Former LFA champ and two-time Contender Series alum Bruno Lopes made his promotional debut at UFC Vegas 101, taking on the undefeated Magomed Gadzhiyasulov in a light heavyweight showdown on the preliminary card.
The first UFC card of 2025 had Lopes looking to prove he belonged, after earning a shot at the UFC in his second appearance on DWCS (his first had seen him finished by Brendson Ribeiro).
At the start of the fight, Gadzhiyasulov focused on landing outside leg kicks, and within a few minutes, those kicks were finding their mark. Lopes, on the other hand, struggled to time his overhand and had difficulty closing the distance. However, he managed to disrupt Gadzhiyasulov’s rhythm by pushing him against the cage. While Lopes landed a few short punches, none of them were particularly impactful. When they broke apart, Gadzhiyasulov fired off another powerful leg kick, forcing Lopes to close the distance once more. As the action continued, Lopes, now in control of the cage, attempted a trip takedown on Gadzhiyasulov before transitioning to a double leg, securing a brief takedown just before the round ended.
In round two, Lopes came out determined to improve his performance. He caught a kick from Gadzhiyasulov and closed the distance with his hands much more effectively. Lopes focused on controlling Gadzhiyasulov against the cage, though he didn’t land significant damage. Eventually, he worked for a successful single-leg takedown, but Gadzhiyasulov quickly fought back, pushing on Lopes’ hips to scramble back to his feet. Despite regaining his footing, Gadzhiyasulov found himself once again pinned against the cage by Lopes.
Each time Gadzhiyasulov managed to create separation, Lopes swiftly re-established control. With just over a minute remaining, Gadzhiyasulov attempted a takedown, but Lopes defended well and landed some solid knees in the exchange. Both fighters appeared fatigued as the round came to a close, throwing sloppy strikes in the final moments.
In the final round, Gadzhiyasulov unleashed his kicks with more freedom, but less than a minute in, Lopes attempted to close the distance and initiate a clinch. Initially, Gadzhiyasulov defended the pressure well, but eventually, Lopes managed to pin him against the cage. When there was space, Lopes stayed active, pressing forward and continuously looking for takedowns. While he couldn’t get Gadzhiyasulov to the ground, he repeatedly put him in the familiar position of being trapped in the clinch. Lopes scored a few takedowns toward the end of the round but never managed to maintain control on the ground. Credit to Gadzhiyasulov for his resilience and refusal to be held down, but he spent the majority of the round—and the fight—pressed against the cage.
Official Result: Bruno Lopes def. Magomed Gadzhiyasulov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
