“The Tibetan Eagle” Mudaerji was looking to build on back-to-back victories over Mitch Raposo and Kevin Borjas. At the same time, Aguilar, 4-2 under the UFC banner, entered off a win over Luis Gurule.

Round 1 – Mudaerji came out on the front foot, looking to back Aguilar to the cage and work his boxing. Aguilar wrapped him up in a clinch and held him against the cage. After a minute, Mudaerji separated and worked his low kicks, keeping Aguilar circling on the cage. His body kicks were quick and clean, and set up a nice spinning wheel kick. Aguilar attempted to fire back but missed big, tripping and running into the cage. As Aguilar entered the pocket looking for body shots, he was hit with a quick combination by Su, who worked his jab and utilized his length advantage. Aguilar locked up another clinch, but was tossed to the floor. After working to his feet in the final seconds, Aguilar landed a big overhand and a hook before the bell.

Round 2 – Mudaerji came out with a leg kick, followed by a rush from Aguilar, who was struggling to get in the pocket and land. The kicks kept the Mexican fighter at bay and had him circling, with Mudaerji landing a nice knee and right hook as he backed up. The reach and height advantage was crucial to Su’s gameplan, and he easily countered Aguilar’s clinch attempts with throws. After some solid top time for Mudaerji, he became more active with hammerfists. A failed armbar attempt from Aguilar allowed a standup, where another barrage of missed punches followed. Aguilar wasn’t able to find success with his rushes, just winging overhands at range and being picked apart by kicks and knees. Aguilar threw some kicks of his own to end the round, but to no avail.

Round 3 – Mudaerji opened the round with a clean combo, but ran into a rush from Aguilar, who pushed him to the cage. This didn’t matter, however, as Su was much stronger in the clinch and landed a pair of takedowns. After moving to the back, Aguilar shucked him off and stood up, landing a nice right hand off the break. Aguilar pressed the pace after this, landing his first takedown of the fight but losing control quickly. As Mudaerji stood up, Aguilar landed a nice combination. Mudaerji responded with a quick 1-2 of his own, hitting Aguilar as he tried to move his head. Aguilar wrapped up another clinch after this, but was caught with some big punches and quickly separated. Mudaerji started teeing off to end the fight, binking Aguilar with some clean shots.

Official Result: Su Mudaerji def. Jesus Aguilar by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Estevam was undefeated in his pro career, starting the night with a dozen wins under his belt with Aguilar looking to play spoiler.

An early clinch at center saw the pair come together and Estevam come out on top. That led to a scramble and Aguilar threatening off his back, but Estevan managed to take the back, before a further scramble along the fence saw them back up, then down again, Estevan in guard. The entire round played out in this fashion, with scrambles and transitions on the ground and Estevan more often than not maintaining the dominant position.

Round two saw more ground game play out with Estevam again getting dominant positions and finding some space for ground n’ pound. When Morales worked back to his feet, he almost immediately had to contend with another takedown attempt. That was sapping his energy and making it difficult to get any offense of his own off. The only bright spot for Aguilar through two rounds, really, was that he has survived.

Estevam was again pursuing takedowns early in the third, but appeared to have slowed a step, with Aguilar able to stuff one attempt. He was marching forward, with Estevam firing right hands and kicks to keep him at bay. Estevam managed to shoot again later in the frame, and Aguilar stuffed it again, and took the back, only to find himself too far up. He fell over the top, allowing Estevam to get back on top. With seconds ticking away, Aguilar might have lost his last real chance to get back in the fight and find the finish he almost certainly needed.

Official Result: Rafael Estevam def. Kevin Aguilar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

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Aguilar, a 2022 Contender Series alum, was 2-1 under the UFC banner, but had missed weight for the fight.

That didn’t seem to hold him back any, and in the end, this one was over with quick.

Jesus Aguilar started the fight off with a combination putting Nicoll against the cage. Nicoll used a kimura to sweep and put Aguilar on his back. Aguilar was calm and as he scrambled up Nicoll left his neck out, and Aguilar jumped on it. The guillotine was in for a while and it eventually put Nicoll to sleep! The ref was all over it, and Aguilar helped lift Nicoll’s legs to get the blood flowing again and bring him around.

An excellent win marred only by the weight miss.

“Too much sleep,” Aguilar said in regards to coming in heavy, speaking with Daniel Cormier. “Sorry, sorry. The time is very different,” he added, referring to the time difference in Perth.

While it was a big win at UFC 305 for Jesus Aguilar, it doesn’t look like he wants to get back in action any time soon. Instead, he suggested he needed time off until March of 2025.

Official Result: Jesus Aguilar def. Stewart Nicoll by technical submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 2:35

The post Jesus Aguilar Puts Stewart Nicoll to Sleep to Open UFC 305 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Stewart Nicoll
Fighting at 125 lbs (flyweight)
29-years-old
Fighting out of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Training out of Bronz Martial Arts
A pro record of 8-0
4 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions

How Nicoll will fare in the UFC:

Australia has a few flyweights the UFC could’ve brought in. I’d say Nicoll was a bit of a surprise. He’s undefeated but doesn’t have a notable win. He comes from the Beatdown Promotion which isn’t as popular as other prospect producers like Eternal or HEX. Nicoll did at least beat an undefeated fighter last time out and before that an experienced fighter.

As Nicoll has fought more and more, he’s looked improved. I think his striking is too stiff especially at 125 to thrive at a high level in the UFC. He does throw a good right hook and his chopping leg kicks are a valuable weapon.

Nicoll is a strong wrestler and he has solid jiu-jitsu. Nicoll has dominant top control and is a big threat at getting a sub after landing a ton of ground and pound. What elevates his wrestling is his relentless attack. Not just with the wrestling but after takedowns as well. Nicoll will continually land punches to eventually advance to a dominant position. Once in a dominant position he won’t just wait for an opening. He’ll unload with ground and pound until the TKO stoppage comes or the submission opportunity presents itself.

How he matches up with Aguilar:

A lot of questions come with Nicoll but if he’s at all UFC level, then he has to beat Aguilar. Aguilar is limited on the feet outside of an overhand and some power. Nicoll is also limited but seems to have more weapons. Aguilar isn’t a great wrestler and his takedown defense isn’t great. Mendonca took him down four times and he’s not even a wrestler. Aguilar is a good grappler but with Nicoll on top I don’t see him having much success. I like Nicoll because I think he’s the better fighter overall.

The post Welcome to the UFC: Stewart Nicoll appeared first on Cageside Press.

While the flyweights are known for fast paces and quick hands, early on, Aguilar and Mendonca spent time battling for head position along the fence. Eventually, the pair would go to the ground, there things got a little more interesting.

Aguilar would eventually come out on top as the pair scrambled on the mat; off his back, Mendonca threw up a triangle, but didn’t have the position. Soon enough, Aguilar popped free, allowing him to settle into guard and get to work — but the flexible Mendonca went after the submission once again, with Aguilar somewhat saved by the bell.

In round two, Mendonca took side control after an early takedown, avoiding an Aguilar guillotine. The Brazilian worked to the back, tying up Aguilar before transitioning to top with Jesus now flat on his back. Putting a body triangle in place Mendonca then postured up and bean dropping some heavy bombs, with Aguilar rolling and covering up, though he managed to survive. The sequence, and the round, as it turned out, and he even managed to rock Mendonca on the way up. But Mexico’s Aguilar was at risk of letting a fight at home slip away from him.

Round three, and Mendonca was again on top and in control early, but Aguilar managed to make it back to his feet. He didn’t stay there long, and time was quickly becoming a factor. Aguilar wound up with Mendonca on his back, and he was still in control as time ran out, transitioning to the top, then to his back, throwing up one last triangle. Jesus Aguilar gutted it out, but come the final horn, it was going to be close, with Mendonca out-striking Aguilar while having nine minutes of control time. That said, two judges scored the fight for Aguilar, giving him the split decision win.

Official Result: Jesus Aguilar def. Mateus Mendonca by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)

The post UFC Mexico City: Jesus Aguilar Takes Razor-Thin Decision Over Mateus Mendonca appeared first on Cageside Press.

He even closed his restaurants down.

“This camp has been the toughest of my career because I’m far away from my family, I closed my restaurant, made some big changes in my life,” Aguilar told reporters on Wednesday.

“Nevertheless I think it’s been worth it, but we’ll see the results on Saturday. I came for victory and nothing else.”

Closing down an established business such as Aguilar’s restaurant is a tough decision, but one that seemed to have had good timing.

“I closed it temporarily. I think it’ll be 3-6 months depending on the new structure of the business since we’re at a higher level now,” he said.

At UFC Mexico City Aguilar meets Mendonca who comes into the fight on a two-fight losing streak and badly needing a win.

“He’s going to come out very aggressive as he normally does, but he just showed up to Mexico City. Mexico City is unforgiving. For two weeks it was rough for me (to acclimate). I came well prepared so I didn’t think the altitude would affect me, but it did,” Aguilar said.

“I know he’s going to throw everything and he’s going to get tired, and we’ll beat him.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Jesus Aguilar above. He takes on Mateus Mendonca at UFC Mexico City on Saturday night.

* Translation by Cageside Press

The post Jesus Aguilar Closed His Restaurant To Focus On Mendonca Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I’m excited. It’s my day. Perfect for me and perfect for Mexico,” Aguilar told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.

“I’m feeling good.”

Aguilar (9-2) was the first of five Mexican fighters on the card and he kicked it off in style with a one shot knockout of Ross in 17 seconds. The pressure to represent was there as Aguilar knew he preceded Yazmin Jauregui, Edgar Chairez, Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez.

“Brandon Moreno is my friend. Before training with Brandon, training now with Yazmin Jauregui and Chairez, little pressure. It’s better for me. It’s good for me,” he said.

Prior to the even there was an Instagram post showing Aguilar being serenaded in his hotel room. The ballad or “corrido” was custom written by Ariel Macias. The song was a tribute to Aguilar, but also to a fallen friend who introduced him to martial arts.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jesús Aguilar (@jesus.aguilarmma)

“His name is Ariel Macias. He wrote a ballad for me that’s called ‘No Es Coincidencia’ (It’s no coincidence) and that’s how it is. It’s no coincidence because I’ve worked very hard for this,” Aguilar told Cageside Press.

“He writes some great ballads. I’m not even a fan of ‘banda’ music, I’m more about rock and pop, but he puts a lot of heart into them. He interviews you then he writes you a ballad.”

The ballad, a tribute for Aguilar and his fight, was also a tribute to a fallen friend who Aguilar lost. The motivation to fight for his friend is something Aguilar takes very seriously.

“The song begins talking about a friend who passed away that was the one who introduced me to martial arts. He brought me into all of this, and we did business, we were very young. I’ve lived on my own since I was 13-years-old,” Aguilar told Cageside Press.

“He passed away. Unfortunately drug trafficking got ahold of him and he made some bad decisions, and I couldn’t save him. It’s something that I carry every single day. He’s my guardian angel. He was a great person, Alejandro Hernandez, and I know he’s my angel.”

* Translation by Cageside Press

Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Jesus Aguilar above.

The post Jesus Aguilar Talks Ballad Written For Him, Friend That Passed Away appeared first on Cageside Press.

Ross was one of only a handful of Contender Series bout losers to receive a contract anyways after it was discovered that he went through his DWCS war with Vinicius Salvador while dealing with appendicitis. However, he lost his first UFC bout to Kleydson Rodrigues in under a minute and looked to bounce back. His opponent Aguilar, who lost his UFC debut to highly touted prospect and fellow UFC 290 card-mate Tatsuro Taira, won his DWCS fight by guillotine choke, a submission which has won him half of his professional victories.

The bout seemed a classic striker vs grappler match-up on paper but that is not how it played out in reality as there was no grappling to be seen. The flyweights came out trading low kicks for the first few exchanges. Then the bout was over as quick as it began as Aguilar came forward with a massive overhand right which felled Shannon Ross like a tree, knocking him stiff the instant the punch landed.

Aguilar immediately checked on Ross, showing good sportsmanship before turning to the crowd — with heavy Mexican fan representation present – to shout, “Gracias, mi gente.” Translated, “Thank you, my people.” At only seventeen seconds it instantly took the spot of second fastest knockout in UFC flyweight division history, a stellar achievement for someone who never had a knockout as a professional MMA fighter before now.

Official Result: Jesus Aguilar def. Shannon Ross by Knockout (overhand right), Round 1, 0:17

The post UFC 290: Jesus Aguilar Puts Shannon Ross Out Cold, Records Second Fastest KO in UFC FLW History appeared first on Cageside Press.

That was a tough first test for Contender Series winner Aguilar, a flyweight who previously competed for Combate Global. Ultimately, too though of a test.

Aguilar opened the fight with a heavy leg kick dropping Taira. Taira responded with a takedown. He had to fight through a guillotine for a bit but he got out and secured the top position.

Taira was never really in danger with the choke. Once free, Tatsuro Taira would eventually transition into the mount. From there he threw the leg over and rolled to his back for the triangle being super confident. It was tight but Taira attacked the straight armbar and Aguilar was forced to tap. Beautiful finishing sequence for Taira.

Make that 1️⃣3️⃣-0 for the rising star @TatsuroTaira! 👏 #UFCVegas68 pic.twitter.com/3nsFOLHvMW

— UFC (@ufc) February 5, 2023

At just 23 years old, Taira has plenty of time to develop — but he’s already showing out as one of the best prospects in the flyweight division. Saturday’s win over Aguilar saw the Japanese talent maintain his unbeaten record, as he improved to 13-0 on the night.

At least a small step up in competition feels likely for his next outing.

Official Result: Tatsuro Taira def Jesus Aguilar by Submission (armbar), Round 1, 4:20

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