Career Averages - Mansur Abdul-Malik
Career Averages - Nick Klein
Mansur Abdul-Malik
Nick Klein
Mansur Abdul-Malik - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 16 of 60 | 26% | 16 of 61 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 2:07 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 2 | 94 of 156 | 60% | 107 of 170 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:59 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 7 of 24 | 29% | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 0 | 22 of 47 | 46% | 22 of 47 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 7 of 20 | 35% | 7 of 21 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:20 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 1 | 44 of 63 | 69% | 55 of 74 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:51 | |
| 3 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 16 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 1 | 28 of 46 | 60% | 30 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 16 of 60 | 26% | 10 of 45 | 3 of 9 | 3 of 6 | 14 of 55 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 94 of 156 | 60% | 54 of 103 | 22 of 32 | 18 of 21 | 75 of 133 | 17 of 20 | 2 of 3 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 7 of 24 | 29% | 3 of 14 | 1 of 4 | 3 of 6 | 7 of 24 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 22 of 47 | 46% | 3 of 18 | 6 of 13 | 13 of 16 | 22 of 47 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 7 of 20 | 35% | 5 of 17 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 15 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 44 of 63 | 69% | 30 of 47 | 10 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 31 of 46 | 11 of 14 | 2 of 3 | |
| 3 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 2 of 16 | 12% | 2 of 14 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Yousri Belgaroui | 28 of 46 | 60% | 21 of 38 | 6 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 22 of 40 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Yorgan De Castro (Yousri Belgaroui) after previously making the mistake of picking a powerful wrestler against him. He trusts De Castro's range management and striking, and notes that Mansour has looked vulnerable in past fights. He believes De Castro can win if his takedown defense holds up.
Big Brady picks Yousri Belgaroui to win by decision. He criticizes Mansur Abdul-Malik's lack of urgency and poor striking defense, noting he gets out-landed at distance by lesser opponents. He believes Belgaroui has a good chin and will outwork Malik over 15 minutes. He also mentions the over 1.5 rounds prop because Malik often does nothing early.
Cody picks Belgaroui, citing his improvement, reach advantage, and superior kickboxing. He doubts Abdul-Malik's wrestling will be effective and believes Belgaroui can outpoint him.
Connor picks Belgaroui, impressed by his debut where he used an active jab to control Bekelev. He notes that Belgaroui's kickboxing technique is consistent and can fence off opponents, while Abdul-Malik is low output and sporadic, looking for a moment. However, he acknowledges Abdul-Malik's special athleticism and reach, and that Belgaroui still takes shots and gives openings under pressure.
Daniel believes Abdul-Malik is a freak athlete with one-shot KO power and D1 wrestling. He thinks Belgaroui will engage, giving Abdul-Malik openings to land big shots and regain his hype.
The host gives Abdul-Malik a 65-70% chance to win, citing his explosive power and Belgaroui's defensive vulnerabilities. Belgaroui is a technical counter striker but is hittable and has a 'giraffe neck' that makes him susceptible to knockouts. Abdul-Malik's speed and power should allow him to land big shots, and he may also have success with wrestling. The host is not super confident but sees value at -134.
The host believes Belgaroui's technical striking and improved takedown defense will be key. He expects Belgaroui to use his reach and jab to pick apart Abdul-Malik, who may struggle with cardio if he can't dictate the pace. He notes the line movement towards Belgaroui and sees him winning by decision.
Paul leans Abdul-Malik, thinking his wrestling and physicality will be the difference. He's hesitant due to Abdul-Malik's inconsistent wrestling usage.
The MMA Guru picks Yousri Belgaroui, expressing surprise that he is an underdog. He believes Belgaroui's kickboxing pedigree and recent performance against Boev show he is levels above Abdul-Malik's previous competition. He notes Abdul-Malik's wins are over lower-tier opponents and that Belgaroui's takedown defense and striking will be too much. He predicts a TKO in the second or third round.
Zane agrees with Connor, noting that Belgaroui's active jab and consistent technique will be a problem for Abdul-Malik, whose MMA Masters game is reactive and not built to handle a maintenance strategy. He also mentions that Belgaroui handled a stiff test of defensive wrestling against Bekelev. However, he notes that Abdul-Malik is a special athlete with insane arm length and real kickboxing skills.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:42 |
| Antonio Trócoli | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:42 |
| Antonio Trócoli | 0 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 3 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Antonio Trócoli | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 2 of 4 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Antonio Trócoli | 3 of 6 | 50% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him a high-level collegiate wrestler with power in his hands. He dismisses Antonio Trócoli as having declined significantly since being with Mackenzie Dern, noting his poor takedowns and cardio. Angelo acknowledges that Abdul-Malik may not be the killer initially thought after a close fight with Cody Brundage, but still believes he will finish Trócoli. He advises against parlaying at -1000 odds.
Big Brady is very confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling the fight a 'sanctioned murder'. He criticizes Trócoli's lack of striking, wrestling, and overall fight skill, noting Trócoli is a poker player. He worries Abdul-Malik may be hesitant but expects him to win by first-round knockout if he shows urgency.
Cody picks Abdul-Malik, noting his wrestling and power. He believes Trócoli is a low-level opponent who has only one win in six years. He expects Abdul-Malik to win by TKO. He also mentions the over 1.5 rounds as a potential play due to Abdul-Malik's lack of urgency in recent fights.
Connor picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, noting that he is a superb athlete, hyper powerful and fast, and huge for the division. He contrasts Trócoli, who is a hobbyist fighter with poor coordination and no sense of range. Connor believes Abdul-Malik will easily win despite his own technical flaws.
Daniel picks Abdul-Malik, praising his athleticism, power, and wrestling. He expects a finish, though he's unsure of the round due to Abdul-Malik's slow start against Brundage. He dismisses Trócoli's chances, citing his lack of focus and poor fight IQ.
Lucrative James notes that Mansur Abdul-Malik is a raw but athletic prospect, while Antonio Trócoli seems more focused on poker than MMA. He expects Abdul-Malik's physicality and ground-and-pound to lead to a finish, likely in the second round. He acknowledges Abdul-Malik's flaws but sees Trócoli as an easy matchup.
The host expects Abdul-Malik to dominate Trócoli, running over him within a round and a half. He notes that Abdul-Malik has let fights go longer than necessary but believes he will come dialed in and finish the Brazilian quickly.
Paul agrees, citing Abdul-Malik's wrestling and physical advantages. He notes that Trócoli is a BJJ black belt but has been submitted quickly in recent fights. He believes Abdul-Malik will win by TKO or submission. He also likes the over 1.5 rounds at plus 175.
The Guru picks Mansur Abdul-Malik to win, but expects a late finish due to Trócoli's size and explosiveness. He notes that Abdul-Malik's previous fights have gone into later rounds, and Trócoli is a low-level opponent. The Guru predicts a late second-round TKO.
Zane picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, agreeing that Trócoli is a hobbyist who is uncoordinated and lacks athleticism. He notes that Abdul-Malik is a powerhouse from MMA Masters, and while his technique is flawed, Trócoli is so bad that Abdul-Malik should win easily.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 25 of 73 | 34% | 25 of 73 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Cody Brundage | 0 | 30 of 67 | 44% | 30 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 4 of 15 | 26% | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Brundage | 0 | 11 of 21 | 52% | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 10 of 28 | 35% | 10 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cody Brundage | 0 | 10 of 31 | 32% | 10 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 11 of 30 | 36% | 11 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 |
| Cody Brundage | 0 | 9 of 15 | 60% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:01 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 25 of 73 | 34% | 17 of 55 | 3 of 13 | 5 of 5 | 18 of 60 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 13 |
| Cody Brundage | 30 of 67 | 44% | 18 of 49 | 2 of 8 | 10 of 10 | 29 of 66 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 4 of 15 | 26% | 2 of 10 | 0 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Brundage | 11 of 21 | 52% | 5 of 12 | 1 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 21 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 10 of 28 | 35% | 5 of 18 | 2 of 7 | 3 of 3 | 10 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cody Brundage | 10 of 31 | 32% | 4 of 22 | 1 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 10 of 31 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 11 of 30 | 36% | 10 of 27 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 13 |
| Cody Brundage | 9 of 15 | 60% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdul-Malik (-800), Brundage (+500)
Round 1
The line on this middleweight pairing may not be quite as ludicrous as Wellmaker vs. Moutinho, but Abdul-Malik (8-0, 2-0 UFC) is coming in as a favorite anywhere from -950 to -1200, give or take. With eight finishes across his eight victories, prognosticators believe that his battle with Brundage (11-6, 1 NC; 5-5, 1 NC UFC) may not last long, win or lose. Referee Brent McKeehan is distinctly aware of the possibility, and is on his A-game right out of the gate. Fists are bumped before they are traded, and Brundage fires off some early warning kicks to demonstrate he is not going to be such an easy out. He lands a low kick as Abdul-Malik comes towards him, and he connects with a clean right hand. Brundage’s front kick pushes off the chest, and Abdul-Malik’s is much heavier in response. Brundage stands firm and delivers a kick to the body and one to the lead leg, and Abdul-Malik is unable to find his way in. The middleweights trade punches, and Abdul-Malik drives a front kick through the guard that surprises Brundage. Abdul-Malik walks him down but lets him entirely off the hook. Brundage strikes the front leg and fires a front kick down the middle, before lunging with an overhand right. Abdul-Malik swings a body kick and leaps at his foe with a jump knee, and Brundage steels himself and wings a pair of body shots back at him. The cautious round ends, and again fans drown the competitors out with boos.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik
Round 2
After a quick fist bump, the two meet in the middle of the cage without trading. Abdul-Malik tests the waters with a low kick, and he chambers a head kick and is met on the way down with an inside leg kick. Neither fighter is willing to commit to anything, resulting in a lull in action. Abdul-Malik decides to start fighting suddenly, running at Brundage and catching him with a right hand. Brundage retaliates with a flying knee, and Abdul-Malik tags him with another right on the ear as he plants his feet. The blow cuts Brundage behind his ear, which starts bleeding heavily down his neck. He paws at it and pays it little mind, instead winging a right hand at the overwhelming favorite. Abdul-Malik walks into a left hand as he tries to attack with a knee, and then they back off and measure one another for a while. Abdul-Malik eventually pushes out a front kick, and Brundage finds a way in and connects with two punches. Brundage’s overhand right just misses as the crowd gasps, seemingly desperate for a clean, solid strike to land. Brundage crashes the pocket but backs off when taking a low kick. Abdul-Malik spins with a back kick, and Brundage retaliates with an overhand right. The horn sounds to wrap the disappointing round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Round 3
Abdul-Malik runs at his opponent as soon as the round begins, railing Brundage with a flying knee. This immediately devolves in a ludicrous brawl, where both fighters wing hooks with everything they have. Abdul-Malik hurts Brundage, Brundage returns fire, and they proceed to bang it out. Brundage closes in and drives in a knee, and Abdul-Malik turns the corner and rails his opponent with a flush knee to the sternum and a direct head clash. Brundage goes down in a heap, shelling up as Abdul-Malik unloads on him with fiery fists. Abdul-Malik swings with bad intentions, and McKeehan gives Brundage every opportunity to recover before waving the fight off. Brundage immediately protests that he went down because of the clash of heads and not the knee, and the replay official is called upon to show the clear clash of heads. One of the unluckiest fighters in the sport has yet another bizarre ending in his strange tenure with the UFC, and it is up to McKeehan and the officials to send this one to the scorecards for a technical decision due to the fight-ending headbutt and the bout reaching the third round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Abdul-Malik (29-28 Abdul-Malik)
The Official Result
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Cody Brundage via Technical Decision (Unanimous) R3 0:36
Angelo picks Mansur because he believes the adversity in his last fight gave him a wake-up call. He expects Mansur to wrestle and avoid a firefight with Cody, who is dangerous early. He notes that if Mansur engages in a firefight, he is screwed.
Big Brady picks Mansur Abdul-Malik by first-round knockout. He expects a violent fight where both swing, but believes Malik's power and ground-and-pound will be too much for Brundage. He notes Brundage is dangerous early but has been fed tough opponents, and Malik is the most terrifying yet.
Connor picks Abdul-Malik, emphasizing the massive reach advantage (79.5 vs 72 inches) and Brundage's tendency to implode when his initial plan fails. He notes that Abdul-Malik is a composed, powerful fighter who will make Brundage work to get inside, leaving him open to counters. Connor thinks Brundage's only chance is an early guillotine, but that is unlikely.
Abdul-Malik's athleticism, explosivity, and power will find a big shot to put Brundage away early. Brundage is expected to break quickly under that pressure.
The Guru picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him a powerful prospect who will finish Cody Brundage in the first round. He notes Brundage's tendency to 'tuck up in a ball' when grappling doesn't go his way, as seen against Sedriques Dumas. He expects a TKO, though he acknowledges Brundage could win if he gets a guillotine.
Zane picks Abdul-Malik confidently, noting that Brundage's shallow game plan and inability to adjust will leave him exposed. He points out that Abdul-Malik is young, powerful, and composed, and that Brundage's only path is to wrestle, but he lacks the depth to maintain it. Zane compares this to the Abdul-Razak Alhassan fight where Brundage was brutally finished.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 29 of 54 | 53% | 32 of 58 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 28 of 46 | 60% | 50 of 70 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 16 of 26 | 61% | 37 of 49 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 28 of 46 | 60% | 31 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 12 of 20 | 60% | 13 of 21 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 54 | 53% | 28 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 20 | 12 of 19 | 11 of 15 |
| Nick Klein | 28 of 46 | 60% | 5 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 21 of 23 | 26 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 of 8 | 12% | 0 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nick Klein | 16 of 26 | 61% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 13 of 13 | 14 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 28 of 46 | 60% | 28 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 12 of 19 | 11 of 15 |
| Nick Klein | 12 of 20 | 60% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 10 | 12 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo is extremely confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him probably his most confident pick on the entire card. He highlights Mansur's D1 wrestling, power, and clean takedowns, while noting Nick Klein is a solid grappler but less athletic and powerful. The only concern is a potential BJJ submission from Klein, but Angelo doesn't think Klein will win a scramble.
Big Brady is confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him the biggest favorite on the card at -900. He notes that Nick Klein is hittable and coming in on short notice, and that Abdul-Malik has nasty ground-and-pound. He struggles to see Klein getting the fight to the ground or surviving on the feet, predicting a brutal first-round knockout.
The host expects Abdul-Malik to shut down Klein's grappling with superior wrestling and scrambling, then walk him down and land big shots for a first-round finish.
The Guru calls this a layup for Abdul-Malik, noting his size, athleticism, and training at MMA Masters. He acknowledges Klein's submission win on the Contender Series but says taking the fight on short notice hurts his chances. He predicts a first round TKO for Abdul-Malik, also citing that crowds lead to more early finishes.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 | 29 of 51 | 56% | 31 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:27 |
| Duško Todorović | 0 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 51 | 56% | 27 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 37 |
| Duško Todorović | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 51 | 56% | 27 of 49 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 2 of 2 | 22 of 37 |
| Duško Todorović | 3 of 5 | 60% | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Abdul-Malik (-375), Todorovic (+295)
Round 1
A dentist should be on standby, because one of these middleweights might lose some teeth after the expected slugfest ensues. With six wins, all finishes, on his ledger, Abdul-Malik (6-0, 0-0 UFC) knows one speed coming into his organizational debut. He will engage a man whose stoppage rate is only slightly lower than his, 92% for Todorovic (12-4, 3-4 UFC) compared to the neophyte’s 100%. Referee Mike Beltran dons his proverbial hard hat ahead of what could be a violent one, one that opens with a fist bump. Abdul-Malik assumes control of the center of the cage immediately, switching stances and looking for a jab on either side. Todorovic tosses out a single leg kick, and he works his way forward with a one-two. Abdul-Malik responds by bouncing off the cage and blasting “Thunder” in the face with a combination that sends Todorovic crashing to the mat. The lights are still in for Todorovic as he lands on his back and hunts for a leglock, but Abdul-Malik drills him with a number of heavy hammerfists to make him think twice. Abdul-Malik smashes his man in the face with a fierce right hand, and the two scramble while Todorovic still hangs onto the unbeaten fighter’s right leg. Abdul-Malik yanks his leg out of danger while beating on the man from Serbia, but Todorovic works his way back to his feet and walks through a knee while escaping. Swelling develops on his forehead like he is sprouting a third eye, and Abdul-Malik is aiming at it with lunging, looping strikes.
Todorovic defends against the punches, but Abdul-Malik blows him out of the water with a flush knee. Todorovic crumbles to the mat, and he still has the wherewithal to hunt for a leglock. Abdul-Malik wants nothing to do with that grappling, unleashing a flurry of standing-to-ground punches to knock Todorovic in and out of consciousness. A particularly potent right hand from the newcomer changes Todorovic’s expression and makes him turn to his side and shell up, and it only takes a few more hammerfists before Beltran has to step in.
Statement made for the now 7-0 Abdul-Malik, who celebrates all seven of his victories by stoppage.
The Official Result
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Dusko Todorovic R1 2:44 via TKO (Knee and Punches)
Angelo is very confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik despite it being his UFC debut. He loves his high-level D1 wrestling, explosiveness, and ground work. He notes Todorović is a technical striker with chin questions. He has Mansur in a parlay but warns against overexposure, advising not to put him in multiple parlays.
Big Brady is very confident in Abdul-Malik, citing Todorović's poor striking defense, low takedown defense, and susceptibility to being knocked out. He highlights Abdul-Malik's wrestling background and devastating ground-and-pound. He predicts a first-round knockout but notes slight cardio concerns if the fight extends.
Cody is confident in Abdul-Malik due to Todorović's glaring holes: poor takedown defense and a weak chin. He notes Abdul-Malik's Division I wrestling background and athleticism, and expects him to take Todorović down and finish him. Cody sees this as a favorable matchup for the prospect.
Connor picks Abdul-Malik, noting he is a big favorite. He describes Abdul-Malik as a great prospect from MMA Masters with natural tools but lacking interstitial skills. He contrasts this with Todorović, who has bad habits and bad defense from a weak regional scene. Connor thinks Abdul-Malik's athleticism will overcome Todorović's flaws.
Daniel Vreeland picks Mansur Abdul-Malik, praising his athleticism, power, and potential. He notes Duško Todorović's defensive flaws (hands down, chin up) and believes Abdul-Malik's physicality will overwhelm him. Vreeland expects Abdul-Malik to get his first UFC win, possibly by knockout.
Todorović is returning from back surgeries and may struggle with ring rust against the large, explosive Abdul-Malik. Despite Todorović's experience, Abdul-Malik's physicality should lead to a knockout victory.
Paul agrees, pointing out Todorović's poor decision-making and chin. He mentions Todorović's leg injury in his last fight and his tendency to walk into danger. Paul thinks Abdul-Malik's wrestling and striking will be too much, but acknowledges the banana peel pricing risk.
The Guru picks Mansur Abdul-Malik but is hesitant, noting that Todorović is a good underdog value. He criticizes Abdul-Malik's contender series performance against Wes Schultz, but believes Todorović's long layoff and ACL tear make him vulnerable. He expects Abdul-Malik's offensive wrestling and ground and pound to be the difference, but warns that if the fight goes past round one, Todorović could make it competitive.
Zane agrees with Connor, picking Abdul-Malik. He describes Abdul-Malik as a big, powerful, fast athlete from MMA Masters, but notes his game lacks structure. He criticizes Todorović as hateable with bad defense and a wrestling game that only works against weak opponents. Zane thinks Abdul-Malik's physical advantages will prevail.
Nick Klein - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Pulyaev | 0 | 10 of 21 | 47% | 19 of 33 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 | 0 | 4:45 |
| Nick Klein | 1 | 23 of 31 | 74% | 30 of 38 | 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 | Andrey Pulyaev | 0 | 9 of 18 | 50% | 18 of 30 | 3 of 5 | 60% | 1 | 0 | 3:55 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 17 of 23 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Andrey Pulyaev | 0 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 1 of 3 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:50 |
| Nick Klein | 1 | 11 of 13 | 84% | 13 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrey Pulyaev | 10 of 21 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 11 | 7 of 10 | 0 of 0 |
| Nick Klein | 23 of 31 | 74% | 15 of 22 | 8 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 18 | 9 of 11 | 2 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrey Pulyaev | 9 of 18 | 50% | 5 of 12 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
| Nick Klein | 12 of 18 | 66% | 7 of 12 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 10 | 7 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Andrey Pulyaev | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Nick Klein | 11 of 13 | 84% | 8 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Pulyaev (-160); Klein (+130)
Round 1
With both of these middleweights coming off of miserable promotional debuts, something’s gotta give in the next 15 minutes or less. Klein (6-2, 0-1 UFC) had his chin checked in February, while Pulyaev (9-3, 0-1 UFC) found himself offensively muted in March. When the dust settles, someone will likely earn their first win in the Octagon, and they will be accompanied by referee Chris Tognoni every step of the way. A clap of hands precedes the action.
Pulyaev takes to the center of the cage but has to dodge two front kicks right out of the gate. Klein crashes forward and takes him to the mat, where he starts bludgeoning the Russian with powerful punches. Pulyaev fights back to his feet, and Klein dramatically mat returns him. When they land, Klein circles around to take Pulyaev’s back, getting both hooks in while fishing for a rear-naked choke. Pulyaev fights the hands to defend the submission, and he pushes his feet off the wall to get some leverage to escape. This allows him to kick off, and Klein is on him like a dog with a bone as he goes after a double. Pulyaev posts off his hands to not go down, but Klein is still behind him trying to wrangle him to the floor. Klein transitions to a single, but the taller fighter staves it off and knees Klein in the belly. Klein responds in kind. Tognoni asks for Klein to do more.
They trade short knees and body shots on the inside, with Klein imposing his weight all the while. The knees from Klein produce a louder sound upon impact, and he tries for a single or two but is stood up each time. Pulyaev desperately escapes with a minute to go, and he lets his hands go and blasts Klein in the face with three crisp punches. Klein hurries to clinch him back up rather than getting smacked in the face repeatedly, looping his leg around Pulyaev’s for a body lock effort. Pulyaev fights it off and knees his man in the jaw, following with a left hand. Klein hits him back and races after him to bowl him over, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Klein
Chris Laporte scores the round: 10-9 Klein
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Klein
Round 2
Pulyaev shakes his arms out before getting going, and they bump fists. Pulyaev reintroduces himself with a head kick that shakes Klein’s mullet, and Klein responds with a single-leg entry. The attempt pushes the Russian to the wall, where Klein gladly embraces the grind as he knees his opponent a few times as he searches for a body lock. Pulyaev tries to grab the fence to stay upright, and Tognoni is paying close attention. Pulyaev reverse-somersaults to get out and stands back up, where he grabs hold of a clinch to hammer Klein with knees to the body. One stern knee from Pulyaev slashes open Klein’s right eyebrow. Klein backs off, his body language changing drastically, and
Pulyaev blasts him in the liver with his shin that makes a popping sound. Klein reels from the savage blow, backing up a bit but not fast enough to avoid a one-two down the pipe. The destructive left hand from Pulyaev sends Klein collapsing to the mat, and on the way down, Pulyaev delivers one punctuating soccer kick of questionable legality—replays show it appears to have snuck under the arms to connect to the body. To finish the job, Pulyaev smashes his foe in the face with a left hand, and Klein slumps over as Tognoni rushes in to stop the fight.
That tale of two fights could scarcely be more different, and the end result is what matters: Pulyaev records a knockout in his first UFC win, as he puts Klein on his first losing streak.
The Official Result
Andrey Pulyaev def. Nick Klein R2 1:31 via TKO (Body Kick and Punches)
Connor picks Nick Klein because he has a clear, direct game plan focused on wrestling and pace, while Pulyaev is a passive range fighter who struggles when opponents get inside. However, Connor notes that Klein's striking is underdeveloped and he may struggle to set up takedowns if he can't close distance effectively. He acknowledges the fight is low-level and either fighter could win if they implement their game.
Zane also picks Klein, agreeing that Pulyaev's game is structured to keep him away from a fight, while Klein will pursue and chase. However, Zane worries that if Klein can't get his wrestling going early, he could get picked apart by Pulyaev's range tools. He notes Klein's striking is raw and he may struggle to set up takedowns.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 29 of 54 | 53% | 32 of 58 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:35 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 28 of 46 | 60% | 50 of 70 | 1 of 9 | 11% | 0 | 0 | 3:01 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 1 of 8 | 12% | 1 of 8 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 16 of 26 | 61% | 37 of 49 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 0 | 28 of 46 | 60% | 31 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:27 |
| Nick Klein | 0 | 12 of 20 | 60% | 13 of 21 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 1:06 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mansur Abdul-Malik | 29 of 54 | 53% | 28 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 20 | 12 of 19 | 11 of 15 |
| Nick Klein | 28 of 46 | 60% | 5 of 18 | 2 of 5 | 21 of 23 | 26 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 1 of 8 | 12% | 0 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Nick Klein | 16 of 26 | 61% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 2 | 13 of 13 | 14 of 23 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Mansur Abdul-Malik | 28 of 46 | 60% | 28 of 46 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 12 | 12 of 19 | 11 of 15 |
| Nick Klein | 12 of 20 | 60% | 2 of 7 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 10 | 12 of 20 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Angelo is extremely confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him probably his most confident pick on the entire card. He highlights Mansur's D1 wrestling, power, and clean takedowns, while noting Nick Klein is a solid grappler but less athletic and powerful. The only concern is a potential BJJ submission from Klein, but Angelo doesn't think Klein will win a scramble.
Big Brady is confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him the biggest favorite on the card at -900. He notes that Nick Klein is hittable and coming in on short notice, and that Abdul-Malik has nasty ground-and-pound. He struggles to see Klein getting the fight to the ground or surviving on the feet, predicting a brutal first-round knockout.
The host expects Abdul-Malik to shut down Klein's grappling with superior wrestling and scrambling, then walk him down and land big shots for a first-round finish.
The Guru calls this a layup for Abdul-Malik, noting his size, athleticism, and training at MMA Masters. He acknowledges Klein's submission win on the Contender Series but says taking the fight on short notice hurts his chances. He predicts a first round TKO for Abdul-Malik, also citing that crowds lead to more early finishes.
Expert Picks (4)
Angelo is extremely confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him probably his most confident pick on the entire card. He highlights Mansur's D1 wrestling, power, and clean takedowns, while noting Nick Klein is a solid grappler but less athletic and powerful. The only concern is a potential BJJ submission from Klein, but Angelo doesn't think Klein will win a scramble.
Big Brady is confident in Mansur Abdul-Malik, calling him the biggest favorite on the card at -900. He notes that Nick Klein is hittable and coming in on short notice, and that Abdul-Malik has nasty ground-and-pound. He struggles to see Klein getting the fight to the ground or surviving on the feet, predicting a brutal first-round knockout.
The host expects Abdul-Malik to shut down Klein's grappling with superior wrestling and scrambling, then walk him down and land big shots for a first-round finish.
The Guru calls this a layup for Abdul-Malik, noting his size, athleticism, and training at MMA Masters. He acknowledges Klein's submission win on the Contender Series but says taking the fight on short notice hurts his chances. He predicts a first round TKO for Abdul-Malik, also citing that crowds lead to more early finishes.
Comments (1)
Abdul takes a while to find where to empty the clip. Nick Klein fought well given the situation, nearly won by ko with spinning backfist. Went for the sub on the ground rather than following up.
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