard, scoring with punches, elbows and forearm strikes. Thirty seconds to go. Looks like Panales has run out of gas. More punches from Al Hussaini, who has salted this one away.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Al Hussaini (29-28 Al Hussaini)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Al Hussaini (29-27 Al Hussaini)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Al Hussaini (29-28 Al Hussaini)
The Official Result
Hadi Omar Al Hussaini def. Ruel Panales—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)Mirafzal Akhtamov (156) vs. Mike Thompson (155.4)
Round 1
All eyes are back on the 155-pound weight class, as Uzbekistan’s Akhtamov (8-0-1, 0-0 PFL) toes the line against England’s Thompson (7-2, 0-0 PFL). Mike Beltran draws the officiating assignment. They touch gloves and get down to business. Leg kick from Thompson. Akhtamov presses forward and hunts from the center of the cage. Another leg kick from Thompson. Akhtamov narrowly misses an overhand right. He sneaks in a left hook instead. Nice one-two from Thompson. Akhtamov crashes forward and eats two left hooks. Swelling already developing on Akhtamov’s lower lead leg. Midway through the round. Another leg kick from Thompson, who seems to have identified a vulnerability. Akhtamov beats him to the punch with a right hand. He sits down Thompson with a counter right hook, then stalks. He fires punches from both hands with a minute to go and shoots a right over the top. Thompson seems to have recovered. Akhtamov commands the center and methodically presses forward. Two more right hands connect, and they exchange to close the round.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 AkhtamovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Akhtamov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Akhtamov
Round 2
Back at it. Thompson circles on the outside, allowing his opponent to command the center. Clinch knees from Akhtamov, followed by clubbing punches. A right hand staggers Thompson. Akhtamov closes the distance behind a right cross and connects clean with a left hook. Thompson still standing somehow. They clinch along the fence. Akhtamov scores with a high-amplitude takedown and forces the Englishman onto all fours. Knees to the thigh from Akhtamov. Thompson gets back to his feet. Akhtamov drags him back to the canvas. He clamps down on an arm-triangle, clears the leg and tightens his squeeze on the choke. Thompson struggles to free himself, then loses consciousness.The Official Result
Mirafzal Akhtamov def. Mike Thompson—Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke) 2:50 R2Tarek Suleiman (194) vs. Ahmed Sami (199.6: Missed Weight)
Round 1
They keep the line moving with a catchweight clash between Syria’s Suleiman (13-8, 0-0 PFL) and Egypt’s Sami (11-4, 0-0 PFL). Hatley administers the law and order. Glove touch gets them started. Immediate eye poke from Sami, resulting in a pause to the action after just 12 seconds. Suleiman moves to the center of the cage upon the restart. He shoots on a single-leg, scrambles behind Sami, re-shoots on a double-leg and turns into a takedown. Suleiman bites down on a guillotine. Sami escapes, knees to the body and crashes into top position. The Egyptian sets up in full guard. He avoids a triangle, works behind Suleiman and hammers away with punches, elbows and forearm strikes. Sami settles in side control and continues to apply his ground-and-pound. Obviously not what Suleiman was looking for when he initiated this ground exchange. Ninety seconds left in the round. More punches and elbows from Sami. He steps into a topside crucifix and stars dropping unfettered elbows to the face. Suleiman somehow escapes with less than a minute to go. Sami swarms with punches and elbows that nearly results in the finish. He was saved by the bell and remains on his knees instead of returning to his corner. Hatley takes a look and waves it off.The Official Result
Ahmed Sami def. Tarek Suleiman—TKO (Retirement) 5:00 R1Cleiver Fernandes (135.9) vs. Renat Khavalov (136)
Round 1
Bantamweights get the ball rolling on the main draw, where Nova Uniao’s Fernandes (9-1, 0-0 PFL) locks horns with the unbeaten Khavalov (8-0, 0-0 PFL) at 135 pounds. Hatley serves as the third man in the cage. Awkward glove tap, and away we go. Khavalov, in southpaw, fires a push kick to the leg. Fernandes answers with a right hook to the body, followed by a leg kick. Khavalov counters with a right hand over the top. They trade right hands. Leg kick from Khavalov, followed by a few jabs. Fernandes steps into a sharp right to the body. Khavalov crashes into the clinch and gets to work with knees along the fence. They jockey for superiority against the cage. Fernandes scores with a few foot stomps, then a knee to the body. Khavalov with a short elbow strike to the head. Two minutes to go. Neither man making much progress in the clinch. Khavalov delivers a few close-range knees to the body. Double underhooks for Fernandes. Knees to the leg from the Brazilian. He secures a takedown and jumps onto the back. He flirts with a rear-naked choke with Khavalov still standing, and the bell sounds.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 KhavalovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
Round 2
Khavalov greets his opponent with a few inside leg kicks and gets his jab in gear. The Russian steps into a left hook and follows with another leg kick. Fernandes paws with his lead hand. Jab to the body from Khavalov. He backs up a right hook with a left and closes the distance to clinch. Khavalov scores with knees to the body. Fernandes keeps his balance and denies a takedown attempt. More knees to the body from the Russian, who seems to be tightening his grip on the match. Khavalov creates some space and cuts loose with a three-punch volley, his spear tipped by a left hook. He works behind Fernandes and bails on a takedown. Fernandes frames a kimura, drops for a leg lock and settles in the butt-scoot position. Khavalov hammers his legs with kicks. They restart on the feet with 10 seconds to go. Front kick to the body from Fernandes, as the round concludes.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 KhavalovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov
Round 3
Khavalov clips the Brazilian with a right hook to start the third round. Now routinely beating him to the punch. Fernandes fires a leg kick, gets taken down and immediately moves back to his feet. Sharp jab from Khavalov, who switches stances and unloads with a front kick to the body. They clinch 90 seconds into the round and exchange knees to the body. Khavalov lands an elbow over the top, as the continue to jockey for position along the fence. Hatley warns Khavalov for grabbing the cage. Nice knees to the body from the Russian, who mixes in short punches and elbows. Fernandes showing signs of frustration. More knees from Khavalov, who then sneaks in a nasty elbow upstairs. Fernandes breaks free with roughly 30 seconds to go in the fight. He shoots a right hook to the body, then another. Khavalov lands a side kick to the lead leg in the waning moments.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov (30-27 Khavalov)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov (30-27 Khavalov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Khavalov (30-27 Khavalov)
The Official Result
Renat Khavalov def. Cleiver Fernandes—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)Ibragim Ibragimov (146) vs. Kenny Mokhonoana (147: Missed Weight)
Round 1
Featherweights now step into the spotlight, as the undefeated Ibragimov (8-0, 2-0 PFL) puts his perfect professional record on the line against Mokhonoana (5-1, 0-0 PFL). Beltran officiates. No glove touch. Mokhonoana greets the prospect with a clean one-two. Ibragimov executes a beautiful throw and lands in side control. Knees to the body follow. He settles in half guard and continues to work his ground-and-pound. Mokhonoana regains full guard and immediately hunts an opening for a triangle. Ibragimov peppers the body with punches, showing no real regard for his opponent’s bottom skills. Mokhonoana scoots toward the fence. Ibragimov climbs to a seated mount but loses position. Mokhonoana makes a pass at a guillotine but allows the Russian to grapevine his legs and keep him bottled up. One minute to go. Ibragimov back to side control and feeds more knees to the body. Mokhonoana briefly gets back to the feet, only to be returned to the mat by the Russian. Ibragimov scores with knees to the thigh. They clinch, and Ibragimov misfires on a wheel kick.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 IbragimovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov
Round 2
Mokhonoana lands a counter left at the start of the round, but Ibragimov closes the distance and secures another takedown. Ibragimov works to half guard, the climbs over and grapevines both legs. Ground-and-pound ensues. Ibragimov transitions to the back and considers a rear-naked choke. Mokhonoana wags his finger in defiance. Ibragimov moves to half guard, as his opponent frames a kimura. He works elbows to thigh and does not show much concern over the submission attempt. Ibragimov passes to side control. Mokhonoana scrambles onto all fours and gets back to his feet. Ibragimov drags him back to the mat, settles in half guard and fires knees to the body. He climbs toward mount under threat of an arm-triangle. Mokhonoana moves to his knees, goes for a leg lock and eats a hammerfist at the bell.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 IbragimovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov
Round 3
Looks like Ibragimov’s fight to lose as Round 3 begins. Ibragimov clinches and trips his counterpart to the canvas. Mokhonoana struggling to find the right answers here. Ibragimov grapevines his legs and slips into side control. Mokhonoana surrenders his back and rolls for a leg lock. He gets back to his feet briefly before being tripped, then stands again. Another takedown for Ibragimov. Mokhonoana makes a pass at a triangle choke, to no avail. Ibragimov settles in north-south position at the base of the cage and scores with punches. Mokhonoana stands, only to be taken down again. Ibragimov basically toying with him now. Another takedown for the Russian, who grapevines the leg and gets back to work with punches to the body. With a minute to go, Mokhonoana’s looks dire. He gets back to his feet. Soon after, Ibragimov executes a textbook belly-to-back suplex and settles in half guard. Elbows and punches fall, followed by knees to the body. Mokhonoana gets back to his feet and eats a spinning hook kick that sends him careening to the canvas as the bell sounds.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov (30-27 Ibragimov)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov (30-27 Ibragimov)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ibragimov (30-27 Ibragimov)
The Official Result
Ibragim Ibragimov def. Kenny Mokhonoana—Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Nathan Kelly (145.6) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.7)
Round 1
Action stays in the featherweight division, where the surging Kelly (11-2, 4-0 PFL)—he of the 11-fight winning streak—faces Magomedov (9-1, 0-0 PFL) in a 145-pound showcase. Beltran draws the officiating assignment. No glove touch, as they approach one another in the center of the cage and circle. They trade leg kicks. Strong kick to the lower leg from Kelly forces Magomedov to switch stances. Kelly shuts down a takedown attempt and flurries with punches. Magomedov clinches, hoists the Irishman skyward and briefly completes a takedown. Kelly back to his feet. They clinch. Kelly rocks and cuts Magomedov with a close-range elbow, gives chase and forces the Russian to retreat to his back. Magomedov scrambles out of danger and shoots on the hips. Kelly braces himself against the cage. A knee from Magomedov drifts below the belt and results in a pause to the action. Magomedov secures a takedown on the restart and grapevines the legs. Ninety seconds left. Kelly eats some ground-and-pound and exposes his back in an attempt to get back to his feet. Magomedov mounts, deploys the dreaded Dagestani handcuff and keeps the punches going.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 MagomedovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Magomedov
Round 2
Magomedov presses forward, shoots on the hips and secures a takedown, grapevining the legs before the Irishman can react. Kelly looks flummoxed. He starts to build a base, but Magomedov sneaks behind him and moves to full mount. The Russian scores with ground-and-pound and keeps Kelly immobilized. He threatens the neck, then returns to punches. Kelly has no answers at the moment. More punches from Magomedov. Kelly stuck beneath him, eating punches. Magomedov moves to the back, flattens him out and cinches the rear-naked choke for the tapout.The Official Result
Akhmed Magomedov def. Nathan Kelly—Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 4:22 R2Tim Johnson (264.2) vs. Vadim Nemkov (242.4)
Round 1
Heavyweights shoulder the load in the three-round main event, as the heavily favored Nemkov (17-2, 1-0 PFL) tackles the always-game Johnson (18-10, 1-1 PFL). Hatley administers the law and order. They touch gloves, and we are underway. Nemkov cracks the American with a head kick, opening a cut on his forehead. Johnson plows forward behind power punches. None land. Nemkov slams home a kick to the body. He secures a takedown, scores with punches and returns Johnson to the mat repeatedly, feeding him knees to the thigh along the way. Nemkov dominating from the rear waistlock position. He jumps to the back, bites down on the rear-naked choke and closes the deal. Brutally methodical performance from Nemkov.The Official Result
Vadim Nemkov def. Tim Johnson—Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3:08 R1Bellator Lightweight Title Fight:
Usman
Nurmagomedov (154.9) vs. Paul Hughes
(155)
Round 1
Lightweights close the show in the five-round headliner, as Nurmagomedov (18-0, 0-0 PFL) defends his Bellator MMA championship opposite Hughes (13-1, 1-0 PFL) at 155 pounds. Beltran serves as the third man in the cage. They greet one another in the center of the cage. Nurmagomedov opens with an inside leg kick and paws with his lead hand. Hughes cautious at the start. Nurmagomedov fires a high kick and follows with another to the body. The Russian switches to orthodox stance and continues to apply pressure with his kicks. Hughes lands a leg kick but eats two in return. Side kick to the midsection from the Russian. Nice jab from Nurmagomedov. Hughes struggling to find a rhythm. Nurmagomedov cracks him with a right hand over the top. Hughes shoots a right hook to the body. Leg kick from Nurmagomedov. They trade side kicks to the leg. Nurmagomedov follows a one-two with a leg kick and exits before Hughes can fire back. Thirty seconds left. Nurmagomedov using length and distance to his advantage beautifully.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 NurmagomedovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 2
They approach one another and circle. Stout jab from Hughes. Nurmagomedov connects with a side kick to the body. Leg kick from the Russian. Hughes knocks him off-balance with a switch kick to the body and then shrugs off an attempted takedown. Another side kick to the body from Nurmagomedov. Hughes pressing forward but not offering much offense. Nurmagomedov whiffs on another takedown try. Hughes unloads to the body with hooks from both hands. They clinch along the fence. Nurmagomedov digs to the body with right hands and knees, then lands an elbow on the break. Inside leg kick from the champion. Hughes cuts off an attempted Thai clinch with a multi-punch burst to the body. Nurmagomedov steps into a one-two and snaps the Irishman’s head to the side. Knee to the body from Hughes, followed by a leg kick. Much better round for the challenger. Strong jab from Nurmagomedov. He counters a leg kick with a right hand over the top.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 HughesTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 3
Nurmagomedov takes a deep breath to start Round 3. Hughes stalks from the center of the cage. Leg kick from Nurmagomedov. The Russian connects with a jab and circles on the outside. Sharp one-two from Nurmagomedov, who level changes and shoots. Hughes denies the takedown. Nurmagomedov’s kick strays low and pauses the action. Hughes needs only a few seconds to recover. Nurmagomedov connects with a right hand over the top and kicks low again. This team, the damage is more serious. Hughes goes to all fours. Beltran docks Nurmagomedov a point for the infraction. Nurmagomedov briefly completes a takedown upon the restart, moves behind him and dumps him to the canvas over and over again. Hughes gets back to his feet. Nurmagomedov lands two elbows and a knee at close range. Front kick to the body from the champion, followed by an inside low kick. Less than a minute to go in the round. Hughes answers a clinch from Nurmagomedov with punches to the body. Hughes smiles as Nurmagomedov presses him to the fence. Hughes flurries at the end of the round.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 9-9Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 9-9
Tyler Treese scores the round: 9-9
Round 4
What does the fourth round have in store? Nurmagomedov probes with front kicks to the body and kicks to the lower leg. The champion fires a jab. Hughes answers with a right hand over the top. Hughes hammers away with kick the inside of the lead leg and controls the center of the cage. Nurmagomedov circles. Check left hook from Hughes. Nurmagomedov flicks out a jab, then ducks into an uppercut from the Irishman. One-two from Hughes. Nurmagomedov spending too much time moving backward. Another right uppercut from Hughes. Nurmagomedov offers his retort with a thudding inside leg kick. Hughes the aggressor here. Right uppercut lands for Hughes, and an accidental clash of heads results in a pause to the action. Hughes emerges with a cut near his hairline. The cageside physician examines and clears Hughes. He then checks Nurmagomedov, who takes time to clear the cobwebs. Beltran restarts them. Nurmagomedov drives home a few jabs. Hughes answers with a left hook. Nurmagomedov secures a takedown with roughly a minute to go in the round. He scores with elbows and punches. Hughes closes his guard, surprisingly content to ride out the remaining time. Nurmagomedov closes the round with a few more elbows.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 NurmagomedovTristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Hughes
Round 5
They meet in the middle, the outcome perhaps hanging in the balance with this round. Nurmagomedov calls on his jab, then connects with a kick to the inside of the lead leg. Hughes whiffs on a left hook. Nurmagomedov sneaks behind the Irishman, drives him to a knee and slams knees into his thigh and buttocks. Hughes searches for an exit and gets back to his feet. Nurmagomedov crashes forward, secures a brief takedown and controls the challenger with a rear waistlock. Hughes hits the switch and frees himself, then floats into open space. Jab to the body from Hughes. The Irishman closes the distance behind an overhand right and clinches. Nurmagomedov turns him into the fence. Hughes digs hooks to the body, the scores with some nice dirty boxing. Nurmagomedov connect with a one-two, then a knee up the middle. Thirty seconds to go. Jab from Hughes. Nurmagomedov responds in kind. Hughes digs to the body with both hands. He goes to the rear waistlock. Hughes hits the switch and unloads with punches to the bell.Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (48-46 Nurmagomedov)Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (47-47)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (48-46 Nurmagomedov)
The Official Result
Usman Nurmagomedov def. Paul Hughes—Majority Decision (47-47, 48-46, 48-46)
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