Undefeated lightweight talent Usman Nurmagomedov faced off with Team Alpha Male standout Chris Gonzalez on Bellator 283’s main card Friday night.
The event marked the promotion’s debut in Tacoma, Washington, and was capped off by a welterweight main event featuring Douglas Lima and Jason Jackson.
By now, you’re probably aware that Usman is a cousin of former UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov. In Gonzalez, he was getting one of his toughest tests to date. At least it seemed that way on paper, but once again, the fighter out of Dagestan, Russian made it look easy.
Nurmagomedov opened the action with a trio of kicks, all at different levels — keeping Gonzalez guessing on the outside. The Dagestani fighter showed some stance switches early; about 90 seconds in, Gonzalez blocked a high kick. By the midway mark, Gonzalez had yet to get going, but finally threw a low kick, then closed the distance. A takedown attempt went nowhere; instead, the pair traded knees, then Nuramgomedov employed a trip, and almost instantly jumped on the neck with a choke. With the guillotine choke locked in, Gonzalez had nowhere to go, and after a few excruciating moments was forced to tap.
The rise of Usman Nurmagomedov is 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙮!
Coach @TeamKhabib will be proud of that submission, with Usman moving to 𝟭𝟱-𝟬. #Bellator283 is LIVE on @SHOsports. pic.twitter.com/rbgHGgSx4i
— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) July 23, 2022
With the victory, Usman Nurmagomedov improves to 15-0. During his in-cage interview, Nurmagomedov said he had one ask: “I want a title shot.”
Official Result: Usman Nurmagomedov def. Chris Gonzalez by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 2:54
