UFC Fight Night presents a fascinating bantamweight bout between the rising star Umar Nurmagomedov and the promotional newcomer Bekzat Almakhan.
Umar Nurmagomedov Picks Up Hard Fought Win at UFC Vegas 87
Nurmagomedov comes into this fight with an impeccable record of 16-0, showcasing his dominance in the division with a blend of high-level striking and grappling. Notably, Umar’s last performance against Raoni Barcelos was particularly impressive, securing a knockout with a body kick. Despite the struggle to find ranked opponents willing to face him due to his formidable style, Umar remains a significant prospect within the bantamweight division, known for his sound boxing and a non-telegraphed lead leg head kick that lands with remarkable accuracy and speed. He also carries the Nurmagomedov name, meaning he is as skilled in the grappling department as he is on his feet.
Bekzat Almakhan
Almakhan steps into the octagon with a record of 17-1, making his UFC debut following a successful stint in Kazakhstan’s Octagon League. Almakhan has demonstrated his finishing ability, with two brilliant knockouts in his last outings, extending his winning streak to eight, which includes six knockouts and a submission. Despite being a newcomer to the UFC, Bekzat’s striking and grappling skills suggest he could present a unique challenge to Nurmagomedov. It is widely discussed that Bekzat has been brought in for this fight due to the UFC struggling to find a matchup for Umar.
The matchup between Nurmagomedov and Almakhan is intriguing due to the contrast in their UFC experience and the potential style clash. While Umar is celebrated for his elite grappling and striking, Bekzat’s unknown quality on the big stage and dangerous striking make him a wild card. However, Umar’s comprehensive skill set, particularly his elite grappling, is expected to play a decisive role in this bout. The general consensus is that Umar’s wrestling and submission skills will likely neutralize Bekzat’s striking advantage, leading to a prediction of Nurmagomedov securing a victory, potentially through a submission.
What Unfolded at UFC Vegas 87
Umar Nurmagoemdov nearly paid the ultimate price and was dropped in the opening exchange from the UFC newcomer. After being dropped, Nurmagomedov quickly tried to recoup and took the fight into his world on the mat. The remainder of the round consisted of Nurmagoemdov on Bezkat’s back, and in his guard landing multiple short elbows.
Bezkat has clearly earned the respect of Nurmagoemdov with the Russian shooting and landing a takedown. The debutant did well getting back to his feet but was immediately taken down again. Nurmagoemdov managed to get into full mount and rained down a barrage of punches, but Bezkat was able to scramble and get back to his feet. It was rinse and repeat until the bell at the end of the second, with Nurmagmoedov really putting a pace on the newcomer.
Within a minute into the third, Nurmagoemdov secures his career best, with five takedowns and picks up where he left of with reigning down punches and elbows. Much to his credit, Bezkat found himself in bad position after bad position, but was able to just do enough to survive and not get finished. Despite the early scare, a dominant performance from Umar Nurmagomedov.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
