After a trip up to heavyweight, Devin Clark returned to 205lbs at UFC San Diego, paired up with undefeated Contender Series vet Azamat Murzakanov.
Clark had been successful against William Knight up a division, but was back at his more natural weight class opposite Russia’s Murzakanov.
Ninety seconds into the opening round, it was Murzakanov sneaking a left hand through the guard of Clark. That hurt Clark, who continued to circle and stay on the outside as Murzakanov pressed. Clark fired a side kick, then attacked the lead leg as well. In the final minute, one of Clark’s kicks got through, clipping Murzakanov’s head. The Russian survived and immediately tied things up, though he couldn’t get the fight down.
Early in the second, Murzakanov got his hands going, hurting Clark, then in a moment of questionable decision making, tied things up. He went back on the attack a moment later, ripping the body. Clark returned fire; Murzakanov slipped the punch and got a body lock in place. The Russian fired some knees at Clark’s thigh, as Clark fought the hands and tried to free himself. Moments later, Murzakanov would hurt Clark again, sending him stumbling. Murzakanov pounced, landing ground n’ pound, but Clark was able to tie things up a little and survive.
In the third, Murzakanov put things away. He had Clark hurt care of another body shot, after which Clark dropped like a sack of potatoes. Murzakanov poured on with more ground n’ pound as Clark covered up, and tried to move. He could not escape, and ref Frank Trigg made the call.
Official Result: Azamat Murzakanov def. Devin Clark by TKO, Round 3, 1:18
