Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado are back to breakdown this Saturday’s, October 24th., UFC 254: ‘KHABIB VS GAETHJE’. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event.
Zane Simon & Eddie Mercado are back to breakdown the UFC 254 event, which was broadcast from The Flash Forum on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE — aka: #UFCFIGHTISLAND. The guys will have hot takes, possible next fights, as well as reactions to the overall event in the player above or on our Bloody Elbow Presents YouTube Channel and BE Presents Podcast Network. (SPOILERS…)
Today, the UFC showcased a card featuring a unification title fight for the UFC Lightweight Championship. We had Champion vs Champion — KHABIB and GAETHJE going at it in the main event of the UFC 254 PPV card.
Overall, this twelve-bout card saw five swift finishes in Round 1, four submissions, a total of five KO/TKOs, and two decisions, with one Split Draw. Rounding things out, bonuses for putting forth POTN efforts went to Magomed Ankalaev and Khabib Nurmagomedov; and FOTN honors went to Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood. What a wild day full of fights we have to share with you!
UFC lightweight champion Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov, entered the octagon for the first time since the loss of his father, with an undefeated 28-0 record. The 32-year-old Russian champion fighting out of The American Kickboxing Academy of San Jose, Cali, was pitted up against our contender, interim UFC lightweight champion: Justin ‘The Highlight ‘ Gaethje. Our American combatant, holding a 22-2 fight record, entered the octagon a slight underdog. The 31-year-old brawler had a one inch height advantage and an equal reach going for him in his efforts to break Nurmagomedov’s undefeated streak today.
Also on the card, a middleweight scrap for our co-main event; it was a battle between the fight veteran Robert ‘The Reaper’ Whittaker, who entered the octagon a moderate favorite, with a 21-5 record at just 29 years of age, taking on a solid competitor in Jared ‘Killa Gorilla’ Cannonier, with a 13-4 fight record at 36 years of age. As if that’s not enough, we also had an exciting heavyweight tilt between Alexander ‘Drago’ Volkov, who faced off against Walt ‘The Big Ticket’ Harris – which was preceded by a fully-packed undercard; with two sets of prelims starting as early as 8am on the West Coast here in the States! Join us to discuss all the action…
Here’s a look at the UFC 254: ‘KHABIB VS GAETHJE’ RESULTS & UPDATED FIGHT RECORDS:
ESPN+ MAIN PPV CARD | SAT. OCT 24 – 2PM/11AM ETPT
12. UFC Lightweight Championship – Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) DEF. Justin Gaethje (22-3) – SUB, Triangle Choke at 1:34 of Rd 2 of 5, Total 6:34 – ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT
11. 185lbs – Robert Whittaker (22-5) DEF. Jared Cannonier (13-5) – DEC, Unanimous
10: 265lbs – Alexander Volkov (32-8) DEF. Walt Harris (13-9) – KO/TKO, Kick to the Solar Plexus at 1:15 of Rd 2, Total 6:15
9. 185lbs – Phil Hawes (9-2) DEF. Jacob Malkoun (4-1) – KO/TKO, Punches in Rd 1
8. 125lbs – Lauren Murphy (14-4) DEF. Lilya Shakirova (8-2) – SUB, Rear Naked Choke at 3:31 of Rd 2, Total of 8:31
7. 205lbs – Magomed Ankalaev (14-1) DEF. Ion Cutelaba (15-6) – KO/TKO, Punches at 4:19 of Rd 1
FIGHT OF THE NIGHT: ($50K ea.) Casey Kenney vs. Nathaniel Wood
PERFORMANCES OF THE NIGHT: ($50K ea.) 1. Magomed Ankalaev 2. Khabib Nurmagomedov
ESPN+/ESPN 2 PRELIMS | 12PM/9AM ETPT
6. 265lbs – Tai Tuivasa (11-3) DEF. Stefan Struve (29-13) – KO/TKO, Punches at 4:59 of Rd 1
5. 140lbs – Casey Kenney (16-2) DEF. Nathaniel Wood (17-5) – DEC, Unanimous
4. 170lbs – Shavkat Rakhmonov (13-0) DEF. Alex ‘Cowboy’ Oliveira (22-9) – SUB, Guillotine Choke at 4:40 of Rd 1
3. 205lbs – Da Un Jung (13-2) vs. Sam Alvey (33-14) – DRAW: SPLIT
ESPN+/UFC FIGHT PASS EARLY PRELIMS | 11AM/8AM ETPT
2. 125lbs – Miranda Maverick (8-2) DEF. Liana Jojua (8-4) – KO/TKO, Dr. Stoppage (Cut) at 5:00 of Rd 1
1. 155lbs – Joel Alvarez (18-2) DEF. Alexander Yakovlev (25-11) – SUB, Armbar at 3:00 of Rd 1
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