Ali Bagautinov vs. Kyoji Horiguchi

Round 1
Bagautinov comes in with a leg kick in the first exchange, while Horiguchi misses a counter. About a minute in and both flyweight contenders are still feeling each other out. Bagautinov comes with a flying knee followed by a kick to the body. Horiguchi goes for a knee of his own, which Bagautinov catches and converts into a takedown. “The Puncher King” rides his foe near the fence, but the Japanese fighter gets up and turns Bagautinov into the cage. Horiguchi lands short knees on the inside. Horiguchi attempts to drag Bagautinov to the floor with a body lock. The Japanese fighter grapevines Bagautinov’s leg as he lands short punches to the side of the head. Horiguchi continues to hammer away as we approach the 1:00 mark. Bagautinov works his way up and eventually reverses the position. The Dagestani fighter slams his man down from the body lock position, but Horiguchi gets up quickly. The flyweights end the frame standing.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi

Round 2
Bagautinov just misses on a spinning high kick. Horiguchi pressures his foe near the fence and ties up with the “Puncher King.” Horiguchi lands a couple knees and separates. Bagautinov lands a two-punch combo in an exchange. Horiguchi buckles Bagautinov with a punch, and the American Top Team product pushes Bagautinov into the fence. Horiguchi grinds away, then lands a left hand on the break. A body kick form Bagautinov finds its mark. Horiguchi throws a combination and Bagautinov ties his man up. Horiguchi turns Bagautinov into the fence and gets him down. He grapevines the leg and begins landing short right hands to the side of the head. The shots aren’t especially powerful, but Horiguchi is staying busy. Bagautinov stands and grabs a single leg. Horiguchi maintains his balance and Bagautinov lets go. The fighters again end the frame on the feet.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi

Round 3
Bagautinov throws a body kick but it’s partially blocked. Baguatinov lands several punches in an exchange, but Horiguchi finds his mark as well. Bagautinov looks for a takedown. Horiguchi defends and lands some elbows to the side of the head. Bagautinov switches to a single leg but that’s unsuccessful and they separate. Horiguchi rushes forward with a multi-punch combination. Horiguchi lands a spinning back kick to the side of Bagautinov’s head, but it’s a glancing blow. After another exchange, Bagautinov shoots for a single leg against the fence. Horiguchi responds with more elbows to the side of the head. Horiguchi turns out and returns to the center of the Octagon. Bagautinov shoots again and pushes his man into the fence. Bagautinov drives for the takedown, but Horiguchi denies him. Horiguchi catches Bagautinov with a knee to the head as the Dagestani moves forward. Horiguchi pushes Bagautinov against the fence and changes levels for a takedown. Bagautinov returns to his feet but can’t offer any more offense as the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round 10-9 Horiguchi (30-27 Horiguchi)

The Official Result
Kyoji Horiguchi def. Ali Bagautinov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) R3 5:00

Ali Bagautinov vs. Tim Elliott

Round 1
Bagautinov circles to his left around the outside while Elliott walks after him with his chin stuck out and his hands by his waist. Bagautinov throws a couple heavy right hooks, dodged by Elliott, who continues to invite the Russian to punch him. Elliott wades in behind some awkward left hands, tries to tie up and gets shoved away. Bagautinov dazes Elliott with a knee and a punch, causing Elliott to grab for a single-leg, which Bagautinov steps out of. Elliott is showing redness from the strikes beneath his right eye as he keeps chasing Bagautinov around the cage. Bagautinov reverses momentum and puts Elliott on the floor with a quick takedown, but Elliott posts and stands immediately. Bagautinov is fending off Elliott with quicker punches, tries another single-leg and gets stood up against the fence. Elliott drops his hands and steps backward at the 10-second clapper, allowing Bagautinov to score with a pair of punches and a head kick before the horn.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov

Round 2
The flyweights resume their chase from the opening round, with Elliott chasing the Russian around the outside and Bagautinov making him pay for slack defense with speedy hands. Elliott steps in with a knee and gets taken down, but the American pulls guard with a guillotine on his way down. Bagautinov tries to sit up, can’t peel Elliott’s hands away, so he lifts and slams his way out. Elliott takes advantage of the slam by powering forward and settling into Bagautinov’s open guard. Elliott works some ground-and-pound to the body and head until Bagautinov tries for an armbar, forcing Elliott to stand and escape. Bagautinov lands a right over the top, then an uppercut on the chin as Elliott continues to walk forward. Bagautinov hits a single-leg but Elliott scrambles out, then slips the follow-up ankle pick attempt. This time, it’s Elliott who gets the last work in the round with a short left hook.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Elliott

Round 3
Bagautinov sticks jabs in the face of the oncoming Elliott, then switches to right hands over the top. Elliott is finding his mark with jabs, too, but Bagautinov’s punches still look to be quicker and harder. After absorbing a few kicks to his lead leg, Bagautinov switches stances and begins scoring with his left hand. Elliott eats a left to the mush and counters with a snappy three-piece combo, one of his better offensive sequences of the bout. Ninety seconds left and the final round still seems up for grabs as Elliott tries and fails to clinch, but makes Bagautinov pay with punches inside. In the closing seconds, Bagautinov sticks a hard, straight right in Elliott’s face and follows with a left hook. Elliott gets the last word, though, with a whipping trip takedown to close out the fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jordan Breen scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov (30-27 Bagautinov)
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov (30-27 Bagautinov)
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Bagautinov (29-28 Bagautinov)

The Result
Ali Bagautinov def. Tim Elliott via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) R3 5:00