With UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili close by, one surging prospect continued to impress at UFC Baku.
MMA’s leading promotion arrived in a new environment this week, as the UFC brought the Octagon to Azerbaijan for the very first time.
Topping the lineup in the country’s capital city of Baku is a pair of top light heavyweight contenders, with former champion Jamahal Hill battling Khalil Rountree Jr. in a clash of ex-Alex Pereira victims.
Unsurprisingly, a few Azerbaijani fighters were placed on the card, giving them an opportunity to impress in front of their compatriots at Baku Crystal Hall.
That included lightweight Nazim Sadykhov, who continued his strong form inside the Octagon on home turf.
Nazim Sadykhov ends UFC’s run of 13 straight decisions at UFC Baku
Sadykhov, who is coached by Ray Longo and John Wood and has long trained with championship-level fighters in Merab Dvalishvili and Aljamain Sterling, made the walk on Saturday’s main card.
Standing in the way of a home triumph was Nikolas Motta, a powerful Brazilian striker who was also coming off a run of victories.
But it was to be the ‘Black Wolf’ who extended his streak, as he came back from a few early scares to emerge victorious from an all-out war in Baku.
After surviving a near-finish in one of the rounds of the year, Sadykhov carved Motta open with elbows before closing the show with a devastating combination that put the Brazilian out cold against the cage.
That finish was much needed. Not only did it mark the first at UFC Baku after seven straight finishes, but it was also the first stoppage in 13 UFC fights since Malcolm Wellmaker’s knockout against Kris Moutinho on the UFC Atlanta prelims.
Nazim Sadykhov made history at UFC Baku
With the result at UFC Baku, Sadykhov extended his undefeated run to 12 straight fights. ‘Black Wolf’ hasn’t tasted defeat since his pro debut back in 2018.
When it comes to his victories, it’s safe to say that Saturday’s win likely tops the pile for Sadykhov.
Competing in Azerbaijan for the first time, Sadykhov became the country’s first representative to win a UFC fight on home soil.
The 31-year-old was the first of three Azerbaijani fighters to make the walk at Baku Crystal Hall, as he set the stage for Tofiq Musayev and Rafael Fiziev’s own home appearances.