Mounir Lazzez impressed in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Island 1, taking Abdul Razak Alhassan’s best shots and winning a unanimous decision.
The UFC Fight Island 1 card — technically the promotion’s second event in July on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi — was opened up with the debut of a local hero. Mounir Lazzez, training out of nearby Dubai, was making the walk to the Octagon for the first time.
He was tasked with facing the heavy-handed Abdul Razak Alhassan, making his return to action after two years spent addressing sexual assault charges (he was found not guilty this past March).
Both guys start firing from the get go as Alhassan was pressuring and Lazzez was throwing elbows and lead knees. Alhassan was headhunting, firing right and left hooks seeming to even hurt Lazzez once. Lazzez stayed very composed and started to attack with leg kicks and landed some nasty knees to the body. Towards the end of the round, Lazzez was getting loose throwing at a high rate with his kicks and lead elbows. Lazzez ended the round with a takedown.
Throwing 💣s!
🇬🇭 @JudoRazak isn't wasting time in his return.#InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi #UFCFightIsland1 pic.twitter.com/iQ9ZRAtkv8
— UFC (@ufc) July 16, 2020
Lazzez started to chip away with kicks, throwing a lot to the leg of Alhassan. Lazzez landed a combination backing Alhassan up and Lazzez went to work with excellent output. Alhassan was in defense mode but did fire back heavy before Lazzez scored a takedown. The ref stood them up but Alhassan looked gassed as he was lazy against the cage letting Lazzez tee off and land another takedown. The referee stood the fighters up from side control oddly and the round ended on the feet.
Just 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜!
They're going back and forth in RD 2. #InAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi #UFCFightIsland1 pic.twitter.com/i2Lqz6Qh0m
— UFC (@ufc) July 16, 2020
In round three, Lazzez was still fresh dancing around and sticking Alhassan at range. Alhassan started with a new gameplan, looking to take Lazzez down. He did take Lazzez down twice but Lazzez got back up quickly both times. Lazzez turned it around though, getting a takedown of his own. Alhassan got up at the bell but Lazzez dominated with control on top for a good portion on the final round.
After the fight, Lazzez called out “that idiot” Mike Perry.
Mounir Lazzez def. Abdul Razak Alhassan by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
