Winner of his last two, Mullarkey had been paired up with Guram Kutatuledze initially, but visa issues saw Kutatuledze pulled from the card and replaced by Tajikistan’s Naimov.

Mullarkey began the fight having to try to evade some low leg kicks from Naimov. Shortly after, Mullarkey landed a heavy body shot after putting on some forward pressure. The two got into a close exchange and looked to clash heads momentarily as Mullarkey took advantage in the clinch. Naimov looked to land a big body kick but it was caught by the Australian as he kicked the standing leg of Naimov. Once again, Mullarkey controlled in the clinch and once it was broken, kept Naimov at range with his jab. Again Naimov looked to land the low kick but it was countered by Mullarkey with the leg kick again.

Round two began with Naimov landing an accidental low blow to the groin of Mullarkey. Shortly after the restart, Naimov landed a big right straight down the pipe, jolting the head of Mullarkey back. Despite that, Mullarkey carried on applying forward pressure while cutting of the cage trying to land a right hand of his own. After Naimov landed a spinning-back-kick to the body of Mullarkey, the Australian decided to attempt a takedown and scored on, but Naimov popped back up almost instantly. Not long after, Naimov landed a huge right hook as he was stepping back to evade Mullarkey’s pressure and dropped Mullarkey to his back. After a few landed punches whilst on the ground, Herb Dean stepped in and put a stop to it.

Absolute scenes inside the UFC APEX 🤩

What an emotional debut performance for Muhammad Naimov 👏 #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/70n5LhexiO

— UFC (@ufc) June 3, 2023

Official Result: Muhammad Naimov def. Jamie Mullarkey via TKO (punches), Round 2, 2:59

The post UFC Vegas 74: Muhammad Naimov Scores Huge Upset Win In Late Notice Debut, Stops Jamie Mullarkey appeared first on Cageside Press.

The octagon is back in the UFC Apex once again this weekend, as flyweights Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi headline the UFC Vegas 74 card. Among several newcomers, Muhammadjon Naimov steps in to replace Guram Kutatuledze opposite Jamie Mullarkey in a lightweight fight.

Muhammadjon “Hillman” Naimov
Standing at five-foot-nine
Fighting at 145 lbs (featherweight)
28-years-old
Fighting out of Dushanbe, Tajikistan/Denver, Colorado
Training out of Elevation Fight Team
A pro record of 8-2
3 KO/TKOs, 3 Submissions

How will Naimov fare in the UFC:

Naimov is familiar to the MMA audience as he fought on the Contender Series in 2020. He ended up losing to Collin Anglin. Right after that, he lost in a Titan FC title fight to another Contender Series alum, Olivier Murad. After losing two in a row Naimov is now on a three-fight win streak.

If you have ever watched one fight from Naimov, that’s basically how he always fights. Naimov is a scrapper that’s going to take some heat to dish some out. With that said he takes too much heat. Naimov takes a ton of damage in all his fights. It happens because his head stays on the centerline and his movement is limited. It doesn’t help that he is too willing to trade. If anything Naimov is tough as hell and can take a beating for sure. Even though he’s been put in fight-ending spots he’s never been finished. Naimov brings a steady pressure fighting style. He throws heavy leg kicks and stays unpredictable. His kickboxing would be his best weapon.

Naimov will wrestle but it tends to be him getting wrestled if anything. His submission defense and grappling defense are competent but he goes down too easily. I’m positive a good grappler would be able to dominate him on the mat.

I’m predicting this will be a short run in the UFC for Naimov. He’s fun to watch but is too defensively flawed to win fights consistently at a high level.

How he matches up with Mullarkey:

Naimov is a power puncher and so is Mullarkey. Mullarkey has fought mostly power punchers like Michael Johnson, Brad Riddell, Francisco Prado, Khama Worthy, and Devonte Smith and survived. All guys I would probably pick to beat Naimov. Mullarkey is a dog and even though Naimov is tough he’s outgunned by a whole lot here. Either Mullarkey finishes this fight or he makes Naimov’s life hell for three rounds.

The post Welcome to the UFC: Muhammadjon Naimov appeared first on Cageside Press.

There’s also a first, as Wolf, who featured in over 80 amateur boxing matches and was a multiple time amateur champ, will be making her MMA debut. Which means she’s an 0-0 fighter, a first for the show. Competing at featherweight no less.

Now on to the predictions and breakdown.

Middleweight: Jordan Williams vs. Gregory Rodrigues

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Who has the advantage?

Striking: Williams
Speed: Williams
Output/Volume: Williams
Knockout Power: Williams
Chin: Even
Kickboxing: Williams
Footwork: Williams
Wrestling: Rodrigues
Grappling: Rodrigues
Submissions: Rodrigues
Cardio: Williams

Prediction

Rodrigues is a BJJ ace as he is a black belt in jiu-jitsu. There is little to no doubt Rodrigues has the advantage in the grappling department, but whether he can take Williams down is the question. Williams hasn’t particularly shown he’s able to be out-wrestled, but Rodrigues is a big strong guy that could very well muscle him around.

This is one of those fights that could go two very different ways. It’s either going to be Rodrigues early, or we’ll see Williams (in his third DWCS showing) take over in the later rounds. I’m leaning toward Williams because he’s fought the better competition overall, and has been getting better with each fight. I like Rodrigues and I think he’s UFC level, but I don’t think he can neutralize Williams the entire fight.

We caught up with Rodrigues ahead of the fight — catch the full interview below.

The post DWCS 2020 Week 7 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

“I’ve bartended (in East Lansing, Michigan) for about six years and that’s what I was doing leading up to the move,” Anglin told Cageside Press. “Since I’ve moved I’ve done nothing really but focus on training and luckily my fiance’s here with me, Mary. She works from home and is super supportive, so that helps out a lot.”

Anglin (7-1) heads into this fight on a six-fight win streak, with his last four victories coming by way of stoppage. The WXC veteran now gets to train with the likes of Youssef Zala, Brandon Royval, and Chris Gutierrez over at Factory X.

Naimov (5-0) has finished back-to-back opponents, including a second-round TKO victory over Josh Augustine at Titan FC 62 in July. The 26-year-old has gone the distance once in his career.

While his opponent boasts an impressive resume, Anglin believes he’s the better overall fighter.

“Well honestly I feel like I’m better than him everywhere,” Anglin explained. “I feel like I’m better than him on the feet and on the ground. It’s just like what I decide during the fight you know? Do I want to take him down?  I do see a finish though, I don’t see it going the distance.”

Collin Anglin debuts on Dana White’s Contender Series this Tuesday, September 15. The card airs on ESPN+ in the U.S., and on UFC Fight Pass internationally.

The post DWCS’ Collin Anglin Moved To Colorado To Train At Factory X Ahead Of September 15 Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.