ABU DHABI – After what’s prone to go down as some of the spotlight reel-worthy knockouts in UFC historical past, Shara Magomedov introduced a part of his focus again to a longtime pursuit.
Magomedov (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) stayed unbeaten Saturday when he took out Armen Petrosyan (9-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) with a second-round TKO to open the UFC 308 essential card at Etihad Area. The end was removed from an abnormal one, although.
Magomedov threw a spinning backfist, and as quickly as the primary one was about to land, he pivoted and threw one other with the other arm. It landed clear, and Petrosyan was achieved, with the one factor left being his unlucky immortalization on the improper finish of the Shara “Bullet” spotlight.
“I used to apply this system since my profession in muay Thai,” Magomedov mentioned at his post-fight information convention. “In MMA, I used to be unable to throw it (till now) as a result of persons are going to wrestle me. However this time, I fought a high-level striker and it grew to become a chess match – and I used to be in a position to shock him on this chess match.”
Not surprisingly, Magomedov picked up a $50,000 Efficiency of the Evening bonus for the beautiful end, which opened the pay-per-view portion of the cardboard.
However Magomedov didn’t instantly shoot for the moon, regardless of an opportune time to play the “I desire a title shot” recreation. Ne needs a struggle with former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, whom he mentioned he’s been after since they had been within the kickboxing world on the similar time.
“I used to chase Israel when he fought kickboxing in China. I used to be combating kickboxing in China too,” Magomedov mentioned. “Now that he switched to MMA, and now that I’m right here, I’m able to seize (what he’s had). I’m able to struggle him … it doesn’t matter the place. I beat his good friend and sparring accomplice, Blood Diamond, in China and I used to be able to struggle him. Israel may be very well-liked in China. Then he switched to MMA and signed to the UFC – and now I’m right here, too.”
Adesanya is mired within the first stoop of his profession. He misplaced the middleweight title to Alex Pereira at UFC 281, however received it again at UFC 287. Then he misplaced it to Sean Strickland 13 months in the past. He was submitted by new champ Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in August for his second straight defeat.
Magomedov mentioned it doesn’t matter as a lot when he fights Adesanya, so lnog because it occurs.
“I’m in no rush. I’m not working in entrance of the prepare. The one approach for Israel Adesanya to keep away from the struggle with me is to retire,” Magomedov mentioned. “After all I want to struggle Israel to show that I’m one of the best striker within the division. But additionally, I want to struggle Marvin Vettori to show that my wrestling is nice. These two names actually excite me. In addition to them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira.
“Our middleweight division is stuffed with predators and sharks, however I’m the one pirate.”
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