The Ultimate Fighting Championship travelled to du Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates tonight for UFC 242: “Nurmagomedov vs Poirier.” The event was headlined by a UFC Lightweight Championship bout between Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov and Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier.
In tonight’s lightweight co-main event, Edson Barboza and Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder squared off in a rematch more than four years in the making. Also at 155 pounds, Islam Makhachev battled Davi “Tasmanian Devil” Ramos. MMARising.com has live play-by-play for the UFC 242 card.
UFC Lightweight Championship
Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov vs Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier
Round 1:
Poirier pawed out with jabs and leg kicks early on until Nurmagomedov rushed forward with a flurry. He clinched and dragged Poirier to the mat against the cage Poirier gave up his back and Nurmagomedov looked for a rear-naked choke before transitioning to S-mount. He tried again for a rear-naked choke and then a neck crank. Poirier defended and worked back to his feet, where Nurmagomedov landed knees to the body. He tripped Poirier and took mount in a scramble. The round ended with Nurmagomedov landing elbows and punches from the top. 10-8 Nurmagomedov.
Round 2:
Nurmagomedov backed Poirier up with a flurry in round two, but Poirier regained his footing and stunned Nurmagomedov with a counter combination. He kept the pressure on with more punches as Nurmagomedov circled away. Nurmagomedov eventually shot in and took Poirier down against the base of the cage. Nurmagomedov landed short punches as the fighters battled in a clinch against the base of the cage and Poirier sustained a cut above his left eye in the process. Poirier briefly broke free, but Nurmagomedov clinched with him again and tripped him to the mat. Poirier stood and Nurmagomedov landed a knee before the bell. 10-9 Nurmagomedov, if not another 10-8.
Round 3:
Poirier countered a takedown with a tight guillotine choke in round three, but Nurmagomedov stayed calm and he managed to escape from the choke on his third try.He took Poirier’s back and locked on a rear-naked choke that forced Poirier to submit.
Winner: Khabib Nurmagomedov by Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) at 2:06 of round three. He improves to 28-0-0 and remains the UFC Lightweight Champion.
Paul “The Irish Dragon” Felder vs Edson Barboza
Round 1:
Felder countered early leg kicks with spinning backfists. Barboza continued to throw kicks and Felder responded with a combination of punches. He looked for a takedown, but Barboza defended. Felder began to bleed from the nose and the fighters traded looping punches. Barboza landed a hard liver kick and time was called soon after due to an inadvertent headbutt that opened a cut on Felder’s forehead. Action resumed and Barboza landed a leg kick and a left hook. Another body kick landed for Barboza and he countered a Felder right hand with a flurry. 10-9 Barboza.
Round 2:
The second round began with Felder landing left hooks and Barboza returning fire with leg kicks. More leg kicks were exchanged and Barboza took Felder down after eating a right hand. Felder attacked with elbows from the bottom that cut Barboza near the left eye. He continued to throw elbows and transitioned to an armbar attempt. Barboza slipped out and the fight returned to the feet. Both men landed leg kicks and left hooks before Felder clinched against the cage. He could not get Barboza down and Barboza landed another hard liver kick. The competitive round ended in a clinch. 10-9 Barboza by a slim margin.
Round 3:
Felder cut off the cage and scored with combinations early in the final round. Barboza replied with a body kick and Felder landed more punches. Barboza answered with another liver kick and a spinning backfist. Felder lunged in with one-twos and overhand rights in the final two minutes. He pinned Barboza against the cage and Barboza countered with a knee. Felder pressed forward with hooks and he stuffed a takedown attempt. Barboza got him down for a split second before the bell. 10-9 Felder.
Winner: Paul Felder by Split Decision (30-27, 29-28, 27-30) after three rounds. He improves to 17-4-0.
Islam Makhachev vs Davi “Tasmanian Devil” Ramos
Round 1:
Quick kicks were exchanged to open the fight and Ramos stuffed a takedown attempt soon after. Makhachev landed a one-two and he followed with another one. The fighters cautiously circled until Makhachev landed a leg kick and Ramos responded with two hooks. Very uneventful round. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 2:
Ramos blocked a head kick in round two and he rushed forward with punches that led to a clinch against the cage. Makhachev punched his way free and followed with a body kick. Ramos landed a jab and a right hand, but he was unable to follow up. Makhachev connected with a quick combination and the fighters traded right hooks. Makhachev landed a knee and he followed with a combination and a body kick. 10-9 Makhachev.
Round 3:
After a brief exchange of punches in round three, Makhachev dropped Ramos with a knee and he folowed with more punches from the top. Ramos recovered, but Makhachev remained on top throughout the round and he landed short punches to Ramos’s face. Ramos tried to kick off of the cage and he nearly initiated a scramble with 75 seconds remaining, but Makhachev kept him pinned down. Ramos punched from the bottom and he stood up shortly before the bell. 10-9 Makhachev.
Winner: Islam Makhachev by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27) after three rounds. He improves to 18-1-0.
Curtis “Razor” Blaydes vs Shamil “Abrek” Abdurakhimov
Round 1:
Blaydes wasted no time in clinching and taking Abdurakhimov down in the opening minute. Abdurakhimov stood and Blaydes promptly slammed him back down to the mat. Once again, Abdurakhimov stood and he landed two right hands. Blaydes took him down again and landed punches from the back. Abdurakhimov finally stood up, but not before Blaydes landed a series of left hands. He took Abdurakhimov for a fourth time and closed out the round with big punches and elbows from mount. 10-8 Blaydes.
Round 2:
The second round began with Blaydes once again taking Abdurakhimov down. He looked to pass to mount again and settled for back control while holding Abdurakhimov down against the base of the cage. Blaydes landed hard right hands and Abdurakhimov rolled to his back. Blaydes landed an elbow to Abdurakhimov’s nose and a final punch. Abdurakhimov turtled while grabbing his injured nose and the fight was stopped.
Winner: Curtis Blaydes by TKO (Elbow & Punch) at 2:22 of round two. He improves to 12-2-0, 1 NC.
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs Mairbek “Beckan” Taisumov
Round 1:
Taisumov landed right hands early on and Ferreira kicked to the body. He knocked Taisumov off-balance with a one-two and followed with a front kick. Taisumov knocked Ferreira down with a leg kick, but Ferreira returned to his feet and Taisumov threw a grazing head kick. He backed Ferreira up with a hard flurry, but Ferreira responded with a variety of kicks. Both men landed punches in close and Ferreira backed Taisumov up with a one-two. Taisumov landed another hard leg kick and Ferreira responded with a nice right hand. Close round. 10-9 Taisumov.
Round 2:
Ferreira opened round two with a hard combination and he followed with a right hand in close that set up a clinch against the cage. Taisumov countered with a sambo throw, but Ferreira got back to his feet and he was warned for an inadvertent headbutt. Action continued and Ferreira landed quick punches and a leg kick. This led to an exchange of power punches and both men landed cleanly. Ferreira blocked a head kick and he landed punches and a leg kick in return. Taisumov avoided a takedown, but Ferreira remained the aggressor with jabs and front kicks. Both men landed right hands late in the round. 10-9 Ferreira.
Round 3:
The final round began with Ferreira backing Taisumov up with jabs and right hands. Taisumov stuffed a takedown, but Ferreira landed an elbow in close and the fighters traded left hooks. Ferreira remained the aggressor and he backed Taisumov up with body kicks and combinations of punches. Ferreira was relentless with punching flurries and he mixed in a head kick that was narrowly blocked in time. Taisumov struggled to land anything as he slowed down and Ferreira picked him apart with punches and another head kick. Both men landed punches late in the fight. 10-9 Ferreira.
Winner: Carlos Diego Ferreira by Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-28) after three rounds. He improves to 16-2-0.
(Undercard results and play-by-play on Page Two.)