Mohammed Usman, brother of former UFC champion Kamaru Usman, lost to Mick Parkin in UFC Vegas 89’s opening fight.
After winning The Ultimate Fighter in the season thirty, Usman Won two straight UFC fights, making him a potential contender at heavyweight in the near future if he could get more wins. The same could be said for Parkin, with his undefeated 7-0 record including two in the UFC itself. Only one streak could continue and in the end it was the Manchester man who kept it alive, winning a close decision.
Usman caught Parkin early and staggered the Brit backwards to the fence, but he recovered well and survived the ensuing crazed onslaught from Mohammed. Most of the rest of the round was characterized by 50/50 striking exchanges, with Parkin mostly landing due to leg kicks. Usman had one explosive right hand but it merely snapped Mick’s head back. Though it was a close round, it seemed Mohammed had done more damage through one.
Parkin landed the first big right of the second round, though, clubbing Usman just behind the ear one minute in. However, it remained hard for either man to separate themselves from the other in their striking exchanges, though Usman did open a cut on the forehead of Mick at some point. Mohammed displayed good body punching, a new aspect to his game. They went into the third round potentially tied on the cards.
Usman got off to a strong start in the third round, with his work to Parkin’s body seeming to have slowed the Brit somewhat. Mick nevertheless stayed in the fight, holding his own against a heavily forward-pressing opponent. Usman’s big burst of energy slowed but he still seemed to be landing the bigger shots and throwing with more intensity during the latter half of the final round. Parkin did land one good calf kick that staggered Mohammed, but Usman bounced back and made Mick pay with his hands.
Mick did end strong with a few good punches and that must have been enough to sway the judges, as all three gave him the fight by a score of 29-28, preserving his undefeated record and ending Usman’s three-fight undefeated UFC run.
Official Result: Mick Parkin def. Mohammed Usman by Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
