Nordine Taleb

Nordine Taleb vs. Muslim Salikhov

Round 1
We move to the welterweight division, where France's Taleb (15-6, 7-4 UFC) takes on flashy Dagestani striker Salikhov (14-2, 1-1 UFC). The referee is Herb Dean. Taleb runs forward to initiate action and leads with a couple body kicks as he circles around. Salikhov throws a leg kick that puts Taleb off balance, and Taleb comes right back with another body kick. Salikhov stings Taleb with a few leg kicks to the lead leg of Taleb, and the two feint and fake to figure out their range. Taleb pops Salikhov with a left jab, and Salikhov unleashes the first spinning strike of the fight, in the form of a spinning back kick that tags the Frenchman in the body and makes him smile. Taleb responds with a kick to the groin, and we take a break. Dean gives Taleb a stern warning, and we start things up again. Salikhov slams into Taleb's lead leg with another kick, and Taleb briefly switches stances to remedy this. Taleb fires a leg kick back and Salikhov is paying attention, scoring one of his own in a sharp reply. A spinning back kick from the "King of Kung Fu" misses, and Taleb tries to counter but is off target.
Salikhov slowly advances to back Taleb against the fence, and launches a thunderous right hand that sends Taleb crashing to the cage floor. A follow-up punch is unnecessary, as Taleb is staring at the lights with this monster knockout.
Salikhov has now finished his opponent in 14 of his 15 victories, and perhaps none bigger than this.

The Official Result
Muslim Salikhov def. Nordine Taleb R1 4:26 via KO (Punch)

Nordine Taleb vs. Kyle Prepolec

Round 1
Up next are the welterweights as Kyle Prepolec takes on Nordine Taleb. The referee is Jerin Valel. They touch gloves. Taleb with a kick to the body. He goes high with the kick. Hard low kick by Taleb. He goes high with his kick again. Prepolec with a jab to the body. Another low kick by Taleb. Straight right by Taleb. Prepolec with a right hook. He just misses landing a high kick of his own. Taleb lands a high kick. Prepolec just misses landing a spinning back fist and the round is over. Very uneventful round.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Taleb
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Taleb
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taleb

Round 2
Round two begins. Prepolec takes the center of the Octagon. Taleb circles around him and lands a low kick and a straight right behind it. Prepolec returns with a straight left. Taleb lands a kick to the body. There’s an eye poke and the ref calls time but Taleb is okay and the fight starts back up. Prepolec moves forward throwing wild punches and Taleb lands another kick to the body. Prepolec moves forward but isn’t able to land anything. Another kick to the body by Taleb. High kick by Taleb. He lands a low kick. Another high kick by Taleb and it takes us to the end of the round.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Taleb
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Taleb
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Taleb

Round 3
It’s time for the third round and Prepolec needs a finish. Once again Prepolec takes the center of the Octagon but Taleb continues to land from the outside. Taleb lands a straight right. Low kick by Taleb. Kick to the body by Taleb. He lands a straight right and then a hard low kick. Prepolec pushes forward and works off his jab. Taleb lands a high kick. Taleb returns with a low kick. Another low kick. High kick by Taleb, and another. He lands a brutal kick to the body. Prepolec with a high kick of his own. Taleb lands a hard low kick. Prepolec looks for a spinning back fist. Taleb lands a brutal low kick that hurts Prepolec. The clock is running down and Prepolec may have survived but Taleb clearly won the fight.

Sherdog Scores
Adam Martin scores the round: 10-9 Taleb (30-27) Taleb
Ant Walker scores the round: 10-9 Taleb (30-27) Taleb
Jay Pettry scores the round:10-9 Taleb (30-27) Taleb

The Official Result
Nordine Taleb def. Kyle Prepolec via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Sean Strickland vs. Nordine Taleb

Round 1
Strickland presses forward in the opening minute, firing long jabs to keep Taleb out of range and on his back foot. Taleb lands a few inside leg kicks as he slides backward, doing well to slip nearly every punch Strickland throws his way. Strickland, meanwhile, is trying without success to catch Taleb’s kicks. Taleb swipes a lead left hook across Strickland’s face; the American’s nose starts bleeding immediately. Strickland continues to move forward, but he’s still coming up short on his punches. Taleb makes him pay with some more inside leg kicks, and a clean lead uppercut in the final 20 seconds.

Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round 10-9 Taleb
Brian Knapp scores the round 10-9 Taleb
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Taleb

Round 2
Strickland starts the second round the same as the first, but he’s running into the same problems: Taleb is content to absorb the American’s constant forward pressure so long as he can hit Strickland with leg kicks and the occasional hard punch. Strickland is getting through with sporadic jabs, and suddenly a reaching right hand grazes Taleb on the temple, sending the Canadian to the mat. Strickland tries to pound him out, but Taleb powers back to his feet, now roughly halfway through the round. Taleb looks dazed as Strickland tags him with two hard right hands in quick succession. Taleb hits the deck, trying to put Strickland in his guard, but Strickland postures up to keep the guard open.
Strickland stands up in Taleb’s guard, then comes crashing down on him with a thudding right hand.
Referee Eric Nevitt has seen enough and steps in to call a halt to the bout, much to the displeasure of Taleb, who protests the stoppage.

The Official Result
Sean Strickland def. Nordine Taleb via TKO (Punches) R2 3:10