The always-game Jamie Mullarkey was paired up with short-notice newcomer Muhammad Naimov at UFC Vegas 74 on Saturday, in the featured prelim slot.
Winner of his last two, Mullarkey had been paired up with Guram Kutatuledze initially, but visa issues saw Kutatuledze pulled from the card and replaced by Tajikistan’s Naimov.
Mullarkey began the fight having to try to evade some low leg kicks from Naimov. Shortly after, Mullarkey landed a heavy body shot after putting on some forward pressure. The two got into a close exchange and looked to clash heads momentarily as Mullarkey took advantage in the clinch. Naimov looked to land a big body kick but it was caught by the Australian as he kicked the standing leg of Naimov. Once again, Mullarkey controlled in the clinch and once it was broken, kept Naimov at range with his jab. Again Naimov looked to land the low kick but it was countered by Mullarkey with the leg kick again.
Round two began with Naimov landing an accidental low blow to the groin of Mullarkey. Shortly after the restart, Naimov landed a big right straight down the pipe, jolting the head of Mullarkey back. Despite that, Mullarkey carried on applying forward pressure while cutting of the cage trying to land a right hand of his own. After Naimov landed a spinning-back-kick to the body of Mullarkey, the Australian decided to attempt a takedown and scored on, but Naimov popped back up almost instantly. Not long after, Naimov landed a huge right hook as he was stepping back to evade Mullarkey’s pressure and dropped Mullarkey to his back. After a few landed punches whilst on the ground, Herb Dean stepped in and put a stop to it.
Absolute scenes inside the UFC APEX 🤩
What an emotional debut performance for Muhammad Naimov 👏 #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/70n5LhexiO
— UFC (@ufc) June 3, 2023
Official Result: Muhammad Naimov def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO (punches), Round 2, 2:59
