Making his UFC debut Saturday at UFC Copenhagen, Makhmud Muradov proved to be a wildly entertaining fighter in a fun scrap with Alessio Di Chirico.
Italy’s Alessio Di Chirico welcomed Makhmud Muradov to the UFC in middleweight action at UFC Copenhagen on Saturday. The UFC’s first trip to Denmark’s capital was big on middleweight action, with three fights in the 185lb division, including the main event.
Muradov, of course, was the first fighter repped by Floyd Mayweather’s The Money Team to be signed by the UFC. The pair had a feeling out process early. Di Chirico went to the body with a punch. Muradov was lighting up the body at times also, with kicks, while both men loaded up on their punches. Around the ninety second mark Di Chirico, firing off a flurry that sent Muradov on his heels. However, he escaped danger, and they reset. Di Chirico then shot for a single leg, but Muradov pulled free. They finished the round swinging wildly, until Muradov landed a last-second takedown.
The second had Muradov mixing up his strikes, attacking the body and head. He seemed to have found his range, but Di Chirico answered with a left hook, and remained a threat. Muradov’s movement was more fluid. He accuracy more precise. Di Chirico was bloodied. Still he was able to fire off kicks, and initiate attacks of his own. Including high kicks, such as a thunderous combination in the final minute of the round that left Muradov wagging his finger ‘no.’
The third saw this back-and-forth war continue. Di Chirico was firing heavy shots, while Muradov’s movement was allowing him to avoid the brunt of the attacks. In the clinch, Di Chirico might have had a slight edge, but the pair overall were very evenly matched. Di Chirico began utilizing a left, and knocked his opponent’s mouth piece out. It was Muradov, however, connecting with an elbow on the break. Di Chirico then caught him with a crisp shot with just over a minute remaining. Smelling blood, he moved in. Muradov backed away and circled around. His hands were down, and he was clearly tiring.
Ultimately they would go the distance. Muradov, holding on at the end, had done enough.
Result: Makhmud Muradov def. Alessio Di Chirico by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
