Su Mudaerji got the better of veteran kickboxer Zarrukh Adashev with the entire fight taking place on the feet at UFC Fight Island 8.
Zarrukh Adashev’s UFC debut did not go according to plan last year. The world-champion kickboxer from Uzbekistan missed weight for his fight with Tyson Nam in June — and then was knocked out cold. It was just Adashev’s fifth fight in MMA.
For his sophomore outing, after a couple of dates and opponents had fallen through, Adashev was paired up with Su Mudaerji at UFC Fight Island 8 on Wednesday — a fighter on a two-fight win streak, coming in off a knockout of Malcolm Gordon.
Mudaerji fired a leg kick to start the contest and Adashev went with a left straight in response. Mudaerji threw out a side kick, using his range as the taller fighter. Adashev was winging haymakers but coming up short. A head kick came through for Mudaerji. The fighters exchanged jabs as the end of a fairly pedestrian round.
Mudaerji snapped a jab then Adashev connected with a double jab to left hand combo. Adashev initiated a clinch and attempted a takedown, but Mudaerji stayed on his feet. Mudaerji attempted a spinning kick that overshot and Adashev clinched his back, landing a few hooks to the head on the feet before Mudaerji broke free. A right hand wobbled Mudaerji as he leapt in for a kick, but he stayed on his feet. Mudaerji knocked Adashev down with a stepback right hand as the latter charged in and like Mudaerji, Adashev was able to regain his control quickly.
Mudaerji fired a leg kick then a high kick, eating a right straight in return from Adashev. The output from both fighters lessened as they were more deliberate with their strikes in the final round. Neither fighter had their range in the final round, with many shots coming up short after the first exchange of the round. With less than a minute left, Mudaerji landed a combination of straight punches. Adashev landed some punches late in the round, with Mudaerji attempting a spinning kick at the very end.
Su Mudaerji def. Zarrukh Adashev by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
