UFC Fight Night Main Card Live Blog
Khamzat Chimaev kicked off the main card with a bang, finishing Rhys McKee with some vicious and constant ground-and-pound.
WRECKING BALL.
πΈπͺ @KChimaev with the RD 1 demolition!
Tune in NOW on @ESPN. pic.twitter.com/aJALQyj0xE
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
For Chimaev, that marked his second win this year inside the Octagon, with both coming during a 10-day span. He made his debut on July 15, submitting John Phillips.
The welterweight contest between Alex Oliveira and Peter Sobotta started off weird, as Sobotta was cut and had some issues with his eye. However, in the end, Oliveira picked up the decision victory.
Paul Craig now sits in a group that includes Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira with the most submission wins in the UFC’s light heavyweight division after locking up a choke on Gadzhimurad Antigulov.
Craig secured a triangle choke off his back, earning the first round victory for his fifth tap-out win inside the Octagon.
Carla Esparza, the inaugural UFC strawweight champion, earned her second win of the year, topping Marina Rodriguez via split decision. Esparza looked the worse for the wearer, but was able to use her skills to earn the win.
BY SPLIT DECISION! π£
πͺ @CarlaEsparza1 gets the win on Fight Island.#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/J5nMCkilm1
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
In what might have been his final Octagon appearance, former heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum secured a submission victory over Alexander Gustafsson.
The bout marked an end to the current contract of Werdum, and he is likely to test free agency. He secured an armbar off a takedown, recording the first round victory.
Gustafsson, a former light heavyweight title contender, unretired and made the move up to heavyweight in hopes of earning another crack at the UFC title.
Vai Cavalo! π§π·@FabricioWerdum submits Gus in RD 1!
πΊ The card finishes next on @ESPN / E+ pic.twitter.com/5O336mRWBW
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
Meeting for the third time in their incredible careers, former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira went the distance, with Rua earning the split decision.
SHOGUN IS IN RETREAT! π³#InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/GaVXPoCk1Q
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
Prior to the fight, Nogueira announced this would be his retirement bout, asking for Rua. He finished his career with 23 victories.
For the last time! π #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/Z1T5fpvp7E
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
After five hard-fought rounds, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker was declared the winner over Darren Till. Whittaker swept all three scorecards by matching scores of 48-47.
In the first, Till caught Whittaker coming in with a short elbow and dropped him. The replay made it look even nastier, as Whittaker’s nose appeared to go sideways.
HE'S BACK! π¦πΊ 'The Reaper' is back on top. #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi| #UFCFightIsland3 pic.twitter.com/VD7gaPOrRr
— UFC (@ufc) July 26, 2020
Whittaker returned the favor early in the second, catching Till and planting him on the canvas. The two proceeded to exchange shots over the rest of the fight.
Whittaker ended the fight with a nasty cut by his ear that had blood pouring from it. That didn’t stop him from recording a huge takedown on Till in the final moments.
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