Saygid Izagakhmaev

Nicolas Dalby vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Izagakhmaev (-300); Dalby (+240)

Round 1
At the age of 41 and on his first losing streak in years, “Danish Dynamite” Dalby (23-6-1, 2 NC; 7-5-1, 1 NC UFC) knows that his back is against the wall in this welterweight encounter. Despite his lack of success lately, at least he has been competing. This will be the first time One Championship vet Izagakhmaev (22-2, 0-0 UFC) has fought in just about three years, a training partner of new welterweight champ Islam Makhachev. This classic matchup of Denmark vs. Russia will be officiated by referee Lukasz Bosacki, and the bout starts without a fist bump in sight.
Dolby takes the steam out of the Russian engine immediately by crashing forward into his personal space to engage in a clinch. He proceeds to knee Izagakhmaev in the thigh again and again, with short but irritating strikes smacking him on either side. It takes less than a minute in this position for the crowd to turn on these two fighters, even with Izagakhmaev giving back Dalby nearly as many knees as he absorbs. Dalby considers outside trips on both legs, and Izagakhmaev lifts his foot up without concern of getting grounded. Bosacki claps for the two to do more than this, and Dalby transitions to a single-leg takedown attempt. Izagakhmaev stands Dalby up, and there is a partial cup strike from one of the knees that is almost called but Bosacki steps back. As this stalemate continues, Bosacki separates them.
Dalby backs off and pitches a low kick and then one high. He mixes up his targets low and high, keeping Izagakhmaev guessing with his varied offense. Izagakhmaev offers jabs while Dalby is erratically striking him, and he shoots for a takedown that Dalby turns around into his own attempt. Izagakhmaev backs himself to the wall to defend it, and Dalby is glad to engage in this tie-up. Izagakhmaev counters a trip attempt to hurl Dalby to his back, and he lands in three-quarter mount. Dalby posts off his right arm in hopes of escaping, and Izagakhmaev wraps him up and drills him in the chest with a knee. Dalby works his way back upright and turns Izagakhmaev’s back to the fence, and clinch strikes from both sides are where this grueling round ends.

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

Round 2
The round begins with a Dalby head kick attempt. This opens Izagakhmaev up to blocking and charging ahead so he can hit a clean takedown within seconds. Dalby grabs the fence to pull himself up to his seat, and he works his way to his feet methodically without taking any noteworthy damage. Dalby huffs and puffs to stand up and turn Izagakhmaev to the fence, taking a knee or two to the body but giving them right back. Dalby stalls out the Russian again in the clinch, kneeing him regularly and taking a few back. Izagakhmaev drops down to pursue a double-leg takedown, and even with Dalby sprawling correctly, Izagakhmaev still manages to put Dalby on his seat for a moment. Dalby pops right back up, and he thwarts the mat return effort and turns Izagakhmaev’s back to the fence again. Dalby firmly embraces the grind, holding Izagakhmaev there until Izagakhmaev is tired of being stuck against the fence.
Dalby tries to take the fight down in the open cage, and Izagakhmaev uses that against him and manages to not only control Dalby, but actually take his back in the process. Izagakhmaev secures a body triangle around the waist and starts to fish for chokes. Dalby uses a two-on-one grip on the Russian’s right hand to prevent anything from coming together. After holding steady in this position for a while, “Lokomotivo” twists out at the right moment to turn over and find himself in Izagakhmaev’s guard. Dalby rains down punches and elbows in hopes of turning the momentum of the match in his favor and possibly swaying the judges, doing so until the bell rings.

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

Round 3
The welterweights wade towards one another, and Dalby once more fires off a head kick to close the distance. He uses this kick and a subsequent right hand to get up close and personal with the Russian to re-engage his clinch. Dalby uses his knees in the clinch to work Izagakhmaev over, and he stops Izagakhmaev from getting off a takedown. Izagakhmaev breaks free for a second, only for Dalby to jam him up again. Once more, Izagakhmaev gains some space, and he puts a one-two on the chin of the Danish man. Dalby loops a head kick at him and tries to tie him up in the center of the cage, succeeding in doing so to put the Russian on the wire. Both fighters land a few solid clinch strikes, and Dalby keeps after Izagakhmaev with heavy pressure.
Izagakhmaev look to turn the tables with a takedown shot, and Dalby sprawls and puts his back to the fence for defense. Dalby fights off the multiple attempts and allows himself to hit his seat so he can circle around and grab Izagakhmaev from behind. Izagakhmaev gets out of that position and pursues a double, and Dalby knees him square in the face. Izagakhmaev drops down to a knee so that he does not take more of those, and Dalby thinks about a front choke but does not have the horsepower to get it. Dalby dirty boxes Izagakhmaev up until Izagakhmaev breaks off, and Dalby meanders after him, swarming him with labored offense. Dalby’s swings and knees may be off-kilter, but they are landing while Izagakhmaev is not. They lob strikes at one another until the round ends, and when the final horn blares, Izagakhmaev rips out his mouthpiece and tosses it to the floor in frustration.

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

The Official Result
Nicolas Dalby def. Saygid Izagakhmaev via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)