It was Borislav Nikolic answering the short-notice call to take on Contender Series vet Mark Vologdin at UFC Belgrade on Saturday.
Nikolic was replacing Josias Musasa in the fight, and was a former Brave CF bantamweight champ.
Nikolic started the fight hot, heavy on the gas. That didn’t work out too well for him, as Vologdin cracked him with a short left hook. It dropped Nikolic, but he got back up quickly. Vologdin would land multiple knees with Nikolic stuck in a front choke, but Vologdin couldn’t put him away. When they broke, Nikolic raised his arms, firing up the crown. Nikolic was still coming forward, but Vologdin was doing a good job of catching him on the way in. Vologdin got a bit sloppy, missing on a kick and allowing Nikolic to score a takedown. Nikolic wasn’t able to hold him down for long, though.
Back at range, Vologdin was giving a few different looks. He was switching stances and throwing a ton of spinning kicks. None of those kicks came close, but his hands were landing. Again, as Nikolic came in, Vologdin beat him to the punch, buckling him to a knee. Vologdin ended the round by circling to the back before taking Nikolic to a knee against the cage.
Nikolic started round two the same way he started round one. He came out with a big flurry that had Vologdin covering up. Nikolic did over-pursue, almost getting taken down, but he landed on top for a moment. Vologdin threw another spinning body kick, but it was evident he was wasting too much energy on high-risk, low-reward strikes. Nikolic stayed heavy on the pressure throughout, throwing in bursts. Vologdin went for a takedown but was denied and slipped off another spinning kick. Nikolic landed a right hook and an uppercut, but Vologdin answered with a short right hand that seemed to stun Nikolic. Vologdin was doing better when the fight was coming to him, but he was making too many mistakes.
Going into the final round, it felt like anyone’s fight. Not even a minute in, Nikolic timed a leg kick from Vologdin and dropped him with a right hand. Vologdin immediately looked for a takedown but was almost caught in a front choke. He also ate a big knee and was clearly fighting from behind. He eventually pushed forward for another takedown, but as he completed it, Nikolic used the cage and wound up on top. Nikolic locked in a guillotine off the sweep, and while it didn’t get the finish, it helped him maintain control. Nikolic let it go and landed some heavy ground-and-pound. Vologdin got back to his feet with a little over a minute remaining.
Nikolic wasn’t going away, pouring on the pressure as Vologdin desperately searched for a takedown. Nikolic defended, took the back, and locked in a rear-naked choke, but the bell saved Vologdin.
Official Result: Borislav Nikolic def. Mark Vologdin by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27)
