Umar Nurmagomedov dominated Nathan Maness on the mat tonight at UFC On ESPN 38 to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
A few missed strikes early from both men as they find their range, then Nurmagomedov lands a leg kick.
Maness moving forward with a flurry that doesn’t really hit the mark as Nurmagomedov was looking to counter with a side kick.
Stepping punch from Maness comes up short. Body kick from Nurmagomedov. Missed overhand from Maness and Nurmagomedov clinches up and then plants his opponent down on the canvas in the center of the Octagon.
Nurmagomedov in Maness’ full guard for now. Patient work from him. He lands an elbow. Now a nice punch. They’ve moved over close to the cage now. Maness keeping a tight guard.
Nurmagomedov able to get to half-guard, then moves up to three-quarter mount and starts to throw a few punches. Nurmagomedov adjusting his position and then lands more punches to end the round.
Round Two:
Head kick attempt from Nurmagomedov is blocked. Now a body kick from him. Front kick to the body and then another head kick attempt.
Now Nurmagomedov changes things up and lands another takedown with ease in the center of the Octagon.
This time Nurmagomedov gets quickly to half-guard and then side control. He tries for mount, but has to settle for going back to half-guard.
It’s not long before Nurmagomedov is back to side control as he continues to dominate the ground battle. Knee on belly now and then is up to 3/4 mount. Side control, then knee-on-belly again, but Maness brings him back to half-guard.
Nurmagomedov continually slicing through Maness’ guard here as he moves back to side control easily.
There’s a scramble as Maness gets to his knees and then is on his back again. Soon after he gives up his back again and Nurmagomedov takes it. Not much time remaining in the round and he starts to land some punches. Maness gets to his back again and Nurmagomedov lands a few more strikes.
Round Three:
Body kick from Nurmagomedov. Now one to the calf. Inside leg kick and then one upstairs that thumps off the guard.
Front kick to the face from Nurmagomedov. Maness takes it and now he tries for a punch combo followed up by a head kick of his own without finding the mark.
Nurmagomedov still finding success on the feet, but then secures a takedown close to the cage. Elbow strike from Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov in half-guard and starting to land more strikes. A couple more elbows land and now a flurry of punches.
Maness defending from closed guard now. Hammerfists from Nurmagomedov. A few body punches land before the end of the fight.
Decision:
Dominant mat work from Nurmagomedov then and he emerges with a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-26, 30-25).
