Abu Dhabi prelims deliver impressive finishes and entertaining battles
The preliminary card in Abu Dhabi on Saturday featured a series of impressive finishes and engaging bouts, with all three newcomers securing victories. The event saw Valter Walker close out the preliminary action with an uncommon submission finish.
Valter Walker defeated Thomas Petersen by submission via calf slicer at 1:32 of Round 1. Walker quickly closed the distance and pulled guard, initially seeking a heel hook. Petersen defended by rolling to extract his leg, but Walker adjusted, trapping the calf and increasing pressure to force the tap with the unconventional submission. Walker, a 28-year-old heavyweight, is on a notable run, having achieved five consecutive first-round submission wins, a streak that ties Demian Maia for the longest in the Modern UFC era. His consistent entertainment value suggests he is a rising star looking for a more significant matchup.
Muhammad Saidov made an impressive debut, securing a second-round TKO victory over veteran Dustin Jacoby at 4:49 of Round 2. Saidov, a short-notice replacement, displayed no signs of nerves, landing effective strikes against Jacoby from the start and showcasing his speed and dexterity. He continued to apply pressure in the second round, hurting Jacoby with body shots before initiating the finishing sequence with a high kick. Saidov’s professional record now stands at 10-0, and this quality win positions him as a person of interest in the light heavyweight division. He trains alongside fighters such as Shara Magomedov, Valter Walker, and Bogdan Guskov.
Sam Patterson returned to his entertaining and finishing ways with a second-round TKO victory over veteran Santiago Ponzinibbio at 3:06 of Round 2. This win followed a less impactful performance earlier in the year. The tall British fighter found his rhythm in the first round at Etihad Arena before escalating his offense in the second. Once he recognized Ponzinibbio was hurt, Patterson continued to unload strikes until the veteran collapsed. This marks the biggest win of Patterson’s career, coming after a challenging bout against Michael “Venom” Page in London. Patterson, representing Team Crossface, now holds a 5-1 record in the welterweight division, with five finishes. He has called for a fight against the winner of an upcoming main event in Belgrade later this year.
Axel Sola delivered a dominant performance, defeating Ismael Bonfim by submission via D’Arce choke at 4:44 of Round 1. Sola punished Bonfim in close quarters before securing the first-round finish. Bonfim attempted to press the action, but Sola used this to his advantage, landing elbows that sent Bonfim to the canvas. Sola then patiently sought openings, landing short strikes and looking for submissions before locking in the D’Arce choke just before the end of the first round.
Other results from the preliminary card included Magomed Tuchalov defeating Brendson Ribeiro by unanimous decision with scores of 29-28 across all three judges. Nurullo Aliev also secured a unanimous decision victory over Mike Davis, with all three judges scoring the bout 30-27. Additionally, Abdul Hussein defeated Cody Gibson by submission via head-and-arm choke at 3:07 of Round 3.
The main card featured Ramazan Temirov defeating Steve Erceg via TKO (strikes) at 4:21 of Round 1. Magomed Zaynukov won against Damian Rzepecki by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 30-27. Rizvan Kuniev defeated Tyrell Fortune via TKO (strikes) at 1:12 of Round 3, and Abubakar Vagaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Saygid Izagakhmaev with scores of 29-28 from all three judges.
The main event of the evening featured Magomed Ankalaev facing Bogdan Guskov in a light heavyweight contest. Ankalaev is currently ranked No. 3 in the light heavyweight division and No. 17 in the pound-for-pound rankings. Guskov, who stepped in on short notice for Khalil Rountree Jr., is ranked No. 12 at 205 pounds.
Source: ufc.com
