Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back for another early afternoon affair with UFC Fight Night 163 “Zabit vs. Kattar” today (Sat., Nov. 9, 2019), airing exclusively on ESPN+ from inside CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia. The main event will feature the featherweight fracas between Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar, who assume headlining duties after Junior dos Santos was bounced from the card with a disgusting leg infection (see it). As a result, Alexander Volkov will slide down to the co-main event, where he battles controversial heavyweight bruiser Greg Hardy. In addition, Ed Herman looks to continue his success at 205 pounds against light heavyweight stalwart Gadzhimurad Antigulov, while Ramazan Emeev and Anthony Rocco Martin hook ‘em up for welterweight bragging rights.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Fight Night 163 fight card below, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” undercard bouts at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time of 2 p.m. ET.
Keep in mind that we will also be the spot for the latest news, recaps, and post-fight analysis following “Zabit vs. Kattar.” Without further delay, see below for the updated UFC Fight Night 163 results. (Note: This will go from the bottom up; therefore, scroll toward the bottom for the latest detailed round-by-round action.)
UFC MOSCOW QUICK RESULTS:
Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar — Magomedsharipov def. Kattar by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Greg Hardy vs. Alexander Volkov — Volkov def. Hardy by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Zelim Imadaev vs. Danny Roberts — Roberts def. Imadaev by KO (punch) at 4:54 of Round Two — HIGHLIGHTS!
Khadis Ibragimov vs. Ed Herman — Herman def. Ibragimov by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
Ramazan Emeev vs. Anthony Rocco Martin — Martin def. Emeev by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson Abreu — Gamzatov def. Abreu by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula — Ankalaev def. Lungiambula by TKO (front kick) at 0:29 of Round Three — HIGHLIGHTS!
Rustam Khabilov vs. Sergey Khandozhko — Khabilov def. Khandozhko by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Roman Kopylov vs. Karl Roberson — Roberson def. Kopylov by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:01 of Round Three
Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Zawada — Zawada def. Nurmagomedov by submission (triangle choke) at 2:50 of Round One — HIGHLIGHTS!
Roosevelt Roberts vs. Alexander Yakovlev — Roberts def. Yakovlev by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie Kianzad — Kianzad def. Clark by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Grigorii Popov vs. Davey Grant — Grant def. Popov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
UFC MOSCOW PLAY-BY-PLAY:
145 lbs.: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar
Round 1: Magomedsharipov opens with leg kicks and jabs. Kattar tries to counter a body kick with a right hand. One minute in. Magomedsharipov oblique kick. Kattar tries to press forward behind his jab. Low kick to side kick to spin from Magomedsharipov. Combination two minutes in. Kattar fires a leg kick. Magomedsharipov body kick, Kattar lands one piece of a flurry. Magomedsharipov to the body again. Front kick upstairs. Kattar leg kick with two minutes to go.
Cut kick trips Kattar up for a moment, but he lands a counter left soon after. Low kick on the retreat. Glancing hook kick by Magomedsharipov in return. 1-1-2 lands. One minute to go. Up-elbow misses, body shot does not. Kattar comes back with a combination. Katter doubles up the right, takes a body shot. Magomedsharipov rips another left to the body and lands a spinning back fist that has Kattar trying to slug his way out. 10-9 Magomedsharipov.
Round 2: Magomedsharipov keeping up the output. Spinning back kick, then a side kick upstairs. Kattar body kick. Both pick at each other’s legs. One minute in. Magomedsharipov lands a series of jabs. Spinning back fist falls short, straight left connects. Inside low kicks. Kattar double jab. Magomedsharipov splits his guard with a right cross. Two minutes in. Magomedsharipov looks for a single-leg, stuffed. Magomedsharipov body shot. Two minutes to go.
Beautiful trip, great work by Kattar to pop up and separate. Magomedsharipov double jab. Good right hand and jab from Kattar. Counter right with a minute to go. Tight hook lands for Magomedsharipov. Kattar lands a counter uppercut, tries a flying knee. Magomedsharipov lead right. Left hook upstairs. Capoeira kick attempt. 10-9 Magomedsharipov.
Round 3: Trading jabs to start the round. Inside low kick catches Kattar in the groin, but he doesn’t take long to recover. Magomedsharipov digs a left hook downstairs. High volume of kicks early on. One minute in. Kattar chases him with a left. Overhand right falls short. Hard left hook by Magomedsharipov as he takes a couple of jabs. Fake spin to straight left. Picking away at Kattar’s legs two minutes in. Magomedsharipov shoots, denied. Kattar slips a right hook around the guard. Left hook downstairs. They trade in the center. Hard shovel hook by Kattar and he’s opening up. Two minutes to go.
Magomedsharipov retreating, lands a jab, eats a body shot. Trading in close, Magomedsharipov with a big hook in return. Big uppercut lands for Kattar. Straight right, body shot. One minute to go. Kattar bets it all on a flying knee and gets taken down into guard, throwing elbows off of his back. 10-9 Kattar.
Final result:
265 lbs.: Greg Hardy vs. Alexander Volkov
Round 1: Volkov opens with inside low kicks. Hardy looks for a left hook. Volkov body kick. Hardy jabbing with him. One minute in. Jab and body kick from Volkov. Hardy catches a kick, tries a takedown and puts him on the fence. They separate. Two minutes in. Volkov tries a head kick. 3-2 lands for him. Hardy left hook falls short, jab does not. Trading jabs. Two minutes to go.
Volkov left hook. Jab exchange. Low kick by Hardy. Body kick by Volkov. One minute to go. Head kick attempt. Good lead right. Hardy comes back with a pair of left hooks. Volkov body kick again. 10-9 Volkov.
Round 2: Hardy has apparently injured his right hand. Volkov stalking forward, lands a 1-2-body kick. Hardy tries a takedown, eats another body kick. One minute in. Hardy low kick. Volkov landing more in return. Hardy jab, Volkov straight right. Two minutes in. Trading jabs. Another body kick from Volkov. He lands a jab, takes an overhand right in return. Two minutes to go.
Hardy to the body, slips. He tries to spin with a minute to go. Volkov jab and head kick attempt. Another good jab. Hardy tries a left hook, continues to eat the steady diet of body and leg kicks. 10-9 Volkov.
Round 3: Volkov lands a front kick to the face and Hardy tries to flurry in return. Hardy takes a knuckle in the eye from Volkov’s jabs. Another body kick among the jabs. One minute in. Low kick lands. Hardy plodding after him. Left hook attempt. Jab from Hardy. Volkov answers and lands leg kicks two minutes in. Head kick lands with the toes. Body kicks now. Hardy lands a jab. Hard 1-2-1 knocks Hardy’s head back. Two minutes to go.
Volkov body kick, more jabs. Sneaky counter head kick. Trading jabs. One minute to go. Good body kicks. Straight right. Hardy tries to bet it all on a left hook. Lead hook by Volkov. 10-9 Volkov.
Final result: Volkov def. Hardy by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Zelim Imadaev vs. Danny Roberts
Technical issues kept me from doing commentary, but Roberts controlled the wrestling before obliterating Imadaev with a huge left hand.
Final result: Roberts def. Imadaev by KO (punch)
205 lbs.: Khadis Ibragimov vs. Ed Herman
Round 1: Low kick from Herman to start. Good counter rights by Ibragimov and he tries to open up on the fence. Herman lands a nice elbow as he defends. One minute in. Knees from Herman. Elbow and knees. Ibragimov tries a violent hip throw but can’t get it. More knees from Herman two minutes in. sneaky elbow. Ibragimov pressing him against the fence, not doing much besides that. Two minutes to go.
They separate. Ibragimov tries a counter right, eats a low kick. One minute to go. Low kick from Herman, eats a 1-2 and lands another kick in return. Ibragimov lands a 1-2 and puts him on the fence. They separate quickly. 10-9 Herman.
Round 2: Herman advancing with low kicks, Ibragimov hurling counter rights as he does. They separate a minute in. Big punches by Ibragimov. Herman leg kick. Both connect in the center. Ibragimov’s nose is really bothering him. Two minutes in. Herman puts him on the fence, lands some solid shots. Knee from Herman. He switches to a front headlock, lands more knees. Two minutes to go.
Herman lands an elbow, grabs another front headlock when Ibragimov changes levels. They trade on the break. Huge overhand right by Herman. One minute to go. Ibragimov pressing him against the fence. Hard Herman elbows on the break. They trade at the bell. 10-9 Herman.
Round 3: Counter right lands for Ibragimov. Herman still marching in, scrapping with him. Herman shoots, stuffed. Low kick lands for him. One minute in. Jab exchange. Ibragimov two-piece falls short. He looks for a single-leg, gets Herman to the mat but can’t keep him there. Knees from Herman and he latches onto a guillotine. More knees. Two minutes to go.
Elbows, knees. Ibragimov manages to complete a takedown into guard. One minute to go. Ibragimov passes to side control, only for Herman to turn into his own takedown attempt. Trading knees at the bell. 10-9 Herman.
Final result: Herman def. Ibragimov by unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Ramazan Emeev vs. Anthony Rocco Martin
Round 1: Martin opens with a low kick. Left hook from Emeev in return. Combination lands for the Russian. 1-1-2 stings Emeev and Martin follows up with a low kick. One minute in. Good counter right by Martin, who waves Emeev on. Low kick drops Emeev as he shoots and Martin latches onto a kimura. Emeev grabs onto his own finger to defend. He manages to get a better grip and stand, landing knees to Martin’s head. Two minutes to go.
Martin takes a knee to the groin on the fence and they resume in the center. Good jab by the Russian. He shoots, stuffed. One minute to go. Low kicks from Martin. Counter right. Jab exchange. Emeev looks for a reactive shot, denied via underhook. 10-9 Martin.
Round 2: Emeev lands a low kick and left hook. Martin 1-2 just misses, leg kick does not. Emeev’s calf is in rough shape. He shoots and Martin wraps up a guillotine, switching to a figure-four grip. He loses it, scoots to the fence. Knees from Emeev as they stand and separate. Emeev appears to accuse Martin of greasing two minutes in. Martin stuffs a takedown, lands a calf kick. Two minutes to go.
Hard counter right from Emeev draws a smile. Another attempt after a Martin low kick. 1-1-2 lands for Martin. One minute to go. Another calf kick. Another. 1-2 lands. Emeev pops him with a jab. Emeev tries to spin and winds up having to fight off another kimura. 10-9 Martin.
Round 3: Martin still beating up the lead leg, denies a takedown. 1-2 connects. One minute to go. Hard 2-1 from Emeev and Martin shakes his head. Emeev shoots, stuffed. Two minutes in. Another low kick by Martin. Two minutes to go.
Neither man committing super hard. Counter uppercut from Martin, then another low kick. Emeev shoots under a punch, still can’t get it. One minute to go. Leg kick by Martin. Martin landing jabs as Emeev advances. Overhand right from the Russian. Left hand connects. 10-9 Martin.
Final result:
205 lbs.: Shamil Gamzatov vs. Klidson Abreu
Round 1: Abreu advancing early. Gamzatov low kicks. Body kick by the Brazilian answered in kind. He checks a low kick, lands one in return. Oblique kick by Gamzatov, right hand downstairs. Counter combination by Abreu. Flying knee glances off. Gamzatov fires a shifting right hand. Two minutes in. Body kick lands. Abreu comes back with a combo, eats a right hand. Gamzatov tries a high kick. Oblique kick. Body kick lands. Abreu tries a head kick. Two minutes to go.
Gamzatov oblique kick. They trade hooks. Body blows from each. One minute to go. Gamzatov jab and low kick. Abreu flurries near the fence. Gamzatov lands a right downstairs. Low kick. Close round. 10-9 Abreu.
Round 2: Gamzatov straight right, Abreu body kick. Straight left by Abreu. Good exchange near the fence. Low kick exchange. Body kick by Abreu. One minute in. Gamzatov tries a head kick. Abreu continues to advance. Gamzatov lands to the body, eats a counter left. Lead right by Gamzatov. Body kick lands, Abreu comes back with a right hook. Two minutes in. Body kick lands for him. Good low kick by Abreu. Gamzatov head kick blocked. Two minutes to go.
Counter left from Abreu. Gamzatov now on the front foot, eats counters. One minute to go. They clinch and Abreu hits an inside trip into guard. Gamzatov manages to kick him off. 10-9 Abreu.
Round 3: Trading kicks to start. Counter left by Abreu. Gamzatov falls short with kicks. He catches a kick, lands a short left. Body shot. One minute in. Another body shot answered by a hard leg kick. They trade in the center. Lead left from Abreu. Two minutes in. 1-2 lands for Gamzatov. Lead right connects. Low kick. Now he’s on the advance. Body shot. Abreu low kick. Two minutes to go.
Abreu tries a head kick. Gamzatov tries to spin and Abreu wraps up a body lock. One minute to go. Gamzatov reverses and changes levels in return. They separate. Abreu fires a double-leg. Gamzatov defends until the bell. 10-9 Gamzatov.
Final result: Gamzatov def. Abreu by split decision
205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Dalcha Lungiambula
Round 1: Low kick from Ankalaev to start. Head kick just misses. Lungiambula tries a flurry. One minute in. Good exchange. Ankalaev low kick. Body kick, jab. Keeping Lungiambula at range so far. Counter right connects for Ankalaev. Two minutes in. Lots of feints from the Russian, fires a combination. Body kick lands, but he gets buckled by an overhand right to the temple. Lungiambula doesn’t chase. Lungiambula bursts in with a combination and puts him on the fence. Two minutes to go.
Knee from Ankalaev and he separates. Body kick lands. He shoots in return. Elbow inside. One minute to go. Knees from Ankalaev. Hard left hand on the break. Lungiambula falls short with a 1-2, takes a 1-2 in return. Knee lands for Ankalaev. 10-9 Ankalaev.
Round 2: Lungiambula throwing early, shoots but can’t establish. Ankalaev puts him on the fence. Ankalaev changes levels and dumps him to the mat a minute in. Low mount on the fence. Lungiambula looking for an underhook as Ankalaev lands short rights. Two minutes in. Hard elbows. More elbows piling up with two minutes to go.
Hammerfists too. One minute to go. Another cracking elbow before the bell. 10-8 Ankalaev.
Round 3: Lungiambula still swinging hard, but gets blasted by a vicious front kick to the face for his trouble. Wow.
Final result: Ankalaev def. Lungiambula by TKO (front kick)
155 lbs.: Rustam Khabilov vs. Sergey Khandozhko
Round 1: Trading leg kicks to start. Counter left from Khandozhko. Low kicks land for him. Good low kick a minute in. Khabilov whiffs on an uppercut, trades inside, lands a counter right. Khabilov leg kick, catches one for a takedown but can’t establish. Heavy bombs by Khabilov into another double-leg on the fence two minutes in. Transitions to a high-crotch. Two minutes to go.
Still looking for the takedown. Ref warns him for inaction. One minute to go. Now the ref separates them. Khabilov chances levels for a single-leg and hauls him to the fence. 10-9 Khabilov.
Round 2: Low kick from Khandozhko. Khabilov counter right. Another low kick; Khabilov isn’t checking these at all. Khabilov ducks a left hook for another takedown attempt. One minute in. Khandozhko still defending. Still stalemated. Khabilov gets a lift, can’t use it. Two minutes in. He finally gets a trip into top position. Khandozhko gets to a knee. Two minutes to go.
Khandozhko makes it to his feet. There’s a good bodylock takedown, Khabilov still can’t establish. Khandozhko stuck on a knee. Khabilov looking for the back. Khandozhko now manages to spin and separate and they trade at the bell. 10-9 Khabilov.
Round 3: Khabilov tries a front kick, two-piece comes back at him. He tries an elbow. Nice reactive takedown into guard. Khandozhko scooting to the fence. Khabilov circles nicely to keep him away from it. Khandozhko tries to sit up, cannot. One minute in. Now he reaches the fence and tries to stand. Nice switch by Khandozhko and he separates. Counter left answers a Khabilov front kick. Well-timed double from Khabilov and he’s back on top in guard. Now half guard. Khandozhko manages to regain guard with two minutes to go.
Khabilov with the occasional punch, but not that active on top. Khandozhko gets to his knees before the bell. 10-9 Khabilov.
Final result: Khabilov def. Khandozhko by unanimous decision
185 lbs.: Roman Kopylov vs. Karl Roberson
Round 1: Tentative start, neither man committing. Lead lefts from Roberson, low kick. Kopylov with a nice combination. One minute in. Stiff jab. Jab exchange, low kick from Roberson. Both throw body jabs. Kopylov low kick, Roberson head kick attempt. Another head kick attempt. Kopylov jab. Two minutes to go.
Kopylov body kick to straight left, Roberson 1-2. Kopylov 3-2 falls short. Three-piece from Roberson near the fence. One minute to go. Nice right hook and lead left by Kopylov. Roberson straight left met by a counter jab. Both look for fancy kicks. Roberson puts him on the fence. Close round. 10-9 Roberson.
Round 2: Quick punching exchange to start things off. Both jab the body. Roberson lands a low kick, fires a 1-2. Low kick lands. One minute in. Glancing lead left by Kopylov. Another Roberson leg kick. Another. Roberson tries to follow up with a head kick. Two minutes in. More leg kicks and he’s not reacting well to them. Kopylov counters one with a 1-2, eats another one in return. Two minutes to go.
Roberson tries a 1-2, lands another leg kick. Head kick just blocked. Good straight left from Kopylov and a 1-2. More leg kicks. One minute to go. Kopylov continues to eat them, comes back with left hands. Roberson marching onward, punishing the lead leg. 10-9 Roberson.
Round 3: Counter 1-2 lands for Kopylov. Well-timed double-leg, denied. Good three-piece. Kopylov is starting to open up any time Roberson throws. Big combination answered by a Roberson knee. Roberson looks for his own takedown, stuffed a minute in. Another low kick. Kopylov head kick attempt and they trade in the center. Jab lands for him. Roberson tries a high kick. Two minutes in. Low kick to straight left. Kopylov tries to post and winds up shoving a finger deep into Roberson’s eye. The latter is in obvious pain. There’s blood streaming from that eyelid, but he still wants to continue. The ref takes a point from Kopylov. Kopylov comes out throwing heat and Roberson meets him in the center. Heavy punches and kicks from both men. Left hands from Roberson, leg kick. He takes Kopylov to the fence with two minutes to go.
He muscles Kopylov down and takes the back, wrapping up the RNC. He flattens Kopylov out and draws the tap.
Final result: Roberson def. Kopylov by submission (rear naked choke)
170 lbs.: Abubakar Nurmagomedov vs. David Zawada
Round 1: Both looking for straight punches early. Low kick by Zawada. Nurmagomedov answers in turn. Reactive takedown puts Nurmagomedov on top in guard. One minute in. Zawada tries to stand, muscled back down. Nurmagomedov passes to half guard for a moment. Zawada trying to use a butterfly hook two minutes in. Back to full guard. Zawada suddenly locks up a triangle, forcing the tap.
Final result: Zawada def. Nurmagomedov by submission (triangle choke)
155 lbs.: Roosevelt Roberts vs. Alexander Yakovlev
Round 1: Both land low kicks to start. Straight left from Yakovlev, eats a three-piece in return. One minute in. Both potshotting at range. Two minutes in. Good 1-2 by Roberts. Head kick blocked, Yakovlev comes back with a counter left. Roberts lead right. Four-piece combo, backs away from Yakovlev’s return. Two minutes to go.
3-2 stings Yakovlev, who ties up. Looking for trips. Trading knees downstairs. One minute to go. Roberts gets double underhooks, reverses, and separates. Now he re-enters the clinch. Short elbow. 10-9 Roberts.
Round 2: Roberts with an early right hand, staying busy with combinations. Yakoevlev ducks a right hand and takes him down into side control. One minute in. Yakoevlev postures up for some hammerfists. Back to half guard. Elbows to the body and Yakovlev transitions from a front headlock to another takedown. Two minutes in. Rpberts suddenly turns for an armbar. Yakovlev works his arm free and returns to guard. Two minutes to go.
Roberts works his way back to his feet against the fence. One minute to go. He gets underhooks and separates. Yakovlev shoots, sidestepped. 10-9 Yakovlev.
Round 3: Yakovlev shoots right into Roberts’ guillotine, falling to his back to avoid it and giving up mount. The Russian quickly spins to his knees and stands, then ties up on the fence. Roberts separates. Left hand from Yakovlev. He ties up after taking a right hand, can’t do anything with it. Combination by Roberts. Another. Another. Yakovlev shoots again two minutes in, denied. Combination lands for him. Straight left met by a Roberts counter right. Trading on the fence. Yakovlev changes levels once again, nothing there. Roberts tries a knee, eats a body shot and gets taken down despite grabbing the fence. Yakovlev on top in guard with two minutes to go.
Roberts makes space and stands. They separate and start trading punches. Counters landing. Yakovlev shoots into another guillotine and falls to the back, then gives up mount again with a minute to go. Arm triangle from Roberts, loses it. Round ends there. 10-9 Roberts.
Final result: Roberts def. Yakovlev by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Jessica-Rose Clark vs. Pannie Kianzad
Round 1: Clark catches an early kick and takes Kianzad to the fence. Kianzad reverses, lands a right hand on the break. Good counter rights by Clark. Kianzad check hook. One minute in. Kianzad firing jabs. Low kick lands. Clark lands one in return. 2-3 by Kianzad two minutes in. Clark cross counter and she puts Kianzad on the fence again. Kianzad frames and tries a head kick on the break. More jabs from Kianzad. Two minutes to go.
Counter combination lands. Tight 1-2. Clark with a leg kick to right hand. Kianzad outlanding her so far, lands a crisp check hook. Another check hook. One minute to go. Hard two-piece. Clark tries a high kick. Kianzad 1-2 in center cage. Clark low kick and right hand met by a right cross. Body kick into counters, 1-2 lands. 10-9 Kianzad.
Round 2: Clark keeping it competitive, but Kianzad controlling the striking. Triple left hand backs Clark to the fence. One minute in. Kianzad 2-3 on the break. Counter hook. 1-2 counters a body kick, Clark answers with a right hand. Low kick connects, counter jab. Kianzad steps in with an uppercut. Two minutes in. Clark body kick met by a left hook. Spinning elbow connects. Kianzad pops her with a jab in return. 1-2. Clark suddenly lands a pair of good rights. Two minutes to go.
1-1-2 from Kianzad. Counter 2-3. Clark counter right with a minute to go, eats a body kick in return. Kianzad tries to spin, lands a jab. 2-3. Clark low kick. 10-9 Kianzad.
Round 3: Cross counter connects for Clark. Kianzad 1-1-2. Kianzad left hook, Clark right hand. Kianzad lands a 3-2. One minute in. She takes Clark to the fence. Looks for an elbow on the break. Left hook to low kick. Counter right, 1-2-3. Body shot to right cross, lead right. Two minutes in. Left hook to knee. Lovely low-high combo. Kianzad just doing target practice this round. Two minutes to go.
Clark goes for a high kick, lands a leg kick. They trade in the center, neither lands. Kianzad with a knee inside, met by a cross counter. Low-high goes Kianzad, blocking a head kick. One minute to go. Clark counter hook and a knee downstairs. Kianzad pops her with a left hook. Clean 1-2. 3-2 on the break. 10-9 Kianzad.
Final result: Kianzad def. Clark by unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Grigorii Popov vs. Davey Grant
Round 1: Grant switching stance early. Side kick connects. Spinning back kick. Popov takes a side kick to the jewels. They resume soon after. Popov firing kicks of his own a minute in. Grant continuing to send out a variety of shots while switching stance. Popov counters a body kick with a jab. Two minutes in. Grant catches a body kick and takes him down into guard two minutes in. Popov brings his legs up, gets a small slam for his trouble. Two minutes to go.
Grant postures up for a few good punches, looks for the back, shoots back in and dumps Popov into half guard. Elbows land for Grant. Popov fires elbows off of his back. They scramble and Popov hits a sweep with a minute to go. Grant scrambles to his knees in return and stands. Body kick from Grant, wheel kick falls just short. Body kick and right hand by Popov in return. 10-9 Grant.
Round 2: Leg kick lands for Popov. Grant tries a high kick in return, lands a flying knee near the fence. Overhand right falls short. One minute in. Popov low kick. Popov takes another low blow. Inside low kick by Grant when they resume. Hard counter right into a takedown attempt. Popov denies the initial takedown, Grant looks for the back in the scramble. Elbow from Popov behind his back but he gets dragged to a knee. Two minutes to go.
Grant trying to drag him down and secure the back. Popov counters with a deep kimura, transitions to an armbar, can’t get it and ends up on the bottom in guard. Grant dives in with a right, looks for the back after a granby roll from Popov. He’s too low, but maintains top position. 10-9 Grant.
Round 3: Grant opening with kicks, takes a shin to the jewels. Counter 2-3 lands for him when they resume. Popov appears to bother him with an inside low kick, takes a spinning back fist in return. One minute in. Grant catches a kick and shoots, eating some Browne elbows along the way. Popov defending against the fence. Grant looks to transition to a rear waistlock and Popov rolls for a heel hook. Grant manages to spin out and they return to their feet, after which he goes for another double-leg. He gets Popov to a knee. Two minutes to go.
Short elbows from Popov as he defends. He lands a hard lead right after they separate. Lead elbow. One minute to go. Jab exchange. Body kick from Popov. Grant with a left hook at the end of a combo. Body kick lands. Popov chasing him. Side kick from Grant. Popov going for it, swinging big, can’t find him. 10-9 Popov.
Final result: Grant def. Popov by split decision
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