Stepping in on short notice at UFC Fight Island 8 was the only local fighter on the card. Mounir Lazzez, in just his second UFC bout, found himself in the co-main event against TUF Brazil 3 winner Warlley Alves. A Tunisian fighting out of nearby Dubai, Lazzez would no doubt have the fans heavily in his corner, as spectators were back in the building, in limited numbers, for the Abu Dhabi-based event.
Alves fired off a right hand almost immediately, then tied things up in a clinch, looking for a takedown. Once he did get the takedown, Alves peppered his opponent with punches — but Lazzez was able to fight him off and get back up. The crowd, the loudest they had been all event long, had a “Lazzez” chant going. Unfortunately for Mounir, it didn’t help. Instead, he found himself under fire along the cage wall. Alves fired off one, then two, then three kicks to the body. Each hit home with a thud, and Lazzez was clearly feeling them. His body locked up, he dropped to his knees, and Alves went in for the kill. It wasn’t long after that that the ref waved it off.
For Alves, it was a return to form, and frankly his best performance in years. Post-fight, he called out Nate Diaz, making a statement against drug use in the process. A bit of a left-field callout, but it should get fans talking.
Official Result: Warlley Alves def. Mounir Lazzez by TKO, Round 1, 2:35
