Nassourdine Imavov battled back from a disappointing first round to beat Brendan Allen in the two rounds that followed tonight at UFC Fight Night 243 to emerge with a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Nice low kick for Allen to start. Allen gets in to the body lock and then lands a solid takedown in the center of the Octagon.
Allen into side control here with plenty of time to work. Patient work from him as he spends a full minute in the position without doing too much offensively.
Allen tries to step over into mount but Imavov is wise to it and gets him to half-guard. Allen staying tight to Imavov as he continues to prefer control over offense.
Imavov gets him into is full guard now. Allen postures up for a single punch then back into tight control. Very little action in this opening round, but clearly a round in the bank for Allen.
Imavov rolls to his knees and starts to stand against the cage just as the round ends.
Round Two:
left hook lands for Allen. He paws at his eye, having taken an eye-poke in return and that forces a brief stoppage for him to recover.
They get back to it quickly. Leg kick for Allen. Now a body kick. Low kick from Imavov. Single-leg attempt from Allen and drives Imavov into the cage. Imavov sprawls nicely and snaps Allen’s head down. He opts to stand back up.
Brief exchange at close range. Nice one-two for Imavov. left hook for Allen. Low kick for Allen. Allen in on another takedown and again Imavov sprawls very well to stuff that and end up on top.
Allen on his knees turtled up and then rolls to his back. Imavov working in his guard now as Allen tries to land from his back. Imavov lands some good punches. Allen rolls and stands under-fire. Head kick from Imavov as Allen backs away but it doesn’t quite connect.
Both men look to strike. Imavov lands a nice punch. Allen going in on the takedown, but again Imavov stuffs it. Imavov now looking to set up a potential guillotine choke. Allen breaks free from that and tries to counter with a takedown, but Imavov doesn’t allow that.
Imavov working to Allen’s back and rolls to his own back with the hooks in. 30 seconds to go. Imavov rolls for an armbar attempt in the dying seconds of the round, but Allen steers clear of that danger and is looking to get on top as the round ends.
Round Three:
Low kicks from Allen and a punch in response from Imavov. Another punch lands for Imavov. A heavier one-two connects as well. Again Allen is working a takedown in the center of the Octagon and again Imavov’s sprawl is perfect.
Imavov has to go to is back as Imavov settles on top in his guard. A couple of nice punches land for Immavov. Allen punches from his back. Immavov lands again. Allen has his knees high and then kicks Imavov away.
Imavov able to rush back to keep him down. Allen still manages to battle his way back upright though and then drives into a takedown against the cage. Imavov staying upright for now though.
Allen almost had Imavov down, but Imavov counters nicely to get around to Allen’s back. Allen stands back up against the cage and Imavov lands some nice punches before they separate.
Allen commits to his striking now, but then goes for another takedown that doesn’t pay off. Imavov clinches and presses Allen into the cage. Allen reverses the position.
They almost separate and Allen lands and so does Imavov. Allen tries for the takedown and it’s stuffed. Imavov now landing a nice combination. Imavov with punches down the pipe again.
Imavov fends off a final takedown. Both men are very tired but Allen lumbers forward regardless. Imavov meets him half-way, but neither can find the energy to muster a finish in the final seconds of the fight.
Decision:
A hard-fought battle here then, with Allen clearly having the upperhand with his control-heavy wrestling in the first round. He’ll rue not having done more with those advantageous positions though as all credit goes to Imavov for completely shutting down his opponent’s numerous takedown attempts in the rounds that followed and managing to enjoy some spells on top himself while also landing the bigger punches in the striking exchanges to emerge with a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x2, 28-29).
