Featherweights Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and T.J. Brown threw down on the UFC Vegas 57 card on Saturday, with both fighters looking to build on recent wins.
Nuerdanbieke had come into the UFC sporting an impressive-looking record featuring well over 40 fights. But a closer look at some of his opponents appeared to leave them wanting.
Brown, a 2019 Contender Series veteran, was in for a tough fight nonetheless.
Nuerdanbieke and Brown took some wild swings to kick off the action Saturday night. It took a moment, but they would settle in — before clinching and trading knees. A right hand dropped Brown, but he got up and went right into a takedown! Brown had Nuerdanbieke with his back to the fence; he fired up a triangle, then switched an an arm bar. Nuerdanbieke then transitioned to a calf slicer, with a knee bar in the mix moments later. A scramble saw them back up. Later in the round, Brown would fire a high kick that was blocked, while Nuerdanbieke completed a late takedown, with a little under a minute left to work.
In round two, Nuerdanbieke landed an early take down, getting a hook in and working to take the back. Brown would make it to the feet, while momentarily giving up his back. Nuerdanbieke in short order would take the fight back down, only to have to contend with a kimura attempt. Brown would then take control, threatening to take the back of Nuerdanbieke and getting one hook in. The fence was in the way, but Brown re-positioned; Nuerdanbieke then reversed.
Come the third, it was still anyone’s fight, though Brown’s corner urged him to find the finish. Nuerdanbieke just missed on a spinning back fist. Brown ripped the body. Nuerdanbieke shot, got some elevation, turned the corner and put Brown on his back. Nuerdanbieke would ride out most of the round on top, until Brown reversed in the final minute. They’d go to the buzzer, and as it turned out, the third round made the difference, with Shayilan Nuerdanbieke picking up the victory.
Official Result: Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. T.J. Brown by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
