Nick Maximov

Jacob Malkoun vs. Nick Maximov
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Maximov (-135), Malkoun (+115)

Round 1
Two training partners-turned-UFC middleweights will grace the cage next, as Nick Diaz Academy product Maximov (8-1, 2-1 UFC) will aim to bounce back from his first career defeat at the expense of Robert Whittaker teammate Malkoun (6-2, 2-2 UFC). Ready for whatever happens next is referee Mark Smith, and the fighters do not touch ‘em up. They both measure their range with high kicks, but neither man lands with them. Instead, they switch things up to jabs, and they peck at one another from a distance. Maximov walks his opponent down and straight into repeated jabs, and he loads up on a huge left hand. When it misses, he doubles down with another, and it stuns the Aussie and drops him to his knees. Malkoun attempts to take the fight down when hurt, and after a brief grappling stalemate, they return to their feet. Maximov looks to get his feet beneath him again and work his jab once more, but Maximov has found his range with hooks. The Nick Diaz-trained fighter just misses with a spinning wheel kick, but he clips Malkoun coming in with a sharp left. Malkoun ducks down with a single, and he wrenches Maximov down to the mat. The American works his way to his knees and back to his feet, but Malkoun immediately secures a mat return. The grind continues for Malkoun, who yanks Maximov down any time he stands back up. Maximov wriggles out of the grip, and he backs off to the fence and gets popped with a left hook. Malkoun connects with a few punches that draw a grin out of his opponent, and he might have compromised Maximov when attacking. Maximov winces as he backs off, and Malkoun gives chase and connects with a few punches before setting him down with a snatch single. Maximov works his way back up, and Malkoun follows him every step of the way and sneaks a right hand around the guard. Maximov shells up and is defending, and he cannot back Malkoun off even when getting a left hand in. As soon as the horn sounds, Maximov reaches to his right leg in pain, and he lets out a yelp. It is unclear if he will be able to continue, and his corner calms him down and has him sit on his stool to recover. Smith calls in the doctor between rounds, but Maximov is cleared to keep fighting.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 2
Knowing his opponent is in trouble, Malkoun pushes his foot on the gas and rushes out of his corner to engage when Round 2 begins. He backs Maximov off and hits a single with ease, and this time, Maximov is not as eager or able to work right back up. Instead, Maximov closes his guard around the waist, and he is wincing greatly when trying to maneuver his right leg for the guard. Malkoun postures up and lines up with a right hand, but his foe keeps his gloves high to defend it. Maximov leans to his side but cannot get up, and Malkoun drops down left hands in the form of hammers. The pain is clear on Maximov’s face, and he is completely devoid of offense as he lays on his back. Malkoun comfortably moves to half guard, and he aims to drop down ground-and-pound while Maximov is doing anything in his power to show signs of life. With every bit of his energy, Maximov grits his teeth and explodes back to his feet. He immediately backs off, and Malkoun walks him down and lumps him up with heavy punches. Malkoun slips a few punches and plods forward, all while Maximov limps back. Malkoun has a right hand get through, and Smith tells Maximov to fight back. Maximov shells up and backpedals, and when he has a guard high, Malkoun rips the body. Practically every step from Maximov draws a physical reaction out of him, and Malkoun decides to kick the legs for good measure. The one-sided but hardly dominant round ends as Malkoun lands a few more punches.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun

Round 3
The doctors come to check on Maximov again between rounds, and despite the limp and obvious pain, Maximov is once more good to go. A few punches from Malkoun lead to a takedown, and he grabs a single and lowers Maximov to the mat gently. Malkoun searches for a rubber guard with his non-damaged leg, but Malkoun shrugs it off and continues holding on from above. A little light ground-and-pound is absorbed by the Californian before he jumps back up to his feet, and Malkoun is on him with his fists. Smith is paying close attention to the injured fighter, and Malkoun grips his man from behind and then slings leather at him. Maximov strings two punches together, but neither find their target as the Aussie is able to evade them. Maximov tumbles to the ground from a single-leg takedown, and Malkoun clings to his damaged opponent without landing much in the way of offense on his own right. Malkoun grinds from top position, preferring to rack up control time rather than deal damage. The heavy top pressure is not enough to keep even the injured Maximov down, and Maximov works his way back up and connects with a few punches to get the audience back in the fight. Malkoun takes any momentum away with a labored but simple single, and Maximov has no hope of defending it in his condition. Maximov turns to his knees, despite this, and wants to fight his way back up. Malkoun holds him down with a front choke that is more to hang on than to actually submit anyone, and the horn mercifully sounds to conclude this miserable fight.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Malkoun (30-27 Malkoun)

The Official Result
Jacob Malkoun def. Nick Maximov via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Nick Maximov vs. Andre Petroski
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Maximov (-380), Petroski (+290)

Round 1
With a trim event that allows the organization to catch its breath after the wild and crazy UFC 274 show, this ESPN offering will bring the lighter side of the promotion with it – over half the bouts of the evening will take place at 135 pounds or fewer. We do start off in a sizeable weight category of middleweight between two men in Maximov (8-0, 2-0 UFC) and Petroski (7-1, 2-0 UFC) that are as of yet unbeaten inside the Octagon. While Maximov began his career with five straight finishes in under two rounds, Petroski has yet to go the distance as a pro. Referee Chris Tognoni may have his hands full in this prelim opener, although the fighters touch gloves before coming out swinging. Maximov leads off with a kick to the body, and Petroski backs off after sprinting forward. Petroski throws out a kick, and Maximov topples over to the mat off-balance, only to climb back up. They throw hands recklessly, missing with their most powerful blows, as Petroski throws so hard he almost falls over. Maximov dives into a low single, and Petroski sprawls it well and threatens with an anaconda choke with Maximov leaned over. Petroski simultaneously locks the choke in and cinches the grip, and it is tight in a hurry.
Petroski attempts to gator roll, and he does successfully to move to his side as he uses Maximov’s own arm to lock it down. Maximov does not think about tapping, and he might be surprised by the submission or trying to tough it out, but as he does, he loses consciousness. The lights are on and no one’s home, as Tognoni recognizes that Maximov is out cold and breaks them apart.
Petroski still retains a 100% finish rate with a dynamite submission, and Maximov has suffered the first defeat in his career dramatically while Petroski strides around the cage shouting “who’s the best wrestler!” That’s one heck of a way to start the day.

The Official Result
Andre Petroski def. Nick Maximov R1 1:16 via Technical Submission (Anaconda Choke)

Cody Brundage vs. Nick Maximov

Round 1
In a battle of organizational newcomers, unbeaten Nick Diaz Academy rep Maximov (6-0, 0-0 UFC) moves down from heavyweight to middleweight to take on short-notice replacement Brundage (6-1, 0-0 UFC). Taking charge of the cage for this 185-pound affair between finishers with matching 83% stoppage rates is referee Chris Tognoni, and they touch gloves as they are happy to be in the cage tonight. Brundage starts the fight by leaping in the air with a flying knee, and it is nowhere to be found. Both men clash together in a striking flurry, and when Maximov considers a takedown, Brundage sees it coming and fires off a high knee that makes Maximov back away out of concern. Maximov fires off a head kick that comes up short, and the two again come together throwing hammers. Maximov stings Brundage with a right hand as Brundage looks to get out of the way in time, but Brundage pays it no mind. Maximov catches Brundage with a left hand and misses with a head kick, and Brundage retaliates with a chopping calf kick that nearly knocks Maximov off his feet. Maximov winds up with a heavy punch, and Brundage counters with a well-timed kick that makes Maximov switch stances. Maximov crashes in to take the fight down, and he cannot get Brundage down but he does knee Brundage in the face a few times. Brundage smiles as he absorbs the knees to the thigh and chin, and he ignores a foot stomp but sprawls when Maximov drops down for a low double. Brundage defends with a standing kimura, and he uses it effectively to break the grip and get back to his feet and gain some space. Maximov gets kneed in the chin when Brundage comes in to attack, and he tags Maximov with a right hand. Maximov returns fire with a looping hook that is more of a distance-closer, and he grabs hold of Brundage and drags him down to the mat. Brundage against defends with a kimura, but this time Maximov blocks it with his own legs and steps over to take mount while Brundage sits with his back against the cage. Maximov tries to get off some punches, but Brundage holds on to his waist and attempts to fight his way back up. Maximov leans forward a little too far, and Brundage snags a guillotine choke that allows him to stand back up. The round ends with Brundage standing over his opponent, smacking him upside the head with his fists.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Brundage
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Brundage

Round 2
The gloves are touched to begin the round, and Brundage opens up with a head kick that is barely blocked in time. Brundage charges across the cage for a takedown, and Maximov is able to reverse him and sit Brundage on his backside. Maximov takes his back while Brundage is on his knees, and he gets both hooks in and sets up a body triangle. Maximov uses the position to start raining down punches on his opponent, and Brundage twists and turns so he can break the leg grip but he still takes shots. Brundage defends with two-on-one wrist control to yank Maximov off of him, but the Nick Diaz Academy fighter hangs on tight and keeps a hook in to maintain control. Brundage fights his way to his feet by working to his knees and standing using the cage, but all the while, Maximov is landing punches. When Brundage gets up, Maximov starts pounding on his foe’s thigh with knees, and he turns around to knee Brundage in the face. Maximov goes for a takedown, and Brundage sees it coming and snares a guillotine choke while pulling guard. Maximov frees himself briefly, and Brundage adjusts, but Maximov escapes the danger a second time and winds up on top. Maximov starts opening up with ground-and-pound all while Brundage scrambles, and he takes Brundage’s back as they fight for position. Maximov links up a rear-naked choke and sets up a body triangle at the same time, but Brundage is savvy to defend the choke with two-on-one wrist control. Maximov keeps his back and punches him in the side of the head every so often, and he holds this position until the bell.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Maximov
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Maximov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Maximov

Round 3
To clock in the final round, the gloves are touched, and Brundage is amped up and thinks he needs a finish to win the fight. He swings a pair of huge right hands, and Maximov easily defends himself from the strike and tries to go up top with a head kick. Brunson continues to spam overhand rights, but it is left hand that disrupts Maximov and drops him. Maximov might have been changing levels, but he hits his knees as a result. Maximov recovers and practically crawls at Brundage to pursue a takedown, and he presses Brundage into the fence and wrestles him down to the ground. Maximov gets a hook in as Brundage is face-down while on his knees, but Brundage stands back up and tries to defend himself with hammerfists to the side of the head. Maximov wrenches him back down to the canvas momentarily, and Brundage appears flustered and he starts smashing Maximov in the side of the head with fierce elbows. Maximov does not like these strikes, so he commits to a takedown try to protect himself from these shots. Brundage uses the chaos to stand back up, but Maximov leans heavily on his opponent as he embraces the grind. Maximov eats several more elbows by the ear, and he might be hurt as Brundage bullies him over to the ground and starts pounding on him. A few strikes from Brundage open a cut on Maximov’s head, and Brundage continues to hack at him with elbows. Maximov pursues desperation takedowns and scoots his way around to take Brundage’s back. Brundage pulls himself up to his feet, and he swings his fists around and flails as Maximov dives after him for a takedown try. As the two scramble, Maximov ends up on top, and he fires off some ground strikes that are largely blocked. The round ends in this exciting flurry, and both men celebrate their hard-fought battle after the final bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Brundage)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Brundage (29-28 Brundage)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Maximov (29-28 Maximov)

The Official Result
Nick Maximov def. Cody Brundage via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)