THE UFC returns to Abu Dhabi TODAY for one of their biggest cards of a stacked year.
Mixed martial arts' premier promotion returns to the capital of the UAE for a blockbuster UFC 294 card at the Etihad Arena.
The card was due to be headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Islam Makhachev and former titleholder Charles Oliveira.
But a gruesome cut for Do Bronx laid waste to the fight, although it paved the way for a mammoth rematch between Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
- Prelims start time: 3pm BST
- Main card start time: 7pm BST
- TV channel: TNT Sports Box Office
- Live stream: TNT Sports Box Office app
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFER – Get £40 in free bet builder bets
Follow our blog below…
-
By Chisanga Malata
Brit alert
UFC veteran Nathaniel Wood is about to make the walk for his fourth outing at featherweight.
The Prospect – who was added to this card just a few weeks ago – will throw down with Muhammad Naimov.
This should be a banger, folks.
Credit: Getty -
By Chisanga Malata
Dudakova wins
Victoria Dudakova remains unbeaten courtesy of a unanimous decision victory.
All three judges scored the contest 29-28 in her favour.
Dudakova is now 2-0 in the UFC and 8-0 in her mixed martial arts career.
She's a real prospect at strawweight.
Credit: Getty -
By Chisanga Malata
Dudakova vs Frey – Round 3
Despite being dropped in the first and getting cracked with a hard head kick in the second, Frey is happy to play the striking game.
As I say that, she lands a good left hook to the dome of Dudakova.
She switches tact with less than a minute of the round left, pressing Dudakova against the cage and going for a takedown.
She's unsuccessful and they return to the centre of the octagon.
The horn goes. Not sure who will be get the nod for that round.
Credit: Getty
-
By Chisanga Malata
Dudakova vs Frey – Round 2
Frey listens to her coach's advice and immediately shoots for a perfectly-timed takedown, which is successful.
Dudakova is struggling to deal with Frey's top pressure.
But as I say that, she manages to get out of half guard and explodes into full guard.
Dudakova bucks her off but is still on her back. Frey navigates the upkicks and goes back into full guard.
Dudakova throws up an armbar attempt but it's shrugged off.
They're back to their feet with Dudakova looking to land head kicks.
And she lands one right before the horn.
I have it one round apiece.
Credit: Getty -
By Chisanga Malata
Dudakova vs Frey – Round 1
Frey is doing a good job here putting Dudakova on the back foot early doors.
Takedown attempt from Dudakova against the cage but Frey is defending it well so far.
And she shrugs her off. A nasty clash of heads brings about a brief pause in the action.
That was a really bad one. Frey is dazed here. Frey recovers and the fight resumes.
Frey is looking to land a hard front kick up the middle but have yet to have any success with it.
Dudakova lands a huge left hook which sits down Frey with seconds of the round.
Frey rises to her feet and survives the story.
10-9 Dudakova.
-
By Chisanga Malata
Strawweights up next
We move to the 115lbs division for a women's strawweight fight between Victoria Dudukova and Jinh Yu Frey.
This should be a good one, folks.
Credit: Getty -
By Chisanga Malata
Magomedov wins
Sharabutdin defeats Bruno Silva via unanimous decision.
All three judges scored the contest the same, 30-27 in favour of the Russian kickboxer.
Credit: GETTY -
By Chisanga Malata
Magomedov vs Silva – Round 3
Magomedov finds himself taken down early doors after throwing a telegraphed knee.
Silva doing a good job of posturing up and landing ground and pound.
Magomedov has failed to capitalise on the spaces left by Silva and escape from the bad position.
But as I say that, he's back to his feet – although he looks tired.
Nasty elbows rattle the dome of Silva. Silva doesn't like them and shoots for another takedown, which is successful.
Magomedov lands a punishing kick to close out the round.
-
By Chisanga Malata
Magomedov vs Silva – Round 2
Magomedov continues the chew up the lead leg of Silva, who is switching from southpaw to orthodox.
'Bullet' is really showing out here, uncorking an array of flash teeps and question mark kicks.
A beautiful lead question mark slaps the chin of Silva and draws a big reaction from the crowd.
Silva capitalises on a lull from Magomedov and lands a big takedown.
The Russian lands from nice elbows from the bottom and is doing good work with punches off his back.
The round ends with Magomedov on his back. He roars with delight as he rises to his feet.
Credit: Getty
-
By Chisanga Malata
Magomedov vs Silva – Round 1
They touch gloves and they're off.
Magmomedov is light on his feet and feinting early. A hard inside leg kick lands for the Russian.
Magomedov is floating around the octagon beautifully here, incredible footwork.
A lead head kick narrowly misses for the Dagestani.
Silva stops chants of 'Shara, Shara, Shara' with a good counter combination.
Silva gets rocked by an un-telegraphed lead head kick and a follow-up punch.
He backs up against the cage and narrowly avoids a flying knee.
Takedown attempt from the Brazilian is stuffed and they're back to the centre of the octagon.
An accidental low block from Magomedov brings a brief pause to the contest.
And they're back to it. A left hook snaps back the head of Silva.
Silva lands a good right hand seconds before the end of the round.
-
By Chisanga Malata
Middleweights kick us off
Mixed martial arts fans around the world will be glued to this middleweight clash between Sharabutdin Magomedov and Bruno Silva.
Undefeated Russian Magomedov – who only has one functioning eye -will be making his octagon bow.
Let's see how he fares in MMA's premier promotion.
Credit: Getty -
By Chisanga Malata
Last time out
Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski are no strangers to one another.
The pair locked horns in January, with featherweight king Volkanovski stepping up to challenge the Russian for the 155lbs title.
Makhachev's grappling stifled Volk for large portions of the fight.
But 'The Great' came on strong in the fifth and final round, in which he dropped the Dagestani.
The judges, however, didn't think he did enough to get his hand raised – despite his and fans' protestations.
Credit: EPA -
By Chisanga Malata
We are live!
Hello and welcome to SunSport's live coverage of UFC 294: Makhachev vs Volkanovski 2.
Mixed martial arts' premier promotion returns to Abu Dhabi this evening for one of the biggest cards of the year.
Topping the bill is the eagerly-anticipated lightweight title rematch between champion Islam Makhachev and Alexander Volkanovski.
The rematch came together on 11 days' notice, with featherweight king Volk stepping up to replace the injured Charles Oliveira.
And in he co-main event of the evening, undefeated prospect Khamzat Chimaev will make his octagon return against former welterweight champ Kamaru Usman.
UFC 294 is loaded with amazing fights from top to bottom.
Source: Read Full Article