Muslim Salikhov earned a narrow split-decision victory over Santiago Ponzinibbio tonight at UFC On ESPN 59.
Round One:
Push kick for Salikhov. Then a solid body kick. Now an inside leg kick. He tries for a head kick that’s blocked.
Ponzinibbio presses forward but misses a leg kick. Hook from Salikhov. Head kick attempt from Ponzinibbio just misses.
Salikhov with another head kick that comes off the guard. Ponzinibbio not finding his range yet. Spinning back kick from Salikhov misses.
Body kick for Salikhov. Ponzinibbio with a couple of punches as he continually tries to pressure his opponent.
Now Ponzinibbio into the clinch against the cage, but Salikhov soon gets away.
Spinning backfist from Salikhov misses but Ponzinibbio staggered to the mat afterwards for a moment, apparently just off-balance though.
Left hook for Ponzinibbio. Left hook to the body now for him and now it’s Salikhov’s turn to have a brief slip to the mat.
Ponzinibbio pressuring again, but Salikhov lands an uppercut that stops him in his tracks for a moment.
Calf kick from Ponzinibbio. Left hand from Salilhov. Brief clinch. Body kick for Salikhov.
Round Two:
Spinning kick to the body from Ponzinibbio. Now a spinning backfist too that misses.
Head kick attempt from Ponzinibbio. Push kick from Salikhov. A couple of left hands from Salikhov as he darts forward.
Salikhov trying to load up for another spinning attack but has to abort on it as Ponzinibbio moves away.
left hook from Salikhov and Ponzinibbio looks a bit off-balance. Salikhov with another spinning kick.
Ponzinibbio with a low kick. Low kick for Salikhov now. Three-piece combo for Ponzinibbio. Salikhov with a check-hook.
Double-jab, right hand from Ponzinibbio, but then Salikhov lands a takedown, though he doesn’t opt to go to the mat afterwards.
Back to striking they go. Good left hook for Ponzinibbio and a right behind it, but Salikhov lands a counter hook too.
Spinning kick to the body from Salikhov grazes the target. Ponzinibbio with a takedown late in the round against the cage. Salikhov trying to stands as Ponzinibbio hangs onto his legs tightly.
Round Three:
Double-jab right hand for Ponzinibbio to start the third. Missed leg kick from him.
Push kick for Salikhov. Hard right hand from Ponzinibbio. Now a low kick. Jab for Ponzinibbio.
One-two for Salikhov. Straight right from Ponzinibbio. Push kick for Salikhov.
Ponzinibbio goes into the clinch against the cage half way through the round. Salikhov circles away.
Ponzinibbio back into the clinch against the cage. He’s working for a single-leg and gets Salikhov down to a knee. Now Salikhov is sitting up against the cage.
Ponzinibbio happy to just stay here on top, but Salikhov does manage to stand back up against the cage. Ponzinibbio presses him against the cage until the final horn.
Decision:
A close fight then with Ponzinibbio pressing the action more often and mixing in the occasional tactical takedown, while Salikhov was sharper on the counter and mixed in spinning attacks into his work. In the end the judges emerge with a split-decision ruling, and it’s Salikhov who emerges victorious (29-28 x2, 28-29).
