After two close rounds, Damir Hadzovic dropped Nick Hein and put on a strong performance in the third to claim a split decision against Germany’s own Nick Hein at UFC Hamburg.
Capping off the televised preliminary portion of Sunday’s UFC Hamburg (UFC Fight Night 134), Germany’s own Nick Hein took on Damir Hadžović at lightweight. Hein had compiled a 4-2 record in the UFC since his debut 2014. Coming into Hamburg off a loss to Davi Ramos at UFC 224, Hein was looking to get back to his winning ways — he’d won three straight prior to that.
Hadzovic, meanwhile, was 1-2 in the promotion, his lone win coming against leg lock specialist Marcin Held. Most recently, the Bosnian-Dutch fighter had dropped a decision to Alan Patrick.
After a minute or so of feeling out, Nick Hein got his hands going, throwing an overhand right, and firing off two-punch combos. Hadzovic answered with a leg kick. A bit of back and forth early, as the pair looked to find their groove. Hein touched his opponent’s cheek with a right. Another right touched the body. Hadzovic was showing some damage by the eye thanks to Hein’s jab; as they went to the second, Hein seemed to have the edge.
Hein continued to go to work in round two, backing Hadzovic up, and continuing to throw his jab with effect. He backed his opponent up, launching an overhand right that looked like it could be a knockout blow if it ever connected clean. He wouldn’t manage to land the knockout, though, but kept attacking, bullying Hadzovic for the better part of the frame. Hadzovic’s jab, however, had gotten going, and Hein was showing the results on his face.
A big left hand from Nick Hein knocked Hadzovic off-kilter to open round three. Hein, however, ate a face kick by Hadzovic inside the first minute, a kick that clearly got his attention. It was Hein, however, pressing forward following that blow. Then, near the halfway point, a huge right hand for Hadzovic! He dropped Hein, and jumped on his back, but Hein managed to escape to his feet! Hadzovic moved forward, and Hein beckoned him to bring it!
Caught him! @DamirHadzo #UFCHamburg pic.twitter.com/bvEKq75VM0
— UFC (@ufc) July 22, 2018
Hein was now bloodied, but continued to chuck out his overhand right. The knockdown had certainly cost him the round, and depending on how the earlier frames were scored, Hadzovic could have the edge. They’d go the distance, with Hadzovic getting the nod on two scorecards.
Damir Hadzovic def. Nick Hein by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
