Movsar Evloev had a successful promotional debut at UFC St. Petersburg, winning by unanimous decision despite a point deduction.
Movsar Evloev comes to the UFC after three defenses of his M-1 bantamweight title. The Russian is 10-0 in his career with three knockouts and four rear-naked chokes. Evloev fought and won twice last year, most recently in July.
Seung Woo Choi is 7-1 at 26-years-old, hailing from South Korea. Choi won the first five fights in his career, including winning the TFC featherweight title. He did not defend the belt, losing in his next fight, but was able to avenge his loss. Choi won his belt back in his last appearance before signing with the UFC.
Seung Woo Choi started off the fight using his length and keeping Evloev at bay. Evloev landed an overhand right, then got a takedown against his Korean opponent. Evloev was able to transition side control, but Choi scooted back into guard. Evloev was active with his ground-and-pound, consistently landing punches despite Choi keeping him from posturing up in guard. Choi was eventually able to stand up in the waning moments of the round, but Evloev pinned him against the cage until time expired.
Cageside Press Scores the First Round 10-9 Movsar Evloev
Evloev went right back to the wrestling in the second round, pushing Choi against the cage with a double leg. Evloev adjusted to nearly taking the back of Choi against the cage, peppering him with punches. Choi readjusted and returned to a straight up position, landing several downward elbows to the back of the head. Evloev was able to take him down despite this. Choi worked his way to the fence and got to a kneeled position. Evloev landed a knee to the head while Choi was grounded and had a point deducted. Evloev was able to pin Choi against the cage again and landed a legal knee to the head this time. The round ended with Choi against the fence.
Cageside Press Scores the Second Round 9-9
Evloev got a takedown in the center of the Octagon immediately to start the final round. Choi locked him up in guard then spun out and got to the fence. Evloev had him pinned there but he wasn’t able to drag Choi down. Evloev continued to work and was eventually drag the feet out from under Choi. However, he was still in a seated position and was able to stand up and escape the clinch easily. It didn’t last long though, as Evloev ducked under a spinning backfist and drove Choi to the cage again. Evloev lifted Choi up with a high-crotch takedown and got him down. Choi bounced back up, but another takedown followed.
Cageside Press Scores the Third Round 10-9 Movsar Evloev (29-27 Evloev)
Movsar Evloev def. Seung Woo Choi by Unanimous Decision (29-27 x2, 29-26)
