Career Averages - Nursulton Ruziboev
Career Averages - Sedriques Dumas
Nursulton Ruziboev
Sedriques Dumas
Nursulton Ruziboev - Fight History
Angelo has been a big supporter of Ruziboev since his UFC debut and picks him here. He highlights Ruziboev's wrestling and grappling prowess, his size at 6'5, and his power, noting that Battle missed weight and is moving up to middleweight where his power may not carry. He believes Battle is not big enough for the weight class and that Ruziboev's chin and skills will prevail. He bet on Ruziboev at +150.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by second-round knockout. He notes Ruziboev has massive size, reach, and power, and that Battle has poor striking defense (44%). He thinks Battle will walk into big shots and could get knocked out. He also mentions Ruziboev's takedown defense is improving and Battle is not a wrestler at middleweight. He acknowledges Ruziboev is low volume but dangerous, and could win by damage-based decision or knockout.
The Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by TKO in the first two rounds. He believes Ruziboev's height and reach advantage will be problematic for Bryan Battle, who won't be able to use his physicality as he did against Randy Brown. The Guru notes that Ruziboev is a dirty fighter who will cheat to win, extending fingers and grabbing the cage. He also mentions Ruziboev's dynamic movement and ability to dart in and out, which will be difficult for Battle to handle.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 21 of 37 | 56% | 41 of 62 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 2 | 0 | 5:11 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 35 of 68 | 51% | 53 of 94 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 3:21 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 10 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1:14 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 13 of 27 | 48% | 21 of 36 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 1:24 | |
| 2 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 14 of 18 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:13 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 11 of 19 | 57% | 21 of 35 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 1:55 | |
| 3 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 0 | 14 of 21 | 66% | 17 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 1:44 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 11 of 22 | 50% | 11 of 23 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dustin Stoltzfus | 21 of 37 | 56% | 5 of 19 | 4 of 6 | 12 of 12 | 19 of 34 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 35 of 68 | 51% | 24 of 53 | 8 of 11 | 3 of 4 | 24 of 52 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 15 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 5 of 13 | 38% | 2 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 13 of 27 | 48% | 8 of 19 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 11 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | |
| 2 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 11 of 19 | 57% | 9 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 14 | |
| 3 | Dustin Stoltzfus | 14 of 21 | 66% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 4 | 10 of 10 | 13 of 19 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 11 of 22 | 50% | 7 of 17 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Nursulton Ruziboev confidently, calling him an absolute beast. He highlights Ruziboev's massive 6'5" frame, wrestling and grappling prowess, and a good chin. He notes that Ruziboev's only UFC loss was to Buckley at 170 lbs, which is credible. Angelo expects Ruziboev to be patient, eat a few shots, and then pour it on later. He finds the -280 odds affordable and suggests the over might be sneaky good if a round line is available.
Big Brady picks Dustin Stoltzfus as a plus-240 underdog, citing Ruziboev's poor takedown defense and lack of volume. He believes Stoltzfus can take Ruziboev down and control him, making Ruziboev's power useless. He expects a decision win if Stoltzfus fights smart.
The host acknowledges Ruziboev's power and striking advantage but notes he has been grinded out by lesser grapplers. He believes Stoltzfus, with his BJJ black belt and wrestling improvements from Extreme Couture, can get Ruziboev to the ground and grind him out from top position, either winning on the scorecards or finding a submission.
The Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a dirty fighter who moves well and has a ton of experience. He thinks Ruziboev is better at middleweight with more power. He notes Stoltzfus has been styled on by opponents like Bruno Ferreira and doesn't see a path to victory. He predicts a TKO in the first or second round.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 2 | 20 of 42 | 47% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:36 |
| Eric McConico | 0 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 6 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 13 of 24 | 54% | 14 of 25 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:30 |
| Eric McConico | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 2 | 7 of 18 | 38% | 10 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Eric McConico | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 20 of 42 | 47% | 15 of 35 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 13 of 30 | 6 of 11 | 1 of 1 |
| Eric McConico | 5 of 13 | 38% | 1 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 5 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 13 of 24 | 54% | 8 of 17 | 4 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Eric McConico | 4 of 10 | 40% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 7 of 18 | 38% | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 | 5 of 10 | 1 of 1 |
| Eric McConico | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Moving right along, two men that rarely leave matters to the judges will clash to start building momentum in the wide-open middleweight category. After a tough loss, Ruziboev (34-9-2, 2 NC; 2-1 UFC) is returning to 185 pounds, and he will be welcoming Tuff-N-Uff vet McConico (9-2-1, 0-0 UFC) to the world-famous Octagon. Referee Keith Peterson is on guard, ready to step in at a moment’s notice and bust up any nonsense. A fist bump precedes the action, and McConico opens up with a slapping low kick as “USA” chants loudly echo throughout the building. McConico parries a front kick fired at him and chambers a head kick in response, only to not let it go. As the fighters circle one another without much activity, the fans let the fighters have it with a swath of boos. Ruziboev tries to answer their calls for action with an overhand right, but he misses the mark by a wide margin. Ruziboev tries for another as a counter, and he skims the side of the head when McConico attempts a kick. McConico is out of range with most of his strikes, and Ruziboev reaches him at the end of a right hand right on the pectorals. Ruziboev jams a front kick to the liver, and he is answered with a low kick. Ruziboev surges forward with a right hand, and he shakes his head when McConico fails on a counter. Ruziboev blitzes after another lull in action, and a second flurry gets his hands on his opponent. McConico rips a kick to the ribs, and “Black” wraps him up and pushes him to the fencing. Dirty boxing from the newcomer allows him to break out of the tie-up, and he has a head kick slap off the raised guard to little impact. The crowd is not impressed, even as Ruziboev marches forward and zings a few straight punches down the middle. A low kick from McConico is answered by a one-two, and this exchange happens a second time. The Uzbekistan ends the round with a body kick and a right hand.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Ruziboev
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get going, and McConico is energized as he puts a pair of punches on the chin to reintroduce himself. Ruziboev fires right back, and this slugfest is exactly where McConico does not want to be. The taller, longer man unloads and nails McConico with a strong combination of punches, causing McConico to wobble and stumble his way to the fence. McConico falls to his face and works his way up under fire.
Ruziboev chases, swinging with all his might, allowing the newcomer to get back to his feet so he can blast him once more with several relentless right hands. As McConico hits the deck a second time, Peterson has seen enough, with McConico turning to his side and in a bad, bad way.
The victor walks off screaming, letting out all of his remaining emotions after registering the knockout. That marks 33 finishes in the 35 wins for the Uzbekistan native, who at 6-foot-5 will be a tough matchup for a lot of fighters in the weight class. To make matters more interesting, Ruziboev informs commentator Michael Bisping that he is willing to fight at either 77 or 84 kgs, meaning 170 pounds or 185 pounds.
The Official Result
Nursulton Ruziboev def. Eric McConico R2 0:33 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo is confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, noting he is a big middleweight with wrestling and power, and that this weight class suits him better than welterweight. He thinks McConico is not dangerous enough on the feet to pose a real problem, and expects Ruziboev's wrestling to be a big advantage. He assumes both fighters are in shape despite short notice.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev but hates the -300 price tag, calling it unwarranted. He notes that Ruziboev hasn't proven much in the UFC, with wins via eye poke and one-punch knockout, and was taken down by Warlley Alves for three rounds. However, he thinks Ruziboev's size, length, and power will be too much for Eric McConico, who has durability issues and is coming in on short notice. He predicts a first-round knockout.
The host notes McConico is on short notice but in shape from a recent fight. He expects McConico to use a game plan similar to Buckley's, keeping Ruziboev on his back and out of danger, winning on the scorecards.
The Guru picks Ruziboev based on 'light man skill' and experience fighting at welterweight, implying he had to be good to win there. He criticizes McConico's late-career signing at age 34, lack of finishing potential, and weak resume. He expects Ruziboev to piece him up and finish him.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joaquin Buckley | 1 | 86 of 156 | 55% | 113 of 187 | 4 of 4 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 5:30 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 31 of 72 | 43% | 43 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:34 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 8 of 23 | 34% | 8 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:16 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 7 of 22 | 31% | 11 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Joaquin Buckley | 0 | 14 of 27 | 51% | 23 of 37 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:42 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 8 of 21 | 38% | 15 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Joaquin Buckley | 1 | 64 of 106 | 60% | 82 of 127 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 2:32 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 16 of 29 | 55% | 17 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:34 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joaquin Buckley | 86 of 156 | 55% | 70 of 137 | 14 of 17 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 50 | 0 of 0 | 71 of 106 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 31 of 72 | 43% | 17 of 46 | 13 of 24 | 1 of 2 | 23 of 59 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 12 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joaquin Buckley | 8 of 23 | 34% | 5 of 18 | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 4 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 9 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 7 of 22 | 31% | 4 of 15 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 7 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Joaquin Buckley | 14 of 27 | 51% | 8 of 21 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 9 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 8 of 21 | 38% | 3 of 13 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Joaquin Buckley | 64 of 106 | 60% | 57 of 98 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 18 | 0 of 0 | 60 of 88 |
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 16 of 29 | 55% | 10 of 18 | 5 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 12 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Buckley (-166), Ruziboev (+140)
Round 1
Ever since moving down to 170 pounds, the 5-foot-8 kickfighter Buckley (18-6, 8-4 UFC) has found a new lease on life, even if he tries to move up a more logjammed division with contenders waiting ages for title shots these days. Looking to crash that party will be Uzbekistan finisher Ruziboev (34-8-2, 2 NC; 2-0 UFC), who has shifted back and forth from welterweight and middleweight over the years. Knowing that one of these men may need smelling salts in the foreseeable future, referee Keith Peterson is ultra-prepped and ready for the nonsense-free proceedings. There is a stern staredown between the two that ultimately results in no touch of gloves. Buckley crowds his way forward to begin, and he backs away from a front kick that is aimed his direction. Buckley shifts to the left and right while trying to find his way in, and Ruziboev is warned for outstretched fingers. Ruziboev reaches with a right hand, and Buckley comes at him swinging. Ruziboev ducks away from a huge overhand left, and he tries to line up straight shots to intercept the shorter man coming in. Ruziboev misses another front kick, and he lets Buckley fly past him when Buckley is winging shots. The crowd starts chanting “USA,” and Buckley absorbs this energy and surges forward, where he takes a flush flying knee to the body and tackles Ruziboev to the ground. Buckley is wrapped up when landing on top, with Ruziboev hooking his arms around Buckley’s to hope for a stalemate that results in a standup. Buckley is pushed away, and he swings when Ruziboev fights back to his feet. Ruziboev returns fire and clips him, and Buckley retreats only to sprint forward and smash straight into Ruziboev’s chest to put him flat on his back. Buckley decides after landing a few strikes to stand back up, and Ruziboev follows him up. Buckley hops away from a front kick and scores a low kick, and his jabs as well out of range. Buckley keeps his guard up to block a high kick, and his blitz of a few looping strikes come up short. Buckley raises his hand in the air as he circles away, and he tells Ruziboev to fight him. Ruziboev motions to come get him, and Buckley answers as he leaps forward throwing wild hooks. Buckley spins with a back kick that is brushed off, and he walks off disappointed. Ruziboev runs at him and jumps with a flying knee, but Buckley is elsewhere as the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Round 2
Buckley appears to have a fire lit in his belly as he starts the second round, as he races forward and releases a big kick early. Ruziboev retreats and measures Buckley with a right hand. Buckley resets and blazes forward, ripping Ruziboev off of his feet and tossing him down to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Ruziboev uses his offensive guard to kick Buckley off of him, and Buckley allows him to get back up. Ruziboev gets off a right hand that partially connects, and Buckley closes in and lands as body shot. Ruziboev trots forward with his arms outstretched, and he walks into a front kick to the sternum. Buckley chases Ruziboev around and shrugs off a right hand so he can unload with body shots. Buckley takes a flush knee and responds with a right hook that lands cleanly. Buckley is struck with another knee on the way in, and is still struggling to find the range. A side kick from “New Mansa” finds its target, and his guard is high enough to block a straight right hand from his foe. Ruziboev splits the guard with a front kick and hops away from winging hooks that whiz past him. Buckley starts pointing around the cage, and he tries to use this misdirection to charge in and crack his foe. He gets off a big right hand and wrenches Ruziboev down to the mat, slamming him down and landing in side control. Buckley puts a knee on the belly, and Ruziboev pulls him back to guard. Buckley rains down punches, and Ruziboev answers with an armbar that Buckley completely ignores. The round ends, Buckley helps his foe up and they embrace.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Buckley
Round 3
Hands are clapped together to begin the final round. They use alternating jabs to still look for their respective distances, and Buckley leaps forward and pulls back before reaching the target. Buckley has a right hand glance off the target, and Ruziboev replies with a few body shots. Buckley eats a left hand and laughs it off so he can blast Ruziboev in the face with bombs. Buckley knocks Ruziboev off his feet down to his seat, where he moves to top position, and Ruziboev flails frantically with his legs and lands a few upkicks to get Buckley away. Buckley holds on the neck when Ruziboev sits up, and Ruziboev escapes and tries to land some shots. Buckley chases after him and connects with some punishing blows, and Ruziboev goes down again. Buckley leaps on top and begins an onslaught of ground-and-pound when he gets to mount, and he hammers Ruziboev with punches as Ruziboev’s face has been bloodied up. Ruziboev struggles to hang on and grabs the glove to protect himself, so Buckley frames off with his elbow and clobbers him with additional elbows. Ruziboev survives the assault somehow and sweeps the shorter man, and he ignores a triangle setup to move into the half guard so he can blast Buckley with his own offense. Buckley twists and turns, and he explodes to turn Ruziboev over and put him down again. Buckley sits up and jackhammers Ruziboev with right hands, and Peterson is watching closely as Ruziboev’s eye is busted up. Buckley unleashes with everything he has, and Ruziboev responds with several illegal upkicks that land on the spine and the back of the head. Peterson calls time to acknowledge the foul, and Buckley asks for them to be stood up. Ruziboev tries to offer a glove touch, and Buckley shrugs him off. Ruziboev loads up on a head kick, and Buckley walks him down and slugs him in the chops right to the final horn. This matchup somehow has gone the distance, although it is no question who will get their hand raised.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Buckley (30-26 Buckley)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Buckley (30-27 Buckley)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Buckley (30-26 Buckley)
The Official Result
Joaquin Buckley def. Nursulton Ruziboev via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 29-27)
Angelo picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his wrestling and grappling ability, as well as his power in his hands. He notes Ruziboev is a much larger fighter and a capable striker, but worries he might abandon his grappling for striking. He acknowledges Joaquin Buckley's speed, power, and improved movement, but believes Ruziboev's wrestling could be the difference.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to knock out Joaquin Buckley in the first round, calling it a shot in the dark. He notes that Buckley has been knocked out multiple times (by Holland, Curtis, etc.) and Ruziboev has a ton of power. However, he admits he still doesn't know much about Ruziboev, who has over 40 fights but mostly first-round finishes. He thinks Ruziboev's power might be the difference, and if he beats Buckley, he will gain hype.
Cody picks Buckley, noting that Ruziboev has a poor record at 170 lbs (7 of 8 losses at that weight) and tends to gas after the first round. He highlights Buckley's speed, cardio advantage, and ability to explode with big shots. Cody believes Buckley can survive an early onslaught and take over in later rounds, especially with the crowd behind him in St. Louis. He also notes that Ruziboev's takedown defense is suspect and Buckley could mix in wrestling.
Daniel Vreeland picks Joaquin Buckley, noting that Buckley has experience against larger opponents and that Ruziboev's ceiling is likely top 30. He believes Buckley can extend the fight and find his range, and that Ruziboev struggles when he doesn't get an early finish. He also mentions the risk of a letdown spot for Buckley after a big win.
The host picks Buckley to win by knockout in rounds 2 or 3, citing his experience and fight IQ against a less tested opponent. He expects Buckley to mix in grappling and wear down Ruziboev before landing a big shot. He notes Ruziboev's size and reach but questions his weight cut and competition level. The pick is confident for the finish, though he acknowledges unknowns about Ruziboev.
Paul leans towards Ruziboev but is hesitant, citing his size and power advantage. He notes that Ruziboev has a 10-fight winning streak with all finishes in the first round, but his record at 170 is poor. Paul worries about the weight cut and cardio, as Ruziboev has not gone past the first round in years. He suggests waiting for weigh-ins to see how Ruziboev looks at 170. Paul acknowledges Buckley's improvements but thinks Ruziboev could be a 'merer' if he lands early.
The MMA Guru picks Nursulton Ruziboev over Joaquin Buckley, noting Ruziboev's reach and rangy striking style. He believes Buckley's boxing-heavy approach will be neutralized by Ruziboev's length and uppercuts, and that Ruziboev's willingness to cheat (eye pokes) could be an advantage. He predicts a TKO win via uppercut as Buckley comes in.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 1 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 12 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 1 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 12 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 12 of 32 | 37% | 11 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 12 of 32 | 37% | 11 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruziboev (-265), Dumas (+215)
Round 1
Ruziboev and Dumas go to work under the supervision of referee “Shaolin” Ribeiro. Both middleweights are in orthodox stance, and Dumas comes forward with kick feints and a long jab. Ruziboev isn’t throwing anything back, but once he has the read, he nails Dumas with a righty counter over the jab. Dumas backs off, and when they come together again, Ruziboev meets him with an uppercut up the middle. Ruziboev tries a lead left hook that glances, and backs away from a Dumas front kick. Dumas continues to match forward, but he backs away from the ensuing collision pawing at his right eye. He looks at the referee, but Ribeiro either didn’t see a foul, or saw a legal strike.
Ruziboev gives no quarter, coming forward and laying into Dumas with a string of punches. Dumas wilts under the barrage, covering up as Ruziboev pours on the punishment. Ribeiro interposes himself for the stoppage, but this is going to be one heavily viewed replay.
The replay, when it comes, shows Ruziboev appearing to drag his open fingers across Dumas’ face during one of the final exchanges. We will see if that leads to any sort of appeal in the coming days.
The Official Result
Nursolton Ruziboev def. Sedriques Dumas R1 3:18 via KO (Punches)
Angelo is very confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a 'grappling beast' who will ragdoll Sedriques Dumas. He criticizes Dumas as 'kind of terrible' and notes that even Cody Brundage took him down. He believes Ruziboev should be the biggest favorite on the card and recommends betting now before the line moves.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by first-round submission. He highlights Ruziboev's size (6'5" at middleweight), power, and dangerous submission game, noting he has many rear-naked choke wins. He criticizes Dumas for poor performances, getting hurt by lesser opponents, and questionable cardio. Brady believes Ruziboev is a level above everywhere and will submit Dumas when the fight hits the mat.
Cody acknowledges Ruziboev's first-round finishing ability but worries about his cardio if the fight goes past the first. He notes Dumas's poor life choices and questionable cardio but thinks Ruziboev's durability and skill advantage should carry him, though the price (-260) is unappealing.
Daniel Vreeland picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his massive experience (over 40 fights) and finishing ability. He notes Dumas is still green, has been submitted before (by Josh Fremd), and may have distractions outside the cage. He thinks Ruziboev will expose Dumas on the ground, though he doesn't advocate betting at -250.
Ruziboev has a height advantage and aggressive striking, but Dumas has a 3-inch reach advantage. Ruziboev's experience (42 fights) and recent camp at Marquez MMA in Philly are positives. Dumas is still unproven; his wins came against Cody Brundage (who jumped guillotine) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (coming off long layoff). Ruziboev's aggressiveness should be the difference, but he must avoid leaving his neck open for a choke. Prediction: Ruziboev inside the distance.
Paul is high on Ruziboev, calling him a 'monster' and noting his size, power, and training in Philly. He contrasts Ruziboev's focused Instagram with Dumas's partying and legal issues, believing Ruziboev will starch him early.
The host picks Nursulton Ruziboev, criticizing Sedriques Dumas' wins as coming against opponents with low fight IQ. He believes Ruziboev is more experienced and has a higher fight IQ. He predicts Ruziboev will win, possibly by using his grappling and striking advantage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 6 of 9 | 66% | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brunno Ferreira | 6 of 9 | 66% | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 |
Angelo picks Brunno Ferreira but with low confidence. He acknowledges Ferreira's insane power but questions his takedown defense against a wrestling specialist like Ruziboev. He notes that Ruziboev is a live underdog and may flip his pick if the line moves. He advises avoiding betting on this fight entirely.
Big Brady picks Brunno Ferreira to win by first-round knockout. He is more impressed with Ferreira's Contender Series win and his knockout of Gregory Rodriguez than any of Ruziboev's opponents. He notes Ruziboev has poor takedown defense and Ferreira has solid wrestling and devastating ground and pound. He acknowledges Ruziboev could be legit but feels Ferreira is the safer pick.
Cody sees Ruziboev as a greasy underdog with plus money. He notes Ruziboev has 44 pro fights, has improved since moving to Daniel Gracie's team, and has a size and grappling advantage. Ferreira has big power but questionable cardio and grappling. Cody thinks Ruziboev can win by wrestling and cardio, though he acknowledges the unknown level of competition.
Daniel leans Ferreira but with low confidence due to the late opponent change and Ruziboev's length and experience. He notes Ferreira's explosive power and first-round finishing ability, but worries about closing distance against a 6'4" fighter with 20 submission wins. He acknowledges Ruziboev's poor cardio and decision record (2-6), but sees Ferreira's path to victory via takedowns or power shots. He is less confident than in the original matchup against Razak.
Paul picks Ferreira but is not confident. He notes Ferreira's power and KO of Gregory Rodrigues, but questions his cardio and grappling. Ruziboev is an unknown with a strange record. Paul thinks Ferreira's power gives him a chance, but he doesn't feel great about the pick.
The Guru picks Brunno Ferreira, noting his power and strength advantage. He criticizes Ruziboev's striking as sloppy and open to getting chinned, and believes Ferreira will stuff takedowns and land a big shot for a KO. He also notes Ruziboev's submission wins come off his back, but Ferreira won't shoot takedowns.
Sedriques Dumas - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 1 | 21 of 29 | 72% | 38 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 2:03 |
| Jackson McVey | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 1 | 21 of 29 | 72% | 38 of 50 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 2:03 |
| Jackson McVey | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 9 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 21 of 29 | 72% | 16 of 22 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 18 |
| Jackson McVey | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 21 of 29 | 72% | 16 of 22 | 5 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 5 of 7 | 14 of 18 |
| Jackson McVey | 3 of 4 | 75% | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: McVey (-190); Dumas (+160)
Round 1
A potential pink-slip derby comes as the prelims carry on, with struggling middleweights Dumas (10-4, 1 NC; 3-4, 1 NC UFC) and McVey (6-2, 0-2 UFC) coming to blows with one hoping of righting the ship to a degree. At 30 and 27, respectively, a prospective roster cut would not necessarily be the end of their career, with top contenders in the division hanging around 10 years their elder. For now, referee Chris Tognoni stands guard ready to intervene at a moment’s notice. There is a touch of gloves.
McVey practically sprints at his opponent, bull-rushing “The Reaper” and forcing him on his back foot immediately. McVey looks for a level change, and when he cannot readjust them to a different position, he sticks around in the clinch flustering Dumas with knees and short punches. Dumas brings up a knee that bangs into the cup, and when Tognoni calls time, both fighters look confusedly at him and say they’re fine and continue fighting. They manage to separate, and McVey marches his foe down with a purpose. As he closes in, he jacks Dumas up with an uppercut, and Dumas crashes to the floor. McVey looks to finish the job with a bombardment of punches, but Dumas is intelligently defending himself. McVey decides to stop striking and hook his arm around the neck, locking up a brabo choke in a hurry.
The submission is tight with its application cinched at McVey’s armpit, and he turns to the side to complete it. Dumas has nothing left to offer at this point of the match, and he surrenders.
We have our first finish of the night, while Dumas clutches the left side of his face that absorbed the crushing uppercut.
The Official Result
Jackson McVey def. Sedriques Dumas R1 2:14 via Submission (Brabo Choke)
Angelo confidently picks Jackson McVey, criticizing Sedriques Dumas for being a poor fighter with more court cases than wins. He notes that Dumas's wrestling is horrific and he doesn't have big one-punch knockout power, and has seen Dumas look like he's quitting. Angelo expects McVey to move forward, throw a bunch of hands, and win the fight. He says he'll be rooting for McVey big time.
Big Brady picks Sedriques Dumas (referred to as Jack Marshman) over Jackson McVey (referred to as Sedriques Dumas). He criticizes Dumas's tendency to quit under adversity and tap to submissions easily. He believes Marshman's clinch work and opportunistic submission game will lead to a first-round submission.
Connor agrees with Zane, picking McVey due to Dumas's lack of skill and recent poor performances. He notes that Dumas has zero footwork, bad form, and corners himself, while McVey has aggression and a clear game plan. Connor also mentions that Dumas's personal issues likely haven't helped his training.
The host thinks Dumas is a tempting bet because McVey has terrible takedown defense and is weak off his back. Dumas' grappling, while not elite, should be enough to exploit McVey's weaknesses. He believes the odds are wrong and Dumas should be favored. However, he warns about Dumas' bad fight IQ and face tattoos, making it a risky bet.
James picks McVey, citing Dumas' mental instability and poor fight IQ. He expects McVey's pressure and clinch work to lead to a submission finish, possibly a guillotine in round one.
McVey has a strong submission game and a lanky frame, but he has struggled in the UFC with two losses. Dumas has been inconsistent and has had legal issues, but he has grappling ability. McVey should overwhelm Dumas with aggression and find a submission, but the fight is low-level and hard to have confidence in.
Zane picks McVey because Dumas is aimless, has zero footwork, bad striking form, and poor positioning. He notes that McVey has directionality and aggression, and if he comes out like he did against Zach Reese, Dumas will fold. However, Zane acknowledges that McVey is a poor athlete and the fight is terrible overall.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donte Johnson | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 18 of 27 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:04 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 5 of 16 | 31% | 12 of 23 | 1 of 5 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donte Johnson | 0 | 9 of 17 | 52% | 11 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:53 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 10 of 17 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:03 | |
| 2 | Donte Johnson | 0 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 7 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 1:11 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 2 of 6 | 33% | 2 of 6 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donte Johnson | 10 of 18 | 55% | 9 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 10 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 5 of 16 | 31% | 0 of 10 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donte Johnson | 9 of 17 | 52% | 8 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 0 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Donte Johnson | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 2 of 6 | 33% | 0 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 |
Angelo is very confident in Dashon Johnson, calling him a big wrestler with power who will finish Sedriques Dumas. He criticizes Dumas heavily, citing his criminal record, poor performances, and lack of quality wins. He expects Johnson to run through Dumas and finish him early, and recommends putting Johnson in lineups.
Big Brady picks Dashon Johnson by first-round knockout, citing Johnson's fast hands and heavyweight power. He notes Dumas doesn't like getting hit and has been hurt in multiple fights. He mentions Johnson is coming down from heavyweight but looks in good shape. He warns that if the fight extends, Dumas's grappling could be a factor, but he expects an early finish.
Connor picks Dumas because he is a big middleweight who can lay on Johnson and use wrestling to control him. He notes that Johnson is a short, awkward fighter who throws wild hooks, and Dumas can take him down and ride him to a decision.
Lucrative James picks Dashon Johnson confidently, citing his power, speed, and striking IQ. He notes Johnson's success at higher weight classes and expects him to be too strong and patient for Sedriques Dumas, who has mental and legal issues. James predicts a first-round knockout, similar to Dumas' previous loss to Michel Alex.
Johnson is 6-0 with all first-round finishes but hasn't faced much adversity. Dumas has more UFC experience and has beaten mediocre competition. Dumas will wear down Johnson and find a submission in the second or third round.
The MMA Guru picks Dashon Johnson (Don'Tale Mayes Johnson) over Sedriques Dumas. He is impressed by Johnson's Contender Series win over a heavyweight, showing power and grappling. He notes Dumas's inconsistent performances and foul issues. He predicts a first or second round finish, citing Johnson's physicality and -400 odds.
Zane picks Johnson because Dumas is a bully who doesn't like being attacked, and Johnson is aggressive and awkward. He notes that Johnson is not good, but Dumas is also bad and likely to fold under pressure. He acknowledges Dumas could win by wrestling but thinks Johnson's aggression will cause problems.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 0 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zachary Reese | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zachary Reese | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 of 3 | 1 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 10 | 30% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Reese (-240); Dumas (+200)
Round 1
Mike Beltran is the referee. Dumas comes out aggressively, with a double jab-straight combination. Fighting from opposing stances, the middleweights trade low kicks. A hard inside low kick lands for Dumas, but moments later, “The Reaper” absorbs an audible kick to the groin from Reese. Dumas immediately collapses to the canvas in agony and the crowd groans upon viewing the replay. Now a doctor has come in to talk to Dumas, who remains on his knees. He informs the doctor that, “I cannot feel my right ball.” Beltran tries to encourage Dumas to stand up, but he says he can’t get up. After that revelation, Beltran waves off the fight. Reese yells in frustration before walking over to apologize to Dumas. This one will be a no contest due to the accidental foul.
The Official Result
Zachary Reese vs. Sedriques Dumas is Ruled a No Contest (Accidental Foul) R1 0:51
Angelo picks Reese confidently, calling Dumas a disaster and not very good. He notes Reese is a massive middleweight with size and strength, well-rounded, though his wrestling is inconsistent. He says Dumas is scrappy but not skilled or dangerous, and if Reese lands a takedown or big bomb, he finds a finish. He mentions Reese is almost a 3-to-1 favorite and should be.
Big Brady picks Reese because Dumas has shown no durability, heart, or volume in the UFC. He criticizes Dumas's training environment and legal issues. He predicts Reese finishes Dumas in the first round by submission, though he notes Reese himself has questionable durability and cardio.
Reese is expected to return to his early finishing ways after defending Dumas's takedowns. The host believes Reese will dictate the pace, land big shots, and produce a round one knockout, showing strong confidence in his power and timing.
The MMA Guru picks Zachary Reese, citing his athleticism, kicks at range, and ability to finish. He expects Reese to hurt Dumas with body kicks and predicts a finish late in the first or second round. He also questions Dumas's discipline and commitment due to legal issues, making him untrustworthy.
Angelo picks Jackson McVey because he is a young undefeated prospect making his short-notice UFC debut, and he believes McVey's length, footwork, and takedown ability will be too much for Sedriques Dumas, who has a questionable chin and off-the-cage distractions. He notes that Dumas is green and hasn't improved as expected, and that McVey's motivation may be higher given Dumas's legal issues. However, he admits it's hard to know what to expect from an untested prospect.
Big Brady is very critical of Sedriques Dumas, citing his lackluster performances, legal issues, and time in prison without training. He notes that Dumas has been unimpressive even in wins and that McVey, though with limited fight footage, appears aggressive and dangerous with finishes. Brady believes McVey has a pulse and is more motivated, so he picks McVey to win by first-round knockout.
The host leans towards Jackson McVey due to his more well-rounded skills and experience, noting that Christopher U (Sedriques Dumas) is taking the fight on very short notice and has a flabby build that limits his potential. He expects McVey to win by submission, as he has shown finishing ability and better grappling.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 26 | 11% | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 34 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 3 of 26 | 11% | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 1 | 34 of 57 | 59% | 34 of 59 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 26 | 11% | 0 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 34 of 57 | 59% | 27 of 49 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 30 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 3 of 26 | 11% | 0 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 3 | 3 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Michał Oleksiejczuk | 34 of 57 | 59% | 27 of 49 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 13 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 30 |
Daniel Levi was happy to see Michał Oleksiejczuk get a first-round stoppage over Sedriques Dumas. He praises Oleksiejczuk for changing his training environment to the Fighting Nerds and showing maturity and measured striking, outstriking Dumas 34 to 3 in under three minutes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 49 of 88 | 55% | 95 of 140 | 3 of 10 | 30% | 0 | 0 | 6:00 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 0 | 26 of 70 | 37% | 183 of 246 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 2:27 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 35 of 41 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:22 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 0 | 3 of 7 | 42% | 44 of 53 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:28 | |
| 2 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 26 of 40 | 65% | 39 of 57 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:38 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 0 | 10 of 24 | 41% | 116 of 136 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 17 of 38 | 44% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 0 | 13 of 39 | 33% | 23 of 57 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:59 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 49 of 88 | 55% | 28 of 66 | 9 of 10 | 12 of 12 | 40 of 79 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 26 of 70 | 37% | 10 of 49 | 13 of 18 | 3 of 3 | 24 of 67 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 6 of 10 | 60% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 3 of 7 | 42% | 1 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sedriques Dumas | 26 of 40 | 65% | 13 of 27 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 9 | 18 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 8 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 10 of 24 | 41% | 3 of 13 | 6 of 10 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sedriques Dumas | 17 of 38 | 44% | 12 of 32 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 17 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Denis Tiuliulin | 13 of 39 | 33% | 6 of 31 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 38 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dumas (-218), Tiuliulin (+180)
Round 1
Fight fans on the West Coast of the U.S. will be having combat with coffee this morning, as the UFC takes to Abu Dhabi with a show featuring a number of fighters that struggle to get into the U.S. Plenty of international talent litters this event, with over a dozen countries repped at one point tonight. The fist pairing of the evening is more regular rivalry between America and Russia, as the
much-maligned
Dumas (9-2, 2-2 UFC) battles the struggling Tiuliulin (10-9, 1 NC; 1-4 UFC) in a match that might lead to at least one roster cut. Both men prefer the knockout, with the Evolve Gym fighter more inclined to headhunt. The middleweights choose not to bump fists to start the day’s festivities, and referee Keith Peterson is ready to cut all nonsense out of the equation. They lash out with dueling low kicks, and Dumas whiffs on a head kick. When Dumas fires off a low kick, he is countered by a knee that busts him in the chops. Tiuliulin gets his foe’s attention with a few additional punches, but Dumas surges forward and takes him off his feet with a sudden tackling takedown. Tiuliulin works his way towards the wall to get back up, and Dumas holds him down and knees him in the thigh repeatedly. Peterson asks for more activity, with Dumas in a holding pattern while the Russian is stuck on a knee. Dumas drags Tiuliulin down to his seat for a second, peppering the same spot with knee after short knee. Tiuliulin muscles his way upright, turning the corner and falling on top of his opponent in a surprise reversal. Dumas is on his backside and bursts his way up, and he eats a knee while standing but is no worse for wear as he looks to chuck Tiuliulin to the mat. The American presses his foe to the wire, and Dumas’ knees work the body and thigh until one bangs into the cup. There is a quick apology from Dumas, and Tiuliulin knows it was a total accident and takes a little under 30 seconds to get his wind back. When they resume, Dumas lunges forward with a right hand, and he belts Tiuliulin in the face with a lead-leg high kick. Dumas shoots in on a takedown and gets rebuffed, with Tiuliulin shoving him away and resetting. They fire off alternating jabs when upright, and Tiuliulin reaches with a one-two that leaves him vulnerable for a takedown effort from Dumas that drags Tiuliulin back to a single knee again. Dumas peppers the leg with irritating knees on the welted area until the horn awkwardly blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
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Round 2
Tiuliulin is the immediate aggressor to begin the second stanza, firing off frantic offense including a knee that catches the chin. Dumas swings back, calming himself down and sticking out jabs, but Tiuliulin stings him with a few more wild strikes before slowing. Dumas flicks out a few more jabs and shoots for a reactive double, and Tiuliulin shuts it down and is pushed away. Dumas blasts the thigh with another kick—the first developed a huge welt in the previous round—and fights behind his sharp jab. Dumas whips a kick up around the guard, and ducks a punch in pursuit of a double. Tiuliulin counters with a step-in knee, and Dumas pushes through it and presses the Russian to the wire. Dumas successfully drags Tiuliulin to his backside, and Tiuliulin is quick to return to a knee and grabs the fence to try to improve position but is warned. Tiuliulin bops his man with a number of meaningless right hands, ones that are technically scoring but have absolutely no effect while Dumas hangs on and knees him. After a lengthy stalemate, Tiuliulin finally works his way upright with the fence behind him and a minute remaining on the clock. Dumas stays pinned to him like a cheap suit, and Peterson splits them apart. Dumas restarts with a big one-two, and Tiuliulin walks him down a shrugs off a right hook. Dumas intercepts the advancing Russian with an uppercut, and his range is giving Tiuliulin fits with jabs and long punches. Dumas lets a knee fly past him, and a body kick grazes him. Dumas ends the round with a reverse crescent kick that ricochets off the raised guard.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Round 3
Dumas reintroduces himself with piston-like jabs, and Tiuliulin senses he might be down on the scorecards and approaches the last frame as such. Tiuliulin walks Dumas down, loading up on strikes, but it is his partial jump knee that catches Dumas on the jaw. Dumas staggers briefly and gets his bearings, strafing to the side and winging a right hand over the guard. Dumas ducks into a looping uppercut that comes up short, and Tiuliulin walks forward with his own uppercut that also misses the mark. Tiuliulin digs a left to the body and gets out of range of the kicks that fly at him, and Dumas spams body kicks and avoids a huge pair of hooks. Dumas jabs into a takedown, and Tiuliulin flips him all the way over and winds up on top at the three-minute mark. Tiuliulin smothers his man from above, dropping down some sporadic ground-and-pound while staying just busy enough to remain in the position. Dumas hand-fights in hopes of getting a standup, but when that does not come, he kicks off his opponent and explodes to his feet. With 60 seconds left on the clock, Tiuliulin is loaded for bear, but he finds that he has to dodge a quick spinning back fist and stifle a takedown. Tiuliulin is about to unleash a big right hand, but Dumas shoots again on the hips. Tiuliulin gets away from it and leaps with a knee that is way off the target. Tiuliulin cracks Dumas with a right hand, and Dumas appears rocked and totally spent. This does not stop Dumas from pitching kicks and looping strikes back at him. Tiuliulin ends the fight with a final takedown, with Dumas considering a guillotine but not nearly enough gas in the tank to get it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28 Dumas)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28 Dumas)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Tiuliulin (29-28 Dumas)
The Official Result
Sedriques Dumas def. Denis Tiuliulin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Angelo thinks both fighters are not very good, but he gives a slight edge to Dumas because he is tough, can eat shots, and has shown some takedown ability. He notes Tiuliulin has zero grappling and poor technique, but has power. He advises saving money and not betting unless Dumas becomes an underdog.
Big Brady is shocked that Dumas is a -220 favorite given his poor UFC performances. He notes Dumas has been tentative and unimpressive, while Tiuliulin is more active and lands bigger shots on the feet. However, he has little confidence in Tiuliulin due to his poor grappling defense. He predicts Tiuliulin wins by second-round knockout.
Cody picks Denis Tiuliulin, citing Dumas's low volume and poor wrestling. He notes that Dumas has been out struck by lesser opponents and has no power. Cody thinks Tiuliulin has better volume and power, and that Dumas's takedown game is not good enough to neutralize him. He also mentions that Tiuliulin is training under Renat Fakhretdinov and improving his takedown defense.
Daniel leans towards Dumas, citing his youth, reach, and wrestling ability against Tiuliulin's subpar grappling. He notes Tiuliulin's durability is waning and that Dumas can grind out a win. However, he warns against laying -235 on Dumas due to his low fight IQ and past struggles, calling it a lean but not a confident bet.
Tiuliulin is the superior striker if he can show takedown defense. He should be able to touch up Dumas and find a knockout.
Paul picks Denis Tiuliulin, noting that Dumas has low volume and has not shown knockout power. He thinks Tiuliulin's striking volume and power are superior. Paul also mentions that Dumas's wrestling is not elite and that Tiuliulin can defend takedowns. He believes the line is mispriced and that Tiuliulin has a good chance to win.
The MMA Guru picks Sedriques Dumas over Denis Tiuliulin, citing Dumas's youth (28 vs 36), longer reach, and wrestling advantage. He notes Tiuliulin's known weakness in wrestling and expects Dumas to mix in takedowns for control time, leading to a 29-28 decision. He mentions Dumas's recent loss was due to eye pokes, not a true defeat.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 1 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 12 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 1 | 12 of 32 | 37% | 12 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:04 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursulton Ruziboev | 12 of 32 | 37% | 11 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nursulton Ruziboev | 12 of 32 | 37% | 11 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 7 |
| Sedriques Dumas | 1 of 16 | 6% | 1 of 13 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Ruziboev (-265), Dumas (+215)
Round 1
Ruziboev and Dumas go to work under the supervision of referee “Shaolin” Ribeiro. Both middleweights are in orthodox stance, and Dumas comes forward with kick feints and a long jab. Ruziboev isn’t throwing anything back, but once he has the read, he nails Dumas with a righty counter over the jab. Dumas backs off, and when they come together again, Ruziboev meets him with an uppercut up the middle. Ruziboev tries a lead left hook that glances, and backs away from a Dumas front kick. Dumas continues to match forward, but he backs away from the ensuing collision pawing at his right eye. He looks at the referee, but Ribeiro either didn’t see a foul, or saw a legal strike.
Ruziboev gives no quarter, coming forward and laying into Dumas with a string of punches. Dumas wilts under the barrage, covering up as Ruziboev pours on the punishment. Ribeiro interposes himself for the stoppage, but this is going to be one heavily viewed replay.
The replay, when it comes, shows Ruziboev appearing to drag his open fingers across Dumas’ face during one of the final exchanges. We will see if that leads to any sort of appeal in the coming days.
The Official Result
Nursolton Ruziboev def. Sedriques Dumas R1 3:18 via KO (Punches)
Angelo is very confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a 'grappling beast' who will ragdoll Sedriques Dumas. He criticizes Dumas as 'kind of terrible' and notes that even Cody Brundage took him down. He believes Ruziboev should be the biggest favorite on the card and recommends betting now before the line moves.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by first-round submission. He highlights Ruziboev's size (6'5" at middleweight), power, and dangerous submission game, noting he has many rear-naked choke wins. He criticizes Dumas for poor performances, getting hurt by lesser opponents, and questionable cardio. Brady believes Ruziboev is a level above everywhere and will submit Dumas when the fight hits the mat.
Cody acknowledges Ruziboev's first-round finishing ability but worries about his cardio if the fight goes past the first. He notes Dumas's poor life choices and questionable cardio but thinks Ruziboev's durability and skill advantage should carry him, though the price (-260) is unappealing.
Daniel Vreeland picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his massive experience (over 40 fights) and finishing ability. He notes Dumas is still green, has been submitted before (by Josh Fremd), and may have distractions outside the cage. He thinks Ruziboev will expose Dumas on the ground, though he doesn't advocate betting at -250.
Ruziboev has a height advantage and aggressive striking, but Dumas has a 3-inch reach advantage. Ruziboev's experience (42 fights) and recent camp at Marquez MMA in Philly are positives. Dumas is still unproven; his wins came against Cody Brundage (who jumped guillotine) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (coming off long layoff). Ruziboev's aggressiveness should be the difference, but he must avoid leaving his neck open for a choke. Prediction: Ruziboev inside the distance.
Paul is high on Ruziboev, calling him a 'monster' and noting his size, power, and training in Philly. He contrasts Ruziboev's focused Instagram with Dumas's partying and legal issues, believing Ruziboev will starch him early.
The host picks Nursulton Ruziboev, criticizing Sedriques Dumas' wins as coming against opponents with low fight IQ. He believes Ruziboev is more experienced and has a higher fight IQ. He predicts Ruziboev will win, possibly by using his grappling and striking advantage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 41 of 106 | 38% | 87 of 153 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Abu Azaitar | 0 | 34 of 79 | 43% | 72 of 117 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:10 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 5 of 9 | 55% | 50 of 55 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Abu Azaitar | 0 | 5 of 7 | 71% | 43 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:10 | |
| 2 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 20 of 50 | 40% | 21 of 51 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 |
| Abu Azaitar | 0 | 14 of 29 | 48% | 14 of 29 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Sedriques Dumas | 0 | 16 of 47 | 34% | 16 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Abu Azaitar | 0 | 15 of 43 | 34% | 15 of 43 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedriques Dumas | 41 of 106 | 38% | 21 of 78 | 13 of 18 | 7 of 10 | 31 of 90 | 3 of 6 | 7 of 10 |
| Abu Azaitar | 34 of 79 | 43% | 11 of 45 | 5 of 11 | 18 of 23 | 31 of 76 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sedriques Dumas | 5 of 9 | 55% | 4 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 2 | 3 of 4 |
| Abu Azaitar | 5 of 7 | 71% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | |
| 2 | Sedriques Dumas | 20 of 50 | 40% | 13 of 39 | 4 of 7 | 3 of 4 | 14 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 6 |
| Abu Azaitar | 14 of 29 | 48% | 3 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 11 | 14 of 29 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Sedriques Dumas | 16 of 47 | 34% | 4 of 31 | 9 of 11 | 3 of 5 | 15 of 45 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Abu Azaitar | 15 of 43 | 34% | 6 of 25 | 2 of 8 | 7 of 10 | 15 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dumas (-205), Azaitar (+170)
Round 1
Despite both middleweight hailed as knockout artists, Azaitar (14-3-1, 1-1 UFC) and Dumas (8-1, 1-1 UFC) both sport knockout rates of exactly 50%. It will be well over two years since the Moroccan Azaitar has competed in the cage, while Dumas has fought eight times in the meantime. The referee assignment of the matchup goes to Jason Herzog, who clocks the fighters in as they decide against tapping their hands together. Dumas advances as chants for “Abu” rain down from the crowd, and the first strike is a low kick from the Floridian. When Dumas attempts another kick, Azaitar is able to time a right hand and send Dumas flying. Dumas recovers, largely pushed over for momentum and not due to the damage of the strike. When Dumas stands, he surprises Azaitar by locking his hands together and taking Azaitar for a ride. Dumas lands on top position in half guard, and he opens up with short strikes to the body and grinding elbows on the chin. Staying close to not let Azaitar get any space to push off, Dumas makes his foe’s life miserable with his smothering top control. Dumas winds up with a knee to the body, and he postures up to bust Azaitar in the face. Azaitar tugs on Dumas’ hair to sit him up and punch him, and he strikes Dumas in the back of the head repeatedly despite Herzog’s warnings to knock it off. Dumas isolates an arm but does not appear to have the chops to go for a straight armbar or an armlock like a kimura or keylock. “The Reaper” hangs on in this risk-averse position until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas
Round 2
The middleweights kick off Round 2 with kicks, as Dumas goes high with a front kick while Azaitar goes low with his own shin. Dumas attacks the lead leg of his foe as well, and Azaitar replies with the same kick. Azaitar bull-rushes forward to stun Dumas with a combination, and Dumas hops back and shakes out any cobwebs. Azaitar swings leather, and Dumas ducks, circles away and kicks his calf hard. When chants for “Abu” drown out any other sound in the arena, Azaitar does not acknowledge them, instead waiting for Dumas to come his way. Dumas looks for a takedown from range, and he abandons it when noticing that Azaitar is winding up with nasty counters. Azaitar has a kick checked that produces a noise like a tree limb snapping, and he takes a jab in the nose for good measure. Dumas uses his longer range to snipe from afar, and Azaitar grabs one of Dumas’ outstretched legs and dings him with two punches. The Floridian goes to the body, and he feints and fakes to draw reactions out of “Captain Morocco.” Azaitar gets off a clean body kick, and the two trade punches in a rapid exchange. Dumas sneaks in a leg kick, and Azaitar replies with an overhand right on the cheek. When Dumas kicks the side, Azaitar takes him off his feet and lays into him with right hands behind the ear and on the back of the head. Dumas scrambles back to his feet, and Azaitar meets him with a knee to the body and a low kick. The horn briefly honks, and then squeaks.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Azaitar
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Azaitar
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Azaitar
Round 3
The two men meet in the middle of the cage, and Dumas sees a head kick coming from a mile away and smoothly dodges it. Dumas settles down with a chopping leg kick, and he tries to double up on it only to come up short. Neither fighter commits to much, as they are largely relegated to single strikes like a front kick from Azaitar or a jab from Dumas. The Florida native kicks low and then turns his hips to put a side kick on the body of his foe. Spinning with a back kick, Dumas mixes things up, but it is again one-and-done. Azaitar kicks the lead leg, and then after a few seconds, decides to do that again. This spurs Dumas into a punch to the thigh. As they clash together, Dumas skirts away, and Azaitar pulls his hair and yanks the tie out of Dumas’ hair. Hair pulling is a serious foul, one that commentator Daniel Cormier "jokes" about not knowing, but Azaitar is only warned for it. Dumas, when he puts it back, proceeds to walk Azaitar down and stings him with a jab. Azaitar wobbles and he recovers, walking right into another jab from Dumas. The best strikes from Dumas are his jab, although his volume is paltry. Azaitar is not much better, with his kicks likely accounting for most of his strikes in the frame. Dumas tries to add to his tally with two front kicks, but they slide off the block. Azaitar digs a right to the body, and Dumas responds with a right over the top and a body kick that is caught. Both middleweights paw at one another without landing anything, although Azaitar gets off two that glance at the end of his glove. Dumas chips away with a kick, and Azaitar charges at him with a takedown that fails. Dumas punts him in the nose with a head kick, breaking it and splitting open a cut on the bridge of it, and the lackluster match comes to a conclusion.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dumas (29-28 Dumas)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Dumas (29-28 Dumas)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Dumas (29-28 Dumas)
The Official Result
Sedriques Dumas def. Abu Azaitar via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Abu Azaitar despite the age and layoff, citing his grit, pressure, and power. He notes that Sedriques Dumas gets taken down easily and was nearly finished by Cody Brundage before Brundage made mistakes. He expects Abu's wrestling and pressure to be too much. He is monitoring the line movement to get better odds.
Big Brady picks Sedriques Dumas to win by third round knockout, but hesitantly. He notes that Dumas is a favorite despite being unproven, while Abu Azaitar has had only two fights in seven years, shows poor cardio and wrestling, and throws one shot at a time. Brady cannot pick Azaitar due to inactivity and lack of skills, so he goes with Dumas despite his reservations.
Cody picks Dumas but is hesitant, noting that Dumas is improving but still has many holes. He believes Dumas's youth and athleticism will overcome Azaitar's inactivity and poor cardio. Cody expects Dumas to take over in later rounds.
Daniel picks Sedriques Dumas to win, citing his youth, athleticism, and hunger compared to Abu Azaitar, who he believes is not fully committed to fighting. He notes that Dumas is a heavy pot smoker and may struggle with withdrawal in Abu Dhabi, which could affect his performance. He also mentions Dumas's lack of travel experience. Despite these concerns, he thinks Dumas's trajectory is upward while Azaitar's is flat, so he picks Dumas but passes on betting.
Dumas has a good enough chin to deal with Azaitar's striking and can use his kicking game to stay at distance. He should drag the fight to the ground and do damage from top position, potentially finding a finish in the latter half. However, there are big question marks about both fighters, so he prefers to pass on betting.
Paul picks Azaitar as a dog, citing the suspicious line movement and Azaitar's wealthy connections in Abu Dhabi. He notes that Dumas is still raw and has poor fight IQ, while Azaitar is strong and has good judo. However, Paul is not confident due to Azaitar's three-year layoff and age.
The MMA Guru picks Sedriques Dumas by second-round TKO. He questions Abu Azaitar's commitment to the sport, noting his long layoff and age (37). He believes Dumas is in a do-or-die situation and has more talent. He also thinks Azaitar will try to strike with Dumas, which plays into Dumas's strengths. He mentions that Dumas has a long-range advantage and will catch Azaitar with his shots.
Expert Picks (7)
Angelo is very confident in Nursulton Ruziboev, calling him a 'grappling beast' who will ragdoll Sedriques Dumas. He criticizes Dumas as 'kind of terrible' and notes that even Cody Brundage took him down. He believes Ruziboev should be the biggest favorite on the card and recommends betting now before the line moves.
Big Brady picks Nursulton Ruziboev to win by first-round submission. He highlights Ruziboev's size (6'5" at middleweight), power, and dangerous submission game, noting he has many rear-naked choke wins. He criticizes Dumas for poor performances, getting hurt by lesser opponents, and questionable cardio. Brady believes Ruziboev is a level above everywhere and will submit Dumas when the fight hits the mat.
Cody acknowledges Ruziboev's first-round finishing ability but worries about his cardio if the fight goes past the first. He notes Dumas's poor life choices and questionable cardio but thinks Ruziboev's durability and skill advantage should carry him, though the price (-260) is unappealing.
Daniel Vreeland picks Nursulton Ruziboev, citing his massive experience (over 40 fights) and finishing ability. He notes Dumas is still green, has been submitted before (by Josh Fremd), and may have distractions outside the cage. He thinks Ruziboev will expose Dumas on the ground, though he doesn't advocate betting at -250.
Ruziboev has a height advantage and aggressive striking, but Dumas has a 3-inch reach advantage. Ruziboev's experience (42 fights) and recent camp at Marquez MMA in Philly are positives. Dumas is still unproven; his wins came against Cody Brundage (who jumped guillotine) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (coming off long layoff). Ruziboev's aggressiveness should be the difference, but he must avoid leaving his neck open for a choke. Prediction: Ruziboev inside the distance.
Paul is high on Ruziboev, calling him a 'monster' and noting his size, power, and training in Philly. He contrasts Ruziboev's focused Instagram with Dumas's partying and legal issues, believing Ruziboev will starch him early.
The host picks Nursulton Ruziboev, criticizing Sedriques Dumas' wins as coming against opponents with low fight IQ. He believes Ruziboev is more experienced and has a higher fight IQ. He predicts Ruziboev will win, possibly by using his grappling and striking advantage.
Comments (1)
Got eye poked and then got finished.
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