Contender Series winner Andrey Pulyaev made his promotional debut at UFC London on Saturday, where the Russian was paired up with Christian Leroy Duncan.
Pulyaev had won five straight, while CLD was looking to bounce back from a loss to the ever-popular Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues.
The fight kicked off with Duncan establishing dominance early through a series of powerful leg kicks. He showcased his creativity, mixing in a spinning back elbow followed by a knee, clearly aiming for a highlight-reel finish. However, his aggression eventually saw him pressed against the cage. The fighters traded positions in the clinch, but Duncan stayed busier, landing consistent knees to Pulyaev’s thigh. Pulyaev struggled to break free from the cage, requiring the referee to step in and reset the action. Even after the reset, Duncan’s kicks and forward pressure kept him in control, giving him the upper hand in both significant moments and cage control in the opening round.
In the second round, Duncan mixed up his attacks, targeting both high and low with his kicks. He pushed Pulyaev back to the cage and landed a sharp combination before locking him up in the clinch again. This time, Pulyaev managed to gain an underhook and separate, a small improvement from his struggles in the first round. Despite this, Pulyaev failed to generate meaningful offense on the feet. Duncan dictated the pace, moving fluidly and keeping Pulyaev on the back foot. Duncan’s unorthodox attacks, including a spinning elbow, and his ability to cut off Pulyaev’s movement allowed him to land the more effective shots. By the end of the round, Duncan’s movement, volume, and octagon control clearly put him ahead.
Heading into the final round, it was obvious Pulyaev needed to step up his aggression, but it was Duncan who brought the fight. Mixing unorthodox strikes with relentless pressure, Duncan stayed on the offensive while Pulyaev remained tentative. Pulyaev briefly gained some control against the cage, but it amounted to little as he couldn’t secure takedowns or create any significant moments. His constant backward movement visibly wore him down, and Duncan capitalized. Late in the fight, Duncan hurt Pulyaev against the cage, pouring on the pressure with a flurry of knees and strikes until the final bell. It was a dominant performance from Duncan, who controlled the pace, imposed his will, and closed out the fight in emphatic fashion.
Official Result: Christian Leroy Duncan def. Andrey Pulyaev by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
