Light heavyweight action on Saturday’s UFC 326 prelims in Las Vegas found Brazil’s Rafael Tobias making his promotional debut, taking on Kazakhstan’s Diyar Nurkozhay.
At 0-2 under the UFC banner, Nurkozhay was looking for his first win in the company, and had not fought since 2023.
The fight opened with Tobias struggling to find his range. Diyar Nurgozhay had early success with his kicking game, landing teeps and chopping leg kicks while Tobias loaded up on nearly every strike he threw. Nurgozhay’s timing was sharp, consistently catching Tobias as he tried to close distance.
In a surprising moment, Nurgozhay briefly went for a takedown of his own. Soon after, he landed a low uppercut followed by a flurry of punches, but the referee halted the action awkwardly after ruling the initial shot a low blow. Once the fight resumed, Nurgozhay quickly reasserted control, cracking Tobias with a big left hand and landing another shortly afterward that left Tobias looking disoriented. In the final minute of the round, Nurgozhay added a short counter right as Tobias pressed forward desperately, clearly a step behind throughout the exchanges.
Tobias badly needed a turnaround in round two, but Nurgozhay continued to dictate the rhythm. Another heavy left hand landed, and he successfully defended a deep single-leg attempt. Recognizing he needed to bring the fight to the mat, Tobias forced the action against the cage. Nurgozhay briefly grabbed the fence without receiving a warning, but Tobias stayed persistent and eventually broke through, landing two hard hooks before securing a takedown.
With Nurgozhay visibly tiring, Tobias advanced quickly to mount. However, the Brazilian grew a bit complacent, allowing Nurgozhay to reverse the position. When Tobias tried to elevate him again, Nurgozhay answered with heavy ground-and-pound as the round closed, both fighters clearly fatigued heading into a compelling final frame.
For Tobias to have any chance, he needed to turn the fight into chaos. Nurgozhay continued to find success with the teep early in the third, much like in the opening round. Tobias’ aggression, however, began to fade, and his output lacked urgency. Nurgozhay continued to land the left hand and teep almost at will while Tobias marched forward without a clear plan for finding his openings.
With a minute remaining, Tobias finally shot for a takedown and managed to secure it, taking the back in the process. Nurgozhay was suddenly in serious danger as Tobias locked in a suloev stretch, but the horn sounded before he could force the finish.
Official Results: Diyar Nurgozhay def. Rafael Tobias by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
