Just 23, Maheshate was 1-1 in the octagon to date, and the youngest fighter on Saturday’s Fight Night card. Early on, he stayed outside, moving constantly as the pair traded kicks. The Chinese lightweight showed some solid accuracy with his strikes, going to the body and head, and late ripped a head kick that was blocked, but still made an impact.

Viacheslav Borschev would begin to target the body as the round wore on — but with about 90 seconds to go, he took an eye poke quickly identified by the ref. That left Borschev with a bleeding inner eyelid, though he appeared ready to fight on as the doctor checked the wound. Eventually, he was allowed to do so, though with blood leaking directly into the eye, his vision would no doubt be compromised.

Perhaps with that in mind, Borschev unloaded at the end of the round, dropping Maheshate with a right. Maheshate made it back to his feet, but was under fire as the horn sounded.

Whether Maheshate was recovered heading into the second was the question. For a little bit, he seemed safe, but Borschev dropped him again two minutes in! When he came back up, Borschev clinched, firing knees. Borschev then ripped the body, and fired a nasty right hand that sat Maheshate down for the third and final time! Some follow-up strikes sealed the deal, and Borschev had his second win in the UFC.

SLAVA CLAUS DOES IT AGAIN!!@ViacheslavBors1 back in the win column with a finish to close the prelims! #UFCVegas73 pic.twitter.com/cd5yEEOL16

— UFC (@ufc) May 20, 2023

Official Result: Viacheslav Borschev def. Maheshate by TKO, Round 2, 2:37

The post UFC Vegas 73: Viacheslav Borschev Lands Multiple Knockdowns, Finishes Maheshate appeared first on Cageside Press.

In the end, it wasn’t a very merry visit for Borshchev, who was out-wrestled essentially from bell to bell, without even a glass of milk and plate of cookies to show for it.

It was Diakiese pressing the action early, driving Borshchev back to the fence. Diakiese stayed on the attempt while Borshchev employed a whizzer; he then reversed position, only to be reversed again. They’d spin around again, then again, Diakiese refusing to relent on the takedown. But in the process, he gave up his back, and as they separated, Borshchev let his hands go.

The pair, still in a clinch, would go to the ground, and come back up, before Diakiese finally landed a takedown, pulling Borshchev’s feet out from under him. When Borshchev regained his feet, Diakiese hoisted him up and dropped him down with a little more force. That would happen again, with about 90 seconds left in the round, after Borshchev was warned by the ref for grabbing the fence.

Round two saw Diakiese looking for a takedown again, and he had it within the first minute. Borshchev found himself on his back, seemingly miles from the fence, with Diakiese in his guard. Diakiese spent lots of time in control, and as Borshchev tried to escape out, he was dragged right back down. He then tried to roll his way out; that didn’t work either, but Borshchev was able to scramble up, only to be taken down again.

Come the third round, it was rinse and repeat. Borshchev had no answer for the takedowns of Diakiese. He was planted on his back early, nowhere near the fence, much to the displeasure of the fans at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, who hollered their disapproval as Borshchev shrimped back to the cage. When Borshchev got up, Diakiese slammed him back down, with next to no offense from “Slava Claus” by the end.

Official Result: Marc Diakiese def. Vlacheslav Borshchev by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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