Ismail Naurdiev vs. Chance Rencountre

Round 1
Next up is a welterweight bout between Ismail Naurdiev and Chance Rencountre. The referee is Mark Smith. No touch of gloves. Naurdiev takes the center of the Octagon right away. Recountre lands a low kick and Naurdiev returns with a kick to the body. Naurdiev with another kick to the body but Rencountre catches it. They clinch up and Rencountre throws Naurdiev to the mat and he gets right back up. Rencountre with another kick to the body. Rencountre looks for a body lock takedown but Naurdiev reverses position and ends up on top. They get back to their feet. Naurdiev nearly lands a high kick. He clinches with Rencountre and knees hm to the body. Naurdiev lands a nasty body kick. Rencountre grabs a leg and is looking for a single leg takedown and gets it. Rencountre is smothering Naurdiev on the mat in the corner of the Octagon. Rencountre moves into half guard and is looking to get into arm-triangle choke position. Rencountre ends the round in a dominant position on top.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre

Round 2
Round two begins. Rencountre pushes forward and catches a body kick by Naurdiev and follows him to the mat. Rencountre immediately takes the back of Naurdiev. Rencountre has Naurdiev flattened out and he’s looking to get the rear-naked choke. Rencountre is landing hard punches to the head of Naurdiev from back mount. Naurdiev is able to regain half guard. Rencountre remains heavy on top landing ground and pound. Rencountre has been on top in half guard for almost the whole round. This has been a dominant round for Rencountre and Naurdiev is going to need a finish in the third round if he wants to win the fight.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-8 Rencountre
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-8 Rencountre
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre

Round 3
Round three begins. Rencountre lands a kick to the body. He immediately shoots for a double leg takedown but Naurdiev defends it and shakes him loose. Rencountre shoots for another double leg but Naurdiev stuffs it. Naurdiev lands a knee to the face as Rencountre shoots for another double leg. Rencountre gets him down briefly but Naurdiev uses the whizzer to get back up. Rencountre moves forward and Naurdiev lands a flying knee and then a straight right behind it. Rencountre clinches Naurdiev against the fence and is looking for a single leg takedown. Naurdiev defends it and they break. Rencountre drops down for another single leg takedown and can’t get it but he transitions to take the back of Naurdiev. Rencountre has Naurdiev flattened out on the mat now and is pounding him in the face. Naurdiev turns and Rencountre has full mount. Naurdiev is able to regain half guard. Rencountre jams Naurdiev up against the corner of the cage. Naurdiev is able to get back to his feet and the referee breaks the clinch. Naurdiev shoots for a double leg takedown and gets it but it’s far too late as the fight is over.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-26 Rencountre)
Cole Shelton scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-26 Rencountre)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Rencountre (30-27 Rencountre)

The Official Result
Chance Rencountre def. Ismail Naurdiev via Unanimous Decision (29-27, 29-28, 30-27)

Belal Muhammad vs. Chance Rencountre

Round 1
Muhammad presses forward on the southpaw Rencountre, who holds a noticeable 3-inch height advantage over the Chicagoan. Both welterweights are testing the range with short punches in the opening 90 seconds, and now Rencountre gets busy with some hard leg kicks. Muhammad fires back with some heavy low kicks of his own. Muhammad backs up the newcomer to the fence and touches him with a short hook, then easily shuts down Rencountre's first takedown attempt of the bout. Muhammad slips a left, then shoots one back at Rencountre before getting out of range. Rencountre is being forced to work entirely off his back foot here, constant forward pressure from Muhammad keeping him in reverse. The story changes inside the final minute, as Rencountre takes a turn coming forward and almost immediately finds a home for his hardest punch of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Muhammad
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Muhammad
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Muhammad

Round 2
Muhammad is on the advance again early in the second frame, pressuring Rencountre backward toward the fence, ducking in and out of range to deliver tight combinations. "Remember the Name" drops levels and completes an easy takedown, but holding Rencountre on the mat proves to be a more difficult proposition, as the Osage fighter quickly posts and stands. Muhammad ducks under a left hand, pops up and slugs Rencountre with a right cross. Things slow down in the middle part of the round, though Muhammad continues to apply pressure, walking Rencountre around the cage. Muhammad backs up "Black Eagle" with a few jabs, narrowly misses with a front kick. Another double jab scores for Muhammad, who finishes the round with a spinning kick to the body.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Muhammad
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Muhammad
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Muhammad

Round 3
Muhammad goes straight back to the tactic that won him the first two rounds, constantly inching forward on Rencountre, backing him up and then sticking him with speedy, compact punches. The larger, longer Rencountre lands a few leg kicks, but nothing that gives Muhammad any sort of pause. With two minutes on the clock, Muhammad changes levels and floors "Black Eagle" with a takedown, but again Rencountre is able to stand up within seconds. Muhammad cracks Rencountre with an overhand right, hits another takedown and moves straight to Rencountre's back. Securing the position with a body triangle, Muhammad tries to wrap his right arm around his opponent's neck; Rencountre does well hand-fighting, shutting down the sub attempt and even getting back to his feet in the final 10 seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)
Mike Fridley scores the round 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Muhammad (30-27 Muhammad)

The Official Result
Belal Muhammad def. Chance Rencountre via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00