Eric Nolan
Career Averages
Loss Methods (1)
Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Hasanov (-180); Nolan (+140)
Round 1
The final undercard bout of UFC Baku features Nolan, back down at his preferred weight class after his short-notice middleweight debut earlier this year, against another hot prospect in Hasanov, who represents the host country. Nolan walks out to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son,” and UFC color commentator and former multi-divisional contender Paul Felder could stand to re-read the lyrics. Both men are in orthodox stance. Rich Mitchell is on referee duty. Hasanov steps into the pocket, grabs a single-leg almost casually, and hoists Nolan for a takedown. Nolan gets back up and Hasanov returns him to the ground, moving to Nolan’s back and throwing a nice uppercut under the arm. Nolan gets back up and Hasanov puts him back on the ground at the base of the fence. Nolan is patient, doesn’t panic and stands yet again. This time, Hasanov peels him off the fence and dumps him near the center of the cage. An on-screen readout tells us that Hasanov is 6-for-8 on takedowns so far, but it feels like 26-for-28. Ninety seconds to go and Hasanov is still absolutely glued to Nolan, who has made his way back to the fence. Hasanov gets another takedown, landing in half-guard and looking to isolate an arm. Hasanov rears up and drops a couple of big hammerfists which, despite the complete wrestlef**cking, represent pretty much the only damage all round by either man. The horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Round 2
Hasanov gets a takedown instantly in the center of the cage. Nolan is once again active, slippery, refusing to concede the position, and springs back to his feet. Hasanov yanks him away from the cage by main force and dumps him back to the ground. Nolan gets back up and meets Hasanov’s next entry with a glancing knee. Hasanov gets the takedown but he is definitely looking winded. Hasanov gets a wrestling ride on the turtled Nolan and throws a couple of hard punches from behind. Nolan gets back up and both men are breathing hard. Nolan catches the incoming Hasanov with an uppercut. Hasanov is exhausted and hurt, and the momentum is shifting. Hasanov stems the changing tide with another takedown, and he’s kneeling over Nolan at the base of the fence. Under a minute to go in the round and Nolan gets back up once again. Hasanov grabs a single-leg and takes a breather as Nolan wide-legs and uses an underhook. Hasanov drags Nolan away from the fence and hauls him down for what feels like his 317th takedown of the fight, right before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov
Round 3
The final round opens, and the lack of any takedown attempts in the first 45 seconds speaks eloquently to the level of Hasanov’s fatigue. Nolan is chipping away with nice accurate single strikes, but simply winning the round will not be enough. Hasanov is throwing back single strikes, enough to keep things close. Nearly two minutes in, Hasanov tries for his first takedown of the round, but it’s a labored thing, bending at the waist and punching forward, and Nolan shucks him off easily. A moment later, Hasanov gets a beautiful scoop and slam in close quarters. Nolan gamely gets back to all fours, then crawls towards the fence. Hasanov knows what’s coming, and stops his foe short of the chain-link that has helped him back to his feet (legally) so many times in this fight already. A minute left and Hasanov is stuck to Nolan’s back, keeping him on the ground, keeping him away from the fence, and while Mitchell warns him to work, Nolan isn’t doing much either. Hasanov steps to mount, then gets onto the back when Nolan goes onto all fours. The horn sounds on an absolutely grueling welterweight bout.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov (30-27 Hasanov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov (30-27 Hasanov)
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-9 Hasanov (30-27 Hasanov)
The Official Result
Farman Hasanov def. Eric Nolan via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Expert Picks (16)
AJ DeVito sees Eric Nolan as a live underdog at +150, believing his knockout power could surprise the inexperienced Farman Hasanov. He questions Hasanov's striking and thinks Nolan can keep the fight standing and land power shots. He notes the knockout prop at +300 is not great value but still likes Nolan to win.
AJ picks Nolan by KO, citing his knockout power and Hasanov's inexperience (only 5 pro fights). He thinks Hasanov may be overconfident and that Nolan can land big shots. AJ acknowledges Hasanov's wrestling threat but believes Nolan can catch him on the feet.
AJ picks Nolan by knockout, citing his power and experience against a relatively untested prospect. Hasanov has only 5 pro fights and was knocked out in amateur MMA. Nolan's boxing and durability should allow him to land big shots and finish.
AJ picks Nolan by knockout, questioning Hasanov's level of competition and cardio. He thinks Nolan has knockout power and can defend takedowns, and that Hasanov may gas or get caught. He calls it a fraud check for Hasanov.
Angelo picks Hasanov, impressed by his power, wrestling, and aggression. He notes that Hasanov moves forward and is bigger, stronger, and faster. He bet on him at -155 and thinks he will dominate, though he acknowledges Hasanov's competition has been weak.
Angelo believes Farman Hasanov is the better fighter everywhere and can potentially find a finish. He is surprised the odds are close and thinks Farman should be a 4-to-1 favorite. He bet half a unit at -155, noting the line has moved to -175.
Angelo is very confident in Farman, noting his power, wrestling, and forward pressure. He thinks Eric Nolan covers up rather than counters, which plays into Farman's strengths. He has already bet on Farman at -155, calling it a phenomenal deal and almost free money.
Big Brady picks Farman Hasanov to win a greasy decision. He notes Hasanov is a jacked wrestler with nasty ground-and-pound, though his volume and cardio are questionable. Nolan has power but gets taken down and slows down. Brady expects a sloppy fight where Hasanov's wrestling and hometown advantage carry him to a decision win.
Cody picks Nolan, agreeing with Paul. He notes Hasanov's physical strength but lack of technique and cardio, and believes Nolan's striking and reach advantage will be key. He got Nolan at plus 180 and hopes for more line movement.
Daniel Levi confidently picks Farman Hasanov to brutally ground-and-pound Eric Nolan, criticizing Nolan's lack of preparation (begging for a corner on Twitter) and his poor performance against Susai Kaya. He notes Nolan's power but believes Hasanov's relentless top pressure and ground-and-pound will overwhelm him. Levi expects a dominant finish.
Jacob picks Hasanov, believing his ground and pound will be too much for Nolan. He thinks one takedown will be enough for Hasanov to finish the fight. He regrets not including him in the slam of the week parlay.
Lucrative James picks Farman Hasanov but is hesitant, acknowledging that Eric Nolan is better than his record shows and has a path to victory on the feet. He notes that Hasanov has a massive advantage on the ground with heavy top pressure and power, but his cardio is questionable and he may struggle to get takedowns. He thinks if Nolan is a big underdog, he would be worth a play, but ultimately picks Hasanov via ground and pound knockout in round two.
Nolan is the busier striker with good wrestling to neutralize Hasanov's grappling. Hasanov is still green and rudimentary, and Nolan's style should cause him issues. Nolan can outwork him and win on the scorecards, making the underdog price appealing.
The host picks Eric Nolan to pull off the upset against Farman Khabibov. He notes that Khabibov is still green and early in his career, while Nolan has a good all-around game with grappling and volume. He expects Nolan to put together a good body of work and win by decision if his durability holds up.
Paul picks Nolan as a dog, citing his superior striking, size, and experience against better competition. He questions Hasanov's inactivity, level of competition, and technique, calling him a product of favorable matchmaking. He sees Nolan as the better fighter and likes the plus money.
The Guru picks Hasanov via TKO, citing his explosive wrestling, ground and pound, and leg kicks. He believes Hasanov can get takedowns and finish, though he notes conditioning concerns. He expects Nolan to struggle with the wrestling pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baisangur Susurkaev | 0 | 36 of 62 | 58% | 59 of 89 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 1 | 0 | 3:19 |
| Eric Nolan | 0 | 22 of 56 | 39% | 24 of 58 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baisangur Susurkaev | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 28 of 48 | 2 of 7 | 28% | 0 | 0 | 1:55 |
| Eric Nolan | 0 | 18 of 49 | 36% | 20 of 51 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:17 | |
| 2 | Baisangur Susurkaev | 0 | 17 of 25 | 68% | 31 of 41 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 1:24 |
| Eric Nolan | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baisangur Susurkaev | 36 of 62 | 58% | 23 of 46 | 7 of 10 | 6 of 6 | 22 of 42 | 2 of 3 | 12 of 17 |
| Eric Nolan | 22 of 56 | 39% | 17 of 51 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 47 | 4 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baisangur Susurkaev | 19 of 37 | 51% | 9 of 24 | 6 of 9 | 4 of 4 | 17 of 34 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Eric Nolan | 18 of 49 | 36% | 16 of 47 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 15 of 41 | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Baisangur Susurkaev | 17 of 25 | 68% | 14 of 22 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 17 |
| Eric Nolan | 4 of 7 | 57% | 1 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
A lot can change in a week. Meet Susurkaev (9-0, 0-0 UFC), a 24-year-old Chechnya-born middleweight who trains out of Kill Cliff FC. On Tuesday, he blew through Murtaza Talha Ali in just over three minutes on the Contender Series to earn a contract, and now he’s fighting in the promotion proper. In his extremely short-notice debut, the Russian draws CFFC staple Nolan (8-3, 0-0 UFC), and he will serve as an astronomical betting favorite while doing so. Never tell Nolan the odds. The ref for this 185-pound preliminary headliner will be Jason Herzog, who sits back as the men that on Monday were not part of the UFC clap hands.
Susurkaev, who looks measurably larger than the traditional welterweight Nolan, gets right to chasing Nolan down with kicks. “USA” chants encourage Nolan to throw some punches, and when he pops Susurkaev in the chops, Susurkaev shrugs at him and motions him for more. Susurkaev showboats, waving his arms around awkwardly, and Nolan does not bite on any of it and aims an uppercut down the middle. Nolan catches him at the end of a left hand, and he parries a front kick and a high kick. Susurkaev jabs with the ball of his foot, and he takes a few punches and a knee on the nose that is turning red fast. Susurkaev smiles and wades forward to clinch up, kneeing Nolan all the while. Susurkaev tries for an all-muscle body lock takedown, and Nolan stops it and turns him around to place him on the fencing.
Susurkaev breaks off, and Nolan catches him with a big overhand right. Susurkaev snaps out a front kick, and he eats a right hand as Susurkaev’s body language changes from overconfidence to congratulating Nolan for landing hard on him. Susurkaev shoots in deep for a double, scooping up the CFFC athlete and depositing him to his seat. Nolan turns to his knees, and Susurkaev gladly takes his back but cannot keep it as Nolan stands. Susurkaev hits an early mat return, and then hurls Nolan to the floor when Nolan attempts to stand once more. Susurkaev leans heavily on his opponent, lifting him up for a high-amplitude slam that does not get anywhere as Nolan pops back up. When Susurkaev tries to do something else, Nolan breaks free and lets his hands go. Nolan connects with a series of punches and a spinning back fist, and Susurkaev is wearing it and gives back a front kick to the liver. Susurkaev knees his foe in the nose when clinched, and Nolan fights out of a takedown shot and is kicked in the head. Nolan lands bombs on his opponent, rocking Susurkaev badly and forcing him to wobble back to the cage. Nolan spins for a back fist rather than trying to finish the job normally, and the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Devin Tejada scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Nolan
Round 2
The fighters clap hands to get down to it, and they both trade punches early. Susurkaev pushes out his front kick and takes a knee in response, and the two reset in kickboxing range. Susurkaev kicks low, hurting Nolan in the calf. Nolan reaches for his leg, and he loads up on power punches to the body. Susurkaev kicks it a second time, seemingly compromising the limb as Nolan grabs his knee. When Nolan falls to his back, he rolls for a leglock, and Susurkaev laughs all the way through and bowls Nolan over to assume top position. Susurkaev considers an arm-triangle choke, but uses it to step over and take Nolan’s back when Nolan turns over. Susurkaev briefly flattens his man out, and Nolan keeps turning to try to survive.
Herzog asks for him to do more, and Nolan posts off his arms and has no way to defend his neck at that moment. Susurkaev takes advantage of the lapse, looping his forearm beneath the chin and fastening the rear-naked choke. Nolan appears frustrated that he was caught in the submission, and before long, he surrenders lest he get put to sleep.
He may have had to overcome some adversity, but Susurkaev has officially earned two stoppage victories this week as he is now 10-0 as a pro. In his post-fight interview, Susurkaev jokes that he could fight again today, but suggests that he would like to be booked on the Noche UFC event on Sept. 13.
The Official Result
Baysangur Susurkaev def. Eric Nolan R2 2:01 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (1)
The host notes that Susurkaev earned his contract on Tuesday and is stepping in on short notice, but he normally fights at 185 lbs. He expects Susurkaev to pick apart Nolan and quickly finish him in the first round.
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