Said Nurmagomedov got the better of the striking action against Douglas Silva de Andrade tonight at UFC On ESPN 39 to win by unanimous decision.
Round One:
Inside leg kick from Andrade. Spinning back kick from Nurmagomedov, but Andrade was driving in for a takedown attempt at the same time and stifles that connection. Andrade pressing Nurmagomedov into the cage now.
Not much happening from here. Finally they jockey for position and Nurmagomedov almost lands a throw, then they go back to striking range.
Nurmagomedov just missing with a couple of kicks. Inside leg kick from him. Leg kick for Andrade. Glancing kick upstairs from Nurmagomedov.
Spinning back kick from Nurmagomedov just misses. Now a spinning kick to the body. Missed head kick attempt from Andrade. Inside leg kick from Nurmagomedov.
Oblique kick from Nurmagomedov and then immediately tries for a head kick that doesn’t pay off. Andrade firing back. Another solid kick from Nurmagomedov. Andrade with some bleeding from a cut to the left side of his face.
Nurmagomedov with another spinning kick. Body kick from Andrade. Now a leg kick. Jumping kick to the body from Nurmagomedov.
Spinning backfist from Nurmagomedov misses. Andrade tries one that misses too and while ducking under, Nurmagomedov opts to enter for a late takedown attempt and brings him down as the horn sounds.
Round Two:
Nurmagomedov with a body kick. Now a spinning kick. A couple of punches land. Now a chopping low kick that took Andrade off his feet for a split second.
Another body kick from Nurmagomedov. Front kick to the body too. Andrade presses forward with a big punch.
Andrade bleeding heavily from a cut to his right shin. Body kick from Andrade. Inside leg kick from him.
Head kick attempt from Nurmagomedov. Now a spinning kick to the body. Heavy kick to the body from Nurmagomedov. Now one from Andrade.
Spinning backfist from Nurmagomedov misses. Question mark kick attempt from Nurmagomedov. left head kick from Andrade almost got through. Nurmagomedov countering with a flying knee attempt.
Jumping kick from Nurmagomedov. He lands a well timed punch upstairs as Andrade was coming forward. Nurmagomedov attempts a takedown but Andrade fends it off.
Spinning backfist from Nurmagomedov is blocked. Andrade still pressing forward and he lands a spinning backfist that stumbles Nurmagomedov to the mat. Nurmagomedov thinking about setting up a submission from his back as Andrade pursues him, but the round ends soon after. Andrade bleeding from a couple of facial cuts as he heads back to his corner.
Round Three:
Leg kick for Nurmagomedov. He looks for a spinning attack, but Andrade closes the distance and grabs hold of him, then sends him up into the air and crashes him down to the canvas.
Nurmagomedov pops straight back up, but Andrade still staying clinched up. Nurmagomedov breaks free and lands a knee upstairs for good measure that’s blocked.
Low leg kick for Nurmagomedov and then a punch behind it. Kick for Nurmagomedov. Another spinning attack and Andrade firing back. Andrade with a spinning back kick that strays to the groin and Nurmagomedov needs a brief stoppage to recover from that illegal blow.
Back to it they go. Nurmagomedov in on a single-leg takedown and does well to land it in the center of the Octagon. Andrade fishing for a submission from his back, but nothing doing. He does manage to get back up though and Nurmagomedov throws a kick upstairs.
Another connection from Nurmagomedov. Nurmagomedov tries for a spinning kick, but Andrade closes the distance first and is able to get him down to the mat.
Andrade opts to stand over Nurmagomedov, who is looking for upkicks. He’s getting close with it. Andrade struggling to find an entry without getting caught.
Final minute and the ref decides to stand them back up. Nurmagomedov again tries a spinning attack, but again it doesn’t pay off and Andrade lands punches on the counter.
Nurmagomedov drives into a takedown, but Andrade does well to stuff it. Andrade slips as he comes forward and Nurmagomedov landed a head kick as he was rising back up, but not much power behind it. We’re headed to the scorecards here.
Decision:
Andrade kept this competitive, particularly in the final round, but in the end it was Nurmagomedov’s kicking ability that helped him on his way to a unanimous decision victory here (30-27, 29-28 x2).
