Azamat Murzakanov showed off his hand speed and thunderous power against Dustin Jacoby tonight at UFC On ESPN 44, dropping him twice during the fight, though in the end he had to settle for a decision victory.
Round One:
Calf kick for Jacoby. He lands another kick. Now Murzakanov catches another but can’t work anything off that before Jacoby gets his limb back.
left hook from Murzakanov. Another leg kick from Jacoby. Left hand from Murzakanov is blocked.
Jab from Murzakanov and a leg kick from Jacoby. Murzakanov sitting down on some solid punches here. Head kick attempt from Jacoby is blocked.
Glancing right hand from Jacoby. Heavy punch from Murzakanov knocks Jacoby off-balance to the mat. He gets back up and Murzakanov threatens again.
Uppercut from Murzakanov as he continues to pour on the pressure with his heavy hands. Leg kick from Jacoby.
Straight left from Jacoby. Thudding left hand from Murzakanov. Leg kick for Jacoby. Uppercut from Jacoby and then tries for a guillotine choke as Murzakanov thinks about a takedown. Jacoby drops down with it and almost instantly loses it, but manages to get back upright soon after.
Nice one-two for jacoby late in the round.
Round Two:
Body kick from Jacoby. Body punch from Murzakanov. Calf kick from Jacoby. Leg kick from Murzakanov and Jacoby counters with a punch.
Solid punch from Murzakanov backs Jacoby up. Jab for Murzakanov. Now a body punch. Overhand left from Murzakanov. He throws a hard right hook and just misses with another.
Murzakanov drives into a takedown, but Jacoby does well to defend and turn him into the cage. Knees to the thighs from Jacoby as he stays tight to him in this clinch.
Now they exchange knees and Murzakanov breaks free to get back to striking range. Double jab for Jacoby. He lands a low kick. Jab connects again.
Jacoby fakes a takedown and tries to come upstairs with a punch. Inside leg kick from Jacoby. Grazing rights from him.
Big overhand left from Murzakanov drops Jacoby again. Serious power from him and he’s now swinging for the fences after Jacoby gets back up and he’s just in survival mode for now and eats some more solid strikes before the round ends.
Round Three:
Murzakanov immediately landing a nice punch. Hard knee from Murzakanov. Now a hard hook. Good straight from Jacoby lands well.
Low kick from Murzakanov and one from Jacoby. Two jabs from Murzakanov. Punch for Jacoby. Body punch from Jacoby and attempts a head kick.
Jab for Jacoby and a head kick attempt again. He tries that again. Now a couple of jabs. Right hand from Jacoby and then another as he tries to find a path to victory here in the final round.
Left hook from Murzakanov. Murzakanov drives into a single-leg attempt but doesn’t work out. he tries again and Jacoby turns him into the cage.
Two minutes to go and Jacoby likely needs a finish. He backs away from the clinch and attempts a head kick. Murzakanov tries for a takedown and doesn’t get it.
Jacoby drives in looking for a takedown of his own. He gets him to his knees and Murzakanov stands back up, only to be brought back again.
Jacoby landing punches as Murzakanov gets to one knee. A minute to go. Murzakanov stands up. Jacoby again looking for the takedown even though he needs a stoppage. Curious decision-making from him. Murzakanov defending and so the action is stalling here.
Finally they break away from the cage. Jacoby with a knee attempt and that’s the final action of the round.
Decision:
So we head to the scorecards and it’s no real surprise to see that it’s Murzakanov who emerges with a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3) to extend his unbeaten record to 13-0.
