It's an afternoon of UFC coming from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
We're covering the PPV portion of the card which features these fights:
- Ilia Topuria (c) -265 vs. Max Holloway +205, featherweight title
- Khamzat Chimaev -265 vs. Robert Whittaker +210, middleweights
- Lerone Murphy -250 vs. Dan Ige +195, featherweights
- Magomed Ankalaev -400 vs. Aleksandar Rakic +300, light heavyweights
- Shara Magomedov -165 vs. Armen Petrosyan +140, middleweights
Card and odds via CBS Sports.com
We'll be back with live coverage of the PPV portion of the card.
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Armen Petrosyan Vs Shara Magomedov
Petrosyan immediately raced in to put them in tight space. Magomedov was caught off guard slightly, but adjusted quickly. Petrosyan threw and landed a kick, but Magomedov landed a right hand at the same time. Magomedov has made the distance more to his comfort level. He's also banging his legs with leg kicks. Magomedov knocked him to his butt with a side kick. Magomedov set him up with a nice spinning backfist to end the round.
There were two small stoppages for inadvertent low blows on both sides. Magomedov looks great with his counter right hands but Petrosyan is game. He's leading the exchanges and scoring as well. Petroysyan slightly landed a spinning backfist of his own. Magomedov is landing the bigger shots, but Petrosyan is landing a lot of shots. With 10 seconds left Magomedov, threw a spinning backfist that landed, but then immediately reversed and threw another one with the other hand and knocked Petrosyan out.
Winner: Shara Magomedov by way of 2nd round TKO
Dan Ige Vs. Lerone Murphy
Good striking battle to start. Murphy opened a cut on Ige from an elbow. Ige dropped Murphy with a left hand and looked to end the fight. Murphy was in trouble, but had his wits with him and survived and even got a takedown late.
Second round was much more careful to start as if the first round was too risky for Murphy. Murphy landed a kick about halfway through and Ige went for the shot and pushed him up against the cage. Murphy switched spots with him and Ige's back was against the cage. Murphy got a sweep takedown late in the round and tried to take his back, but Ige transitioned to the top position. Murphy went for a triangle and that's how the round ended.
There was some nice ground work. Ige had a crucifix position. Murphy turned it into a ankle lock opportunity, but Ige transitioned back to the top position. Murphy had another triangle attempt before Murphy finally was able to stand up. Murphy then took him down, Ige got up and was tripped back down. They're really tired as the round came to a close, but they emptied their tank at the end, with Murphy getting in the better shots.
Winner: Lerone Murphy by way of unanimous decision
The scores were 29-28 across the board.
Aleksandar Rakic Vs. Magomed Ankalaev
These are very tall light heavyweights. Rakic actually looks like a heavyweight. Rakic kept his distance and scored with kicks to the body. Ankalaev used his counter left hand nicely. It was a close round, but Rakic is also doing a better job at doing what he wants and is fighting the fight he needs to fight to win.
Ankalaev started to change the rhythm of the fight midway through the second. He's timing Rakic's shots better when countering. Rakic is slowing down from all the movement and staying out of range. Ankalaev pushed him up against the cage with about a minute left in the round. Rakic separated and took a left-hand to the face. Ankalaev then went to the body. Strong round for Ankalaev.
Rakic's strategy is to do the same as round one and two, which worked much better in round one. But Ankalaev is being patient. He landed a nice right hand to the face. Rakic went for a takedown with just over two minutes left. They reversed up against the cage a couple of times. The announcers said that Rakic's corner told him he was up 2-0 when that's probably not the case. They ended the fight clinched up against the cage with Ankalaev trying to land shots before the bell.
Winner: Magomed Ankalaev by way of unanimous decision
The scores were 29-28 across the board.
Robert Whittaker Vs. Khamzat Chimaev
Chimaev started fast by shooting from halfway across the octagon to grab hold of Whittaker. He's owning Whittaker on the ground, not that anyone should be that surprised. But this is a different type of ownage. He knew where Whittaker was going on the ground before Whittaker did. Chimaev got his back and went for the choke and Whittaker tapped immediately. It looks like he may have injured his jaw rather than actually choked him.
Winner: Khamzat Chimaev by way of 1st round submission
Max Holloway Vs. Ilia Topuria
Max is much taller and longer and he is keeping the distance early on. Topuria got inside for one right hand which landed. Topuria shot in for a takedown and got it. Holloway landed some nice counter shots to Topuria's face and it's showing up on his face. Topuria landed a counter right and Holloway went down. But he didn't seem hurt.
Max going down looked like a trip or a slip on replay. These guys are firing on each other. They're throwing more punches per round than you'll see in some fights. This would be an excellent boxing match. Holloway landed a great right and then Topuria smashed him with a lead right hand that was quick. Lightning boxing from both in the second round.
Holloway threw two kicks downward toward the thigh, knee area. The boxing was still incredibly high level by both. Topuria landed a right hand that put Holloway's lights out for a second, but he didn't go down. He went down with a left hook and Topuria closed the show on the ground and it was stopped.
Winner: Ilia Topuria by way of 3rd round KO
