The lone flyweight fight on the UFC 311 card in Los Angeles kicked off the show, as Tagir Ulanbekov took on Clayton Carpenter in Saturday’s curtain-jerker.
Carpenter entered the night with an unblemished 8-0 record, while Ulanbekov was returning to the UFC cage for the first time in just over a year.
A student of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, Ulanbekov connected with a snappy leg kick in the opening minute, but Carpenter answered back with his hands, connecting. Carpenter nearly caught a kick, then went on the offensive, firing a high kick that missed, and a low kick of his own that landed with a sharp crack. Ulanbekov, perhaps having seen enough, shot in on a takedown, but Carpenter fought off the attempt, and the pair reversed a couple of times. A second attempt by Tagir Ulanbekov landed care of a trip; Carpenter kept his guard high, and tight, looking to set something up off his back.
As busy as Clay Carpenter stayed off his back, Ulanbekov was just as effective, landing some smashing elbows. Soon, a trickle of blood had appeared on Carpenter’s forehead; more ground n’ pound would follow with punches landing several times before Carpenter scrambled free. And back on the feet, Carpenter continued to target the lead leg of his opponent.
Round two opened with Carpenter closing the distance, firing a couple of heavy-looking punches. A front kick, then a low outside kick to the lead leg, followed for Carpenter, then a takedown. Carpenter wasted no time looking to set up an arm-triangle choke, but his leg was trapped. Carpenter would get some top time, and sneak in an elbow or two, but couldn’t find a finish before Ulanbekov freed himself. Tagir then shot for a takedown of his own, which saw Carpenter sprawl and stuff the attempt. A follow-up takedown attempt landed for Ulanbekov, however, with a little over two minutes still on the clock. He’d finish the round in control, though like Carpenter, he didn’t come close to a finish.
Between rounds, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ulanbekov’s coach, told him to stop kicking, and be sure to have a big round. Carpenter looked for a way inside and continued to find some success with low kicks. About two minutes in, the American tied things up, looking for a takedown along the fence. Ulanbekov, however, would land one final takedown and close out the round on top, leading to a clear-cut decision win, and taking Carpenter’s previously undefeated record.
Official Result: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Clayton Carpenter by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
