The Nurmagomedov name shot to fame thanks to dominant (and now retired) UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. It lives on thanks to his cousins, among them, Usman Nurmagomedov, who brought his perfect 13-0 record to Moscow at Bellator 269.
Opposite Nurmagomedov, a massive underdog in Finnish lightweight Patrik Pietila. Few gave Pietila much of a chance opposite the heir apparent to Khabib.
The odds didn’t lie come Saturday night in Moscow, Russia. Nurmagomedov had Pietila on his back by the midway point of the opening round. Pietila did not look comfortable at all, and Nurmagomedov was fluid on the mat with his transitions. The Russian moved to mount, using knee on belly to get there and staying loose. When Pietila gave up his back, Nurmagomedov locked on with a body triangle and hunted for a rear-naked choke.
While the initial attempt wasn’t under the chin, the follow-up was. It was tight, and Pietila had no choice but to tap. Just like that, Usman Nurmagomedov had win number 14, at home in Russia in front of an appreciative Moscow crowd.
Moving forward, it’s almost certainly time for Nurmagomedov to be paired up with a ranked fighter. He’s clearly on track to be a dominant force at 155lbs (though it should be noted that Nurmagomedov vs. Pietila came at a planned 160lb catchweight).
Official result: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Patrik Pietilla by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:06
