UFC flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov was supposed to face a big name at UFC Baku on Saturday, but an injury took that away and Azat Maksum stepped up on short notice.
Ulanbekov (16-2) was set to welcome back Kyoji Horiguchi to the UFC, but an injury nixed the fight just weeks out of the event. A pupil of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov he’s gone 5-1 in his UFC run so far. A win over Horiguchi may have pushed the #12 ranked flyweight into title contention.
Maksum (15-1) stepped in on short notice to replace Horiguchi. The 30-year-old Kazakhstani has not fought since last August and jumped on the chance to fight Ulanbekov.
Round 1 Ulanbekov came out firing with a leg kick and Maksum answered with a jab. Maksum rushed in and out looking to land the jab, and a big right hand behind it. Ulanbekov tried to grab Maksum and control him every time he rushed in.
Ulanbekov flew in with a big right hand, dropped for a shot, double leg grips were in, Maksum defended well. Ulanbekov picked him up and tried to slam him down, but Maksum defended that as well. Ulanbekov bailed on the shot.
With the takedowns stuffed Maksum took some confidence from it, but Ulanbekov then began to land on the feet. Maksum continued to try to land a right hand, but kept eating stinging right hands on the entry.
Ulanbekov snuck in a head kick behind a clean 1-2, and then the round ended with both throwing in close.
Round 2 Ulanbekov put his foot on the gas a bit more landing shots up top. Maksum backed up but not much as he accepted striking against his opponent. Ulanbekov showed a high-level striking at one point slipping a jab and landing a clean right hand on Maksum.
Ulanbekov allowed Maksum to make the first move for much of the second round and just stayed in range and countered. Maksum still wasn’t able to do much offensively, but was able to defend takedowns pretty well.
Near the end of the round Ulanbekov shot in for a takedown, Maksum took control, lifted him up and would have slammed him had Ulanbekov not grabbed the fence. Maksum was still able to get him down, and then again as time ran out on the round.
Round 3 Maksum kept that confidence from the second round and stood his ground throwing on Ulanbekov. Almost like he was fresher in this round than the first. Ulanbekov landed two big right hands and then shot in for a takedown.
Ulanbekov stayed on the takedown quite a while until the ref gave them some encouragement to do something with the position. Unable to get him down Ulanbekov disengaged, but Maksum got right in his face landing big shots on him and forcing another takedown attempt.
Stuffing the takedown Maksum landed on Ulanbekov and then shot in for his own takedown but got stuffed. They got into the clinch and traded shots in close. Knees, uppercuts, hooks.
Official Result: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Azat Maksum via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
