Nassourdine Imavov, huh? He really went to town, even if things got a bit… let’s say, untidy. The guy’s making waves, aiming for that Top 10 spot in the UFC welterweight division. And boy, did he make a statement against Romand Dolidze at UFC Fight Night 235. It was a show in Vegas that had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Judges Derek Cleary and Sal D’Amato were all in, scoring it 49-44 and 48-46 for Imavov. Ron McCarthy, though, threw a curveball with a 47-47 draw. Talk about a mixed bag of opinions, right?
Imavov had this one moment, though. A point got snatched from him for an illegal head kick in the fourth. Despite that, he was pretty much the boss for most of the match. His striking? Sharp as ever. He had Dolidze wobbling with a right hand in the first five minutes, followed by a barrage that almost ended things early. But then, fatigue seemed to creep in, and Imavov got a bit cautious.
Dolidze, on his end, tried to turn things around with clinches and some attempts at a kneebar and a toe hold. But honestly? Imavov never really looked in trouble.
Switching gears, Renato Carneiro showed some serious skills against Drew Dober in the co-main event. It was all about takedowns, suffocating control, and steady ground-and-pound. The judges were unanimous, handing it 29-28 to Carneiro.
Dober had his moments, rocking “Moicano” more than once. He even managed a slick lateral drop in the second, opening up a nasty cut near Carneiro’s eye. But when push came to shove, Carneiro took over in the third, securing a win with some intense ground-and-pound.
Carneiro’s been on a bit of a roll, minus a hiccup against Rafael dos Anjos last March.
And then there’s Randy Brown. The guy made quick work of Muslim Salikhov, ending things with punches in the first round. It was a standout moment, marking his first knockout since June 2019.
Salikhov tried to close in with leg kicks, but Brown was just too quick, landing a devastating right cross that sent Salikhov to the mat. It was a powerful display from Brown, who’s been on a winning streak lately.
Natalia Silva also made some noise, outmaneuvering Viviane Araujo with a mix of taekwondo kicks, solid defense, and quick punches. It was a unanimous decision win that showcased Silva’s growing threat in the flyweight division.
Charlie Radtke and Gilbert Urbina faced off in a welterweight match that ended with Radtke’s impressive first-round knockout. It was a display of power and precision that left Urbina struggling to find his footing.
Lastly, a much-anticipated middleweight bout between Aliaskhab Khizriev and Makhmud Muradov ended abruptly. An accidental eye poke just 11 seconds in led to a no contest decision. It was a disappointing end to what could have been a thrilling match.
So, there you have it. A night of fights that had a bit of everything – from stunning knockouts to unexpected draws and even a no contest. The world of MMA never ceases to amaze, does it?