Taiyilake Nueraji made his debut at home at UFC Shanghai on Saturday, kicking off the main card action in a welterweight fight with Ireland’s Kiefer Crosbie.
Crosbie was 0-2 in the UFC, and had previously competed for Bellator MMA.
There was no hesitation in the UFC Shanghai main-card opener as Nueraji and Crosbie went to the ground following an opening kick. Crosbie worked off his back, threatening with a triangle that wasn’t quite in place. The “Super Saiyan” Nueraji opened up with elbows, smashing some heavy blows down before Crosbie latched on to a leg and rolled. He didn’t have the submission, instead using it to try and escape, only for Nueraji to mount. Crosbie would scramble and regain guard, though he was still eating big, big elbows from Nueraji.
Calamity from there, as a brutal illegal knee was landed by Nueraji. Crosbie was split open, dripping blood everywhere. The doc was brought in to check on Crosbie, while ref Marc Goddard took not one but two points for the flagrant foul. Crosbie took very little time, and Nueraji went right back at him. He had Crosbie flattened out along the fence, raining down elbows until Goddard was forced to make the save. A debut win for Taiyilake Nueraji, marred by the foul, but still a stoppage is what will show in the record books.
Official Result: Taiyilake Nueraji def. Keifer Crosbie by TKO, Round 1, 3:33
Article updated to reflect Crosbie’s correct UFC record.
