Movsar Evloev extended his unbeaten record to 18-0 tonight at UFC 297 with a unanimous decision victory over Arnold Allen.
Round One:
Allen taking the center of the cage to start. Body kick from Evloev. Allen just short with a left hand. Now he lands a nice one-two though. Follows up with another jab.
Allen pumping the jab. Now a punch to the body from him. Evloev crashes forward with punches, but Allen’s footwork is keeping him elusive for now. Another body punch from Allen.
Again Allen goes to the body well. Jab for him as Evloev moves in looking for a takedown. He doesn’t get it at first but presses Allen into the cage as he continues to work. Allen does well to stay upright though and then break away.
Nice jab for Evloev. Now an overhand right connects for him. Head kick attempt is blocked. Allen with a jab. Now Evloev connects with his too. Evloev ducks looking for a single-leg, but Allen evades him.
Evloev in on a takedown and gets it this time, but Allen rolls to get away. Evloev right back on him and goes for the takedown, prompting Allen to roll again. Evloev straight back on him. Allen trying to stay up, but Evloev is doggedly sticking to his task and brings him down briefly a couple more times before the round ends.
Round Two:
Inside leg kick for Evloev. Body kick for him. Body punch for Allen. Head kick attempt from Evloev. Allen tries to make him pay with a big strike of his own.
Another head kick attempt from Evloev, but Allen saw it coming and blocks confidently. Inside leg kick for Evloev. Evloev punches to disguise a takedown attempt and does get Allen down, but as in the first round Allen is straight back up.
Evloev still has his back though. Allen turns into him and Evloev presses him to the cage. Allen able to break free and get back to the center of the Octagon.
Body kick from Evloev. Jab for Allen. Body punch from Allen as Evloev attempts a jumping knee. Another body punch for Allen.
Allen just comes up short on an uppercut counter as Evloev was coming in. Solid jab from Evloev seems to stop Allen in his tracks for a moment but he quickly recovers. Allen with blood coming from a significant cut below his left eye though as Evloev pressures him in the final seconds of the round.
Round Three:
Nice straight left from Allen. He lands it again. Front kick to the body from Evloev. Now a kick to the leg. Two punches and a low kick behind it from Allen.
Jab for Evloev. Inside leg kick. Allen misses on an uppercut. Jab for Evloev. One-two for Allen. Evloev in on a takedown attempt in the center of the Octagon, but Allen stuffs it and lands three knees as Evloev is bent over. Evloev had a hand down though and the ref stops the action deeming that an illegal blow. Evloev bleeding from his head now, but is ok to continue and the ref only gives Allen a hard warning.
Back to it they go. Body punch for Allen. Body kick attempt from Evloev is caught, but he gets his foot free. Single-leg attempt from Evloev, but Allen breaks away.
Evloev dives into a takedown, but Allen stuffs it. Body punch for Allen. He lands another but only narrowly avoids a kick.
Body kick for Evloev. Body punch from Allen. Another hard body blow. Single-leg for Evloev and Allen counters with a ninja choke, but Evloev rolls to escape. They scramble and Allen stands with Evloev still clinched to his back. Evloev trying to drag him to the mat but Allen stays up.
Knees to the back of the thigh from Evloev. Allen lands an elbow behind him. He does so again. Allen punches his way out of the clinch and misses on a head kick. He continues barreling forward with punches as the round ends.
Decision:
A good fight then with both men having their moments in the stand-up action, but it was Evloev’s superior wrestling that was the biggest factor in the fight and leads him to a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
