Shamil Gaziev stole the present throughout an thrilling and eventful UFC Saudi Arabia preliminary card.
Israel Adesanya’s comeback card started with controversy as followers protested Hamdy Abdelwahab’s cut up choice win over Jamal Pogues, who was visibly shocked to seek out him on the unsuitable finish of the lead to Riyadh.
After that, fan-favorite light-weight fighter Terrence McKinney took advantage of the 12-6 elbow rule change to pound his solution to a first-round TKO win over Damir Hadžović.
Nonetheless, Shamil Gaziev was the standout identify on the UFC Saudi Arabia prelims, and the Russian heavyweight lived as much as his billing by scoring a spectacular one-punch knockout in opposition to Thomas Petersen.
Shamil Gaziev obliterates opponent with one shot
An early elbow caught the eye of Petersen, who chopped away at his opponent with low leg kicks earlier than capturing in for a formidable takedown.
Petersen received the struggle to the ground and even managed to take Gaziev’s again, however he exploded to his ft and continued successful all of the hanging exchanges.
Finally, Gaziev linked with a clear proper hand to the American’s jaw to finish the struggle.
Petersen collapsed to the ground and Gaziev didn’t even trouble following up with floor strikes. In the end, the referee waved issues off and Gaziev picked up a walk-off knockout Mark Hunt could be pleased with.
The 34-year-old has now received back-to-back fights since struggling the primary defeat of his 15-fight profession when he retired after 4 rounds within the Octagon with Jairzinho Rozenstruik final March.
Peterson is now 1-2 as a UFC fighter. The Contender Sequence star beat Mohammed Usman final trip after falling to a choice defeat in opposition to Jamal Pogues in his promotional debut.
Shamil Gaziev’s second on the mic
The #14 ranked heavyweight contender spoke to ex-lightweight star Paul Felder after his large KO.
“Final struggle, I broke my hand, that’s why I went to choice,” Gaziev mentioned through a translator.
“Once I’m wholesome, I promise you guys that each struggle I’ll search for a first-round end.”
Gaziev went on to disclose that had been working for weeks on the shot that put Peterson to sleep.
He added: “To be sincere, it was a struggle plan. All of my struggle camp we had been planning this assault.
“After my first punch, he tried to wrestle. I knew it [was coming]. I ended his wrestling, and my struggle plan labored, as you noticed.
“We did what we wished to do.”