Aleksandre Topuria

Bekzat Almakhan vs. Aleksandre Topuria
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Almakhan (-120); Topuria (+100)

Round 1
There ain’t no party like a prelim party ‘cuz a prelim party don’t stop…ever…not with 14 fights on the billing. Bantamweights are on deck, with two athletes possessing exactly one decision on each of their records. Almakhan (12-2, 1-1 UFC) has plenty of experience beyond the 14 pro MMA fights on his ledger, with a slew of appearances on the MMA-adjacent Zhekpe Zhek sport in his home country of Kazakhstan. Georgia’s Topuria (6-1, 1-0 UFC) has far fewer matches to his credit, but he bears the name of the 155-pound champion as his elder brother. All eyes are on him now to keep representing the family name. Referee Marc Goddard draws the charge for what should be an action-packed affair, and the athletes touch ‘em up.
Topuria moves right to the center of the cage and sticks out a jab, and Almakhan counters him right off the bat with a right hand. Almakhan backs up Topuria with a right hand, and resets. Topuria jabs at the chest a few times, and Almakhan’s swings are far heavier but less accurate. The jabs of “El Conquistador” have marked up Almakhan’s nose, who chambers and fires off a right hand to counter a low kick and sends Topuria somersaulting backwards. Topuria springs back to his feet no worse for wear and goes back to walking down the man from Kazakhstan. Topuria steps on Almakhan’s foot to get in a jab, and Almakhan wrenches it out and escapes. A low kick from Almakhan chops Topuria down, who has to spin around on his knee to get back upright. Almakhan drives a knee through the guard to the dome, and Topuria takes it and then absorbs a thudding calf kick.
Almakhan strings a few punches together and slips to the side, and he rams his knee into Topuria’s side for good measure. Topuria’s own offense is little more than solid jabs, while Almakhan is putting a great deal into his fists. Topuria tries to score a heavier right hand, and Almakhan escapes it, clinches at the right time and pops Topuria with a few short punches. Almakhan hits a hip toss, and Topuria rolls through it to establish top position. Almakhan’s strikes off his back include a few to the back of the head, and Topuria elbows his way into full mount. Almakhan scrambles and briefly gives up his back, but he manages to keep twisting and turning to escape the clutches of his adversary and stand back to his feet. Topuria greets him with a strong jab and takes a few punches on the inside, and he gives a knee back. The two trade hard punches, with Topuria chasing Almakhan down around the cage. Topuria does some damage to Almakhan’s upper right cheek, and he aims at it with his sharp jab. Topuria lands at the end of a one-two, making up plenty of ground as the round concludes.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Almakhan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Topuria

Round 2
The fighters pick up where they left off, with Topuria going straight towards his opponent. Almakhan strafes to the side and then plants his feet to fire. The moment he does, Topuria shoots in on his hips and completes a double-leg takedown. Almakhan plants off his right hand to push off and hope to stand, only for Topuria to wrench him flat to the mat. Topuria looks for some high-amplitude ground strikes, and Almakhan times a moment to push off the chest with his foot to get some space. Almakhan bursts back to his feet, and he has a one-two flying the second he finds a way in. Topuria ignores it and a subsequent left hand to keep crowding his man, forcing him to constantly fight off his back foot as he flashes jab after jab. He swats out a left hand that appears to swipe Almakhan in the eye, and he apologizes with the foul going uncalled. Almakhan nods and then takes a moment before opening up with a clubbing right hand that makes Topuria take a funny step.
When Topuria stands tall again, Almakhan kicks his leg out once more, and Topuria nearly turns all the way about before reeling and coming back around. Almakhan’s face is wearing it after the jabs from Topuria find their home, his nose bloody from both nostrils as his shiner around his eye grows larger. Topuria tries for a takedown, and Almakhan stands him up and grazes the top of his head with a spinning back elbow when escaping. He lets fly a low kick and just misses with a spinning back fist, and Topuria shrugs it off and loads up with a strong right hand. He catches Almakhan with his right, and his subsequent jab cause more blood to flow. Topuria overswings and crashes into the cage, and he raises his guard in the nick of time to defend against a head kick. Almakhan’s swings go wide as he tries to keep Topuria off of him, and he dings his foe twice behind the ear before the round wraps.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Topuria

Round 3
The bantamweight sluggers high-five after engaging in 10 minutes of face punching, and proceed to punch one another in the face. Almakhan loads up on power shots, and Topuria slips most of them and jabs him square in the beak. Topuria does not flinch at what Almakhan throws at him, and he ducks a big right to pursue a double. Almakhan stonewalls him and loads up again, and Topuria is too close so he avoids the damage. Topuria backs Almakhan up with a jab and a right hand, and he narrowly evades an up-elbow. Topuria does not need long to bloody up the Kazakh again, who responds to a few jabs with power punches. Topuria sets up a right hand that sends Almakhan reeling, and he blasts “The Turan Warrior” with a second as Almakhan’s eyes roll around in his head as he stumbles to a knee.
Almakhan blinks it out and climbs back to his feet, and Topuria is right in his face pressuring him the entire time. Almakhan does give him back a few fists to think about, but Topuria’s power is telling at this stage. A massive swing from Topuria is met with a tackling takedown from Almakhan, although the act of keeping Topuria on the ground is less successful. Topuria gets back up and is right behind his jab once more. The jab opens up his right hand, which catches Almakhan flush on the cheek. Almakhan looks for a spinning elbow, recovering just in time to stop a takedown shot from the Georgian. Almakhan uses the fence behind him to stay on his feet, and he manages to get free with about 15 seconds to spare. Almakhan explodes into action, swarming his man with a lengthy string of fists and a pair of vicious knees to the jaw. Topuria tanks them all like a champ and wags his finger at Almakhan demoralizingly, and the match comes to a close.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (29-28 Topuria)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)

The Official Result
Aleksandre Topuria def. Bekzat Almakhan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Colby Thicknesse vs. Aleksandre Topuria
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Topuria (-410), Thicknesse (+320)

Round 1
A surprising rivalry has developed from this preliminary pairing completely consisting of men making their promotional debuts. Representing Australia, Thicknesse (7-0, 0-0 UFC) will receive cornering from ex-champ Alexander Volkanovski. He will be facing off against Topuria (5-1, 0-0 UFC), younger brother of Ilia Topuria who is also in his corner. This proxy battle at 135 pounds takes place under the watchful eye of referee Jim Perdios, and it starts with the fighters tapping their fists together. Topuria is the initial aggressor, pawing away a front kick to crowd Thicknesse towards the cage. Thicknesse swings hard and shoots for a faked takedown attempt, and he surprises Topuria with a jump knee. Topuria keeps his guard up to block a high kick, and he stalks Thicknesse down looking to unload with something. Thicknesse jabs out with a front kick, and Topuria marches ever forward to release a right hand. Thicknesse looks for another takedown entry, and Topuria ignores it and keeps stalking forward. Thicknesse tries to back him off with a head kick and some jabs, and a body kick finds its home under the guard. Topuria follows a jab with a right hand, and he takes a pair of body kicks flush for his efforts. Thicknesse chips away from his preferred range with kicks, hopping away from jabs and nearly catching Topuria with a head kick. Topuria tries to tie him up, but Thicknesse is away with his guard up to not get cracked. Topuria rushes him, looking for a clinch and absorbing a pair of knees before Thicknesse shoves him away. Topuria gives chase, staying smart enough to not walk into a big strike. Thicknesse jumps forward with a knee and follows with a head kick, but “El Conquistador” is not amused. Topuria slings a single right hand that smashes into the side of the jaw, sending Thicknesse squirrely but not putting him on the canvas. Thicknesse smartly fights out of the danger rather than getting desperate, and Topuria is not selling out for anything. A step-in knee gets through for Thicknesse, who darts in and out before a counter reaches him. Topuria walks him down and digs a few body shots before wrenching Thicknesse down to a knee. Topuria suddenly hits a mighty belly-to-back suplex, dropping Thicknesse on his head before the bell sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria

Round 2
The fighters clap hands before engaging, and Topuria is once more the one putting the pressure on early. Thicknesse scoots to the side, only to absorb a thumping leg kick and a left hook. Thicknesse hops to the side and does work on either side of Topuria’s lead wheel. Thicknesse pecks with jabs and low kicks, and one hits the cup to force a momentary stoppage. Topuria appears no worse for wear and gets back to it, firing off a flashy wheel kick that skims the side of the head. Topuria’s head movement is slick as he dodges a flurry of punches, where only Thicknesse’s body kick getting off. Thicknesse whips a kick off the raised guard, and when he plants his leg down, Topuria slams his shin into it. Thicknesse tries to hand-fight his way forward, only to get beaned with a right hand over the top. Thicknesse is warned for outstretched fingers a few times, and he absorbs a pair of low kicks without responding. Thicknesse shoots for a double, pushing Topuria against the cage but only landing a knee before the break. Topuria smiles at him, shrugging off two kicks so he can let fly a jab. Thicknesse turns his leg out in time to check a kick, and he leans back to narrowly evade a haymaker. Thicknesse tries his own home run punch, but it is the sharper, straighter attack that tends to connect. Topuria walks into a right hook after a few jabs, and he parries a front kick and smashes a right hand on the solar plexus. Thicknesse no-sells the strike and resets to jump in with a knee and a right hand. Thicknesse ducks a huge right hand to go for a takedown, with the defense from the Georgian holding up well. Thicknesse climbs back upright, and Topuria walks him down with a big right hand that pops into the guard. They peck at one another with jabs until the horn sounds.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Thicknesse
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria

Round 3
The last round kicks off with Thicknesse loading up with a body kick. When he tries for a takedown, Topuria easily slides around to the side and then gets hold of him from behind. Thicknesse scoots his way to the fence despite Topuria’s hands clasped around his waist, thwarting Topuria’s subsequent efforts to wrestle or throw him. Thicknesse breaks out of the tie-up and spears Topuria with jabs and follow-up right hands. Topuria shakes it off and stuffs a double-leg entry, and he again gets hold of Thicknesse from the back during a scramble. Thicknesse defends with a kimura to sweep, and Topuria steps over it to establish top position in side control. Thicknesse uses a rubber guard to wrap his left leg up for a setup, but Topuria is wise to it and flattens the American out. Thicknesse gets Topuria back to his guard, and he hooks his arm and leg around Topuria’s neck with an unorthodox submission grip that could be considered a modified arm-triangle choke from his back. Topuria shakes it out and steps into half guard, and he stays heavy with a potential arm-triangle of his own as fans lambaste him for the grappling. Thicknesse twists and works to his knees, wall-walking before suddenly rolling over to escape. Topuria shuts it down by not stopping the somersault, but by being exactly where he should be to establish top position. Thicknesse throws his legs up wildly for one last desperate submission, but Topuria grinds him out with a bit of ground-and-pound until the match comes to an end.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (29-28 Topuria)
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Topuria (30-27 Topuria)

The Official Result
Aleksandre Topuria def. Colby Thicknesse via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)