Carlos Diego Ferreira showcased his complete skillset with a one-sided decision victory over Rustam Khabilov at UFC Prague.
Carlos Diego Ferreira is quietly on a three-fight win streak after being one of Dustin Poirier’s first lightweight victims. Perhaps it is quiet because of the one-and-a-half year suspension he was handed by USADA at the start of the run in 2016 after he defeated Olivier Aubin-Mercier. Since his UFC return, he’s knocked out Jared Gordon and short-notice opponent Kyle Nelson. It’s worth noting that Ferreira missed weight for this contest.
Rustam Khabilov will be looking to win more convincingly at UFC Prague after a victory over Kajan Johnson that was recognized as one of the worst decisions in 2018. Aside from the controversial win, Khabilov has been great in the Octagon with an 8-2 record, and is currently on a five-fight win streak. The downside is, after stoppages over Vinc Pichel and Yancy Medeiros and a Fight of the Night decision against Jorge Masvidal to start his UFC run, the Sambo champion has gone to fairly uneventful decisions on his current win streak.
The two fighters immediately met in the center of the Octagon and Rustam Khabilov connected with a jab. Ferreira began establishing leg kicks and hunting for a big shot. Both fighters were sitting down on their punches and winging hooks, but nothing was connecting cleanly quite yet. Then, midway through the first, an overhand right sparked a combination from Ferreira where he was able to land another big overhand. Khabilov responded with a takedown, but Ferreira quickly scrambled out. Ferreira landed another right straight, then a one-two combination on a backpedaling Khabilov. Khabilov dove in for a single-leg takedown, but Ferreira sprawled perfectly and ended up in a crucifix on the back of Khabilov. Ferreira isolated an arm with his legs, used the opening to sink in a rear-naked choke, but time expired just before Khabilov was forced to tap out.
Ferreira started round two picking up where he left off, landing a right hand early on. Khabilov landed a stinging left hand, but that only provoked Ferreira to move forward while tripling up on his jab. Khabilov was fighting a bit more conservatively in the second round after the near-finish, spending most of the round backpedaling. He changed his direction to shoot in for a single-leg which turned into a body-lock takedown, but again, Ferreira got right back up. Khabilov shot in for another single leg, but was countered by a Ferreira headlock and knee. Again, Khabilov wasted no time shooting in, this time for a double-leg and landing it, but Ferreira bucked him off and chased him down with several straight punches to end the round.
Ferreira had control starting the third round, stalking Khabilov down on the feet and landing straight punches at will. Khabilov had little to no response to Ferreira’s output aside from desperation hooks. Ferreira continued to press forward, until finally, Khabilov shot for a single-leg against the fence. Ferreira was able to stay on his feet, stuffing another three takedowns when they returned to the center of the Octagon. Ferreira capped off the fight with a bang, landing a head kick along the fence, then trading hooks to the final bell.
Carlos Diego Ferreira def. Rustam Khabilov by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
