UFC Fight Night 280 live results: Rafael Fiziev vs. Manuel Torres
The UFC closes out a big month of June as the Octagon heads back overseas for UFC Fight Night 280, taking place at the National Gymnastics Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The main event is a five-round bout in the lightweight division as Azerbaijan native Rafael Fiziev takes on Manuel Torres in what looks to be a potentially exciting striking battle. Fiziev is looking to rebound from a loss to Mauricio Ruffy in his last fight in February, while Torres enters his first UFC main event looking to extend his two-fight win streak.
In the co-main event, middleweight action takes place as Shara Magomedov looks for his second straight win when he takes on the always entertaining Michel Pereira.
Also on the main card is a lightweight fight between Nazim Sadykhov and Matheus Camilo; a battle of ranked flyweights as Asu Almabayev takes on Charles Johnson; a middleweight fight between Ikram Aliskerov and Brunno Ferreira; and a middleweight opener sees Abus Magomedov clash with Michal Oleksiejczuk.
PRELIMS | 9 AM ET | 6 AM PT
> Welterweights- Tahir Abdullayev (21-3, 0-0 UFC) vs. Jefferson Nascimento (13-0, 0-0 UFC)
Nothing has happened in the first minute, then Nascimento lands a leg kick. Abdullayev lands a leg kick. Both miss when they throw a right hand. Neither is really doing much as Abdullayev is pressing forward. Abdullayev lands a body kick. Nascimento lands a jab. Nascimento is just circling and running away. Nascimento lands to the body. Abdullayev lands a right hand and then to the body as they briefly clinch. Abdullayev lands a left hook and a right hand. Abdullayev lands a knee and Nascimento looks for a takedown. Nascimento lands a groin strike during a clinch. They get back going but the round ends. 10-9 Abdullayev.
Nascimento lands a leg kick. Nascimento lands a right hand. Abdullayev with a body kick. Abdullayev lands a right hand. They trade punches. Nascimento lands a left hook then a right hand to the body. Nascimento lands a counter combination. Nascimento lands a leg kick. Nascimento landing more, but neither are landing with high volume. Abdullayev shoots for a takedown, but Nascimento defends. Abdullayev lands a late flurry with a big right hand. 10-9 Nascimento, 19-19.
Abdullayev rushes forward and lands a right hand. Abdullayev gets Nascimento to the mat and lands some right hands. Abdullayev with more punches as Nascimento forces it to the feet. Abdullayev with a knee to the body and Nascimento lands a leg kick. They clinch and both land to the body before they separate. Abdullayev with a few knees to the body and he then scores a takedown. Abdullayev with some shots from the top. Nascimento tries to pop up, but Abdullayev keeps him down on the mat. Abdullayev is attacking an arm for a kimura, but lets go and returns to landing from the top. Abdullayev with an elbow from the top. Abdullayev is talking from the top and lands a right hand. Abdullayev stands and lands some big punches from the top and it is stopped. Wow, that seemed like a bad stoppage.
Fight Result- Tahir Abdullayev def. Jefferson Nascimento by TKO (punches) at 4:28 of Round 3
> Bantamweights- Bekzat Almakhan (17-3, 1-2 UFC) vs. Jean Matsumoto (17-2, 3-2 UFC)
Almakhan lands a right hand. Matsumoto with a leg kick as Almakhan connects. Almakhan lands a quick combination. Almakhan lands a nice right hand. Matsumoto lands a leg kick but gets dropped by a combination from Almakhan. Matsumoto gets up and Almakhan connects. Almakhan lands an uppercut. Almakhan lands a left hook. Matsumoto shoots for a takedown, but Almakhan defends. Almakhan lands a combination. Matsumoto with a quick combo and looks for a takedown. Almakhan defends against the fence. Matsumoto with some left hands and a knee before scoring a big late takedown and landing some elbows. 10-9 Almakhan.
Matsumoto lands a quick combo. Almakhan lands a right hand. Matsumoto gets a brief takedown, but Almakhan quickly scrambles up. They trade inside the pocket. Matsumoto lands a leg kick. Matsumoto with another leg kick. Both are landing in close range. Matsumoto with a leg kick. Almakhan with a combination. Almakhan lands an uppercut. He lands a right hand. They trade inside the pocket. Almakhan lands a tomahawk elbow. Matsumoto looks for a takedown against the fence. They separate. Matsumoto lands a nice knee followed by a body kick. They trade and tie up. Almakhan with a knee to the body as they break. Matsumoto lands a body kick. They trade right hands. Almakhan lands a big left hand and Matsumoto lands a body kick. Close round. 10-9 Almakhan, 20-18 Almakhan.
Matsumoto lands a leg kick and they trade in close range. Matsumoto with a pair of kicks. Almakhan lands a combination. Almakhan lands an uppercut. Timeout is called for a groin strike by Matsumoto. They return to action and exchange jabs. They trade in close range. Matsumoto lands a right hand. Almakhan lands a right hand. Almakhan lands a combination. Matsumoto with a leg kick and they trade inside the pocket. Matsumoto looks for a takedown and gets it. They quickly get up and separate. Matsumoto lands a head kick. Almakhan lands a combo and Matsumoto looks for a takedown. Matsumoto lands as they separate. Almakhan with a head kick. Almakhan lands a left hook. 10-9 Matsumoto, 29-28 Almakhan.
Fight Result- Jean Matsumoto def. Bekzat Almakhan by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Welterweights- Daniil Donchenko (13-2, 2-0 UFC) vs. Theodor Berggren (8-3, 0-0 UFC)
Donchenko lands a leg kick and they trade kicks. Berggren lands a body kick. They trade in close range. Donchenko lands a kick to the cup, but they keep going. They trade leg kicks. Both continue to land kicks. Donchenko pushes it against the fence and lands a knee and elbow as they break. Donchenko with a right hand to the body. Donchenko lands a right hand and then another. Donchenko lands a body kick. Donchenko with a combo to the head and body before they clinch. Berggren lands a left hand but eats a counter combo from Donchenko. Donchenko with a pair of leg kicks. Donchenko lands to the body. Donchenko lands a right hand then a leg kick. 10-9 Donchenko.
They trade kicks. Donchenko lands a leg kick. Donchenko with a body kick. Berggren lands a left hand. Donchenko lands a head kick and Berggren goes down. Donchenko is pouncing as Berggren gets up and Donchenko lands some big shots and it is stopped! What a finish by Donchenko!
Fight Result- Daniil Donchenko def. Theodor Berggren by TKO (head kick & punches) at 1:35 of Round 2
> Featherweights- Kaan Ofli (13-4-1, 2-2 UFC) vs. Javier Reyes (23-5, 1-0 UFC)
Ofli with a pair of leg kicks. Ofli lands a left hook as Reyes was rushing in. Ofli lands a right hand. Reyes lands a right hand. Ofli lands in close range. They trade inside the pocket as Ofli lands more. Ofli drops Reyes with a right hand and starts landing lots of punches from the top. Ofli is keeping Reyes down and has the mount and looks for an arm-triangle choke. He has it locked in and Reyes taps! Ofli picks up the submission win.
Fight Result- Kaan Ofli def. Javier Reyes by submission (arm-triangle choke) at 4:16 of Round 1
> Middleweights- Nursulton Ruziboev (36-9-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. Andrey Pulyaev (10-4, 1-2 UFC)
Neither has landed a strike in the first minute. They both land body kicks before Ruziboev gets a takedown. He takes the back of Pulyaev as they stand, and Ruziboev lands some knees to the legs. Ruziboev jumps on the back and has the hooks on as he drags it down. Ruziboev landing from the back. Ruziboev locks in a rear-naked choke and it is in deep and Pulyaev goes out cold!
Fight Result- Nursulton Ruziboev def. Andrey Pulyaev by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:58 of Round 1
> Light Heavyweights- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev (9-0, 2-0 UFC) vs. Julius Walker (7-2, 1-2 UFC)
Yakhyaev drops Walker right away and starts teeing off from the top and it is all over! Super quick finish by Yakhyaev!
Fight Result- Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Julius Walker by knockout (punches) at :08 of Round 1
> Welterweights- Farman Hasanov (5-0, 0-0 UFC) vs. Eric Nolan (8-4, 0-1 UFC)
Hasanov ducks under a Nolan punch and scores a takedown. They get up, but Hasanov slams Nolan down. They get back up, but Hasanov keeps back control and drags it back down. Hasanov with an uppercut from the back as he keeps dragging Nolan down when they get up. Hasanov with some left hands from the back. They get to their feet. Hasanov gets Nolan back down and is still controlling. They go to the fence as they stand, and Hasanov keeps taking it down. Nolan is just having to defend takedowns. Hasanov with big shots from the top. Hasanov lands a pair of elbows. 10-9 Hasanov.
Hasanov scores a takedown. Nolan gives up his back and they get to their feet. Hasanov trips Nolan to the mat into full mount. Nolan is able to force a scramble up and Hasanov grabs the body against the fence. They scramble up and separate. Hasanov lands a combo. Hasanov scores another takedown. They get up and Hasanov is non-stop looking for the takedown. They break apart and trade jabs. Hasanov looks tired, but so does Nolan. Nolan is landing punches as Hasanov is clearly gassed out, but Hasanov scores a takedown. They get up, but Hasanov gets another takedown and lands from the top. 10-9 Hasanov, 20-18 Hasanov.
They trade to start. Hasanov lands a pair of right hands. They trade jabs. Hasanov looks for a takedown and pushes it against the fence and Nolan lands a knee. Hasanov gets a takedown and has the mount and lands from the back. They scramble up and Hasanov scores a takedown and is on top and controlling. Hasanov has the back and keeps dragging it down as they go the distance. 10-9 Hasanov, 30-27 Hasanov.
Fight Result- Farman Hasanov def. Eric Nolan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAIN CARD | 12 PM ET | 9 AM PT
> Middleweights- Abus Magomedov (28-7-1, 4-3 UFC) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (22-9 1 NC, 10-7 1 NC UFC)
Magomedov lands a combination. Oleksiejczuk with a leg kick. Magomedov lands a kick to the body and then a head kick. Magomedov lands a combo. He lands a body kick. Oleksiejczuk with a left hand. Magomedov lands a right hand and they clinch up. Magomedov lands a knee right to the head of Oleksiejczuk. Oleksiejczuk escapes. Oleksiejczuk lands a left hand. Magomedov drops Oleksiejczuk to a knee with a punch and then rocks him before locking in a guillotine choke and Oleksiejczuk starts tapping before going out cold! What a finish by Magomedov!
Fight Result- Abus Magomedov def. Michal Oleksiejczuk by submission (guillotine choke) at 3:25 of Round 1
> Middleweights- #14 Ikram Aliskerov (17-2, 4-1 UFC) vs. Brunno Ferreira (15-3, 6-3 UFC)
Aliskerov lands a right hand and a leg kick. Aliskerov with another leg kick and lands a right hand. Aliskerov ducks under a Ferreira punch and looks for a takedown against the fence. Aliskerov is able to complete the takedown. Aliskerov grabs the back as they get to their feet. They break apart. Aliskerov lands a groin strike and timeout is called. They return to action and Aliskerov lands a right hand before they trade leg kicks. Aliskerov with a high kick. Aliskerov lands a combination. Aliskerov with a combo then a flying knee before scoring a takedown. Aliskerov landing from inside the guard of Ferreira. Aliskerov lands from the top before standing and then a right hand on the way up. 10-9 Aliskerov.
Aliskerov lands a leg kick. Ferreira with a right hand and he then lands a quick combo. They trade punches. Aliskerov with a combo then a big knee. Aliskerov with another combination and then scores a takedown. Aliskerov lands from the top and moves to north-south position. Aliskerov gets on the back of Ferreira. They get to their feet and separate. Aliskerov lands a pair of combos. They trade jabs. Ferreira lands a right hand. Aliskerov gets a takedown and is inside the guard of Ferreira. They scramble up. Ferreira slips on a kick and Aliskerov lands some punches from the top. 10-9 Aliskerov, 20-18 Aliskerov.
They trade early on and Aliskerov lands a nice combo that briefly hurt Ferreira. Aliskerov lands a right hand. Aliskerov grabs the single leg and scores a takedown. He gets into the guard and lands. Ferreira lands a few elbows from the bottom. Aliskerov gets the back and has the body triangle locked on and is landing some punches. Aliskerov looks for a rear-naked choke. He lets go and lands some more punches. Aliskerov continues to land punches from the top. Aliskerov landing from the back. 10-9 Aliskerov, 30-27 Aliskerov.
Fight Result- Ikram Aliskerov def. Brunno Ferreira by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
> Flyweights- #7 Asu Almabayev (23-3, 6-1 UFC) vs. #15 Charles Johnson (19-8, 8-6 UFC)
Almabayev lands a pair of leg kicks. Johnson with a body kick. They trade leg kicks. Almabayev with a right hand. Almabayev lands a left hook. Almabayev scores a takedown. Almabayev landing from the top and Johnson is trying to force a scramble up. Almabayev stands but gets back inside the guard of Johnson and lands. Almabayev looks for the neck against the fence but Johnson is fighting the hands. They get to their feet, but Almabayev gets it back down and lands from the top. He lands some more. 10-9 Almabayev.
Almabayev lands a spin kick to the body followed by a right hand. Almabayev with a leg kick. Johnson lands a knee and a right hand. Almabayev lands a few leg kicks and right hands. Almabayev tries a spinning back kick, but it lands right to the groin of Johnson and timeout is called. They get back to action and both start landing. Almabayev gets a brief takedown, but Johnson starts landing to the body when they get up. Almabayev scores a takedown and gets the back of Johnson. Almabayev moves to top control. He lands some right hands from the top. They scramble up, but Almabayev is able to get it back down and lands. Almabayev gets the back. Almabayev gets the hooks on but time runs out. 10-9 Almabayev, 20-18 Almabayev.
Almabayev scores a takedown and is in side control. Johnson is looking for a triangle choke from the bottom, and now Almabayev starts looking for one from the top. Almabayev escapes and both land on the mat. Almabayev controlling and Johnson gives up his back. Almabayev landing right hands from the back. Almabayev is looking for a leg submission from the back and he has a Suloev Stretch locked in and Johnson taps! What a finish by Almabayev!
Fight Result- Asu Almabayev def. Charles Johnson by submission (Suloev Stretch) at 3:33 of Round 3
> Lightweights- Nazim Sadykhov (11-2-1, 4-1-1 UFC) vs. Matheus Camilo (10-3, 1-1 UFC)
They trade leg kicks. Camilo lands a right hand and Sadykhov goes down and some follow-up shots end it all. Sadykhov is not happy with the stoppage but it looked like a good stoppage as Sadykhov went down hard.
Fight Result- Matheus Camilo def. Nazim Sadykhov by TKO (punches) at 1:31 of Round 1
> Middleweights- Shara Magomedov (16-1, 5-1 UFC) vs. Michel Pereira (32-14 2 NC, 10-5 UFC)
Pereira lands a jab. Magomedov with a leg kick. Pereira drops Magomedov with a right hand and Pereira starts landing from the top. Magomedov is throwing upkicks from the ground but not connecting. Pereira lands a pair of heavy right hands from a standing position. Magomedov is trying to look for a triangle choke but keeps grabbing Pereira’s hair and gets a warning. Pereira gets inside the guard and lands some right hands. Both are landing on the mat and Pereira lands a pair of big elbows. Pereira stands and gets the back of Magomedov. Magomedov is able to spin and is now inside the guard of Pereira. Magomedov lands an elbow. Magomedov stands and lands some leg kicks. 10-9 Pereira.
Magomedov lands a leg kick. Pereira just misses a punch jumping off the cage. Magomedov lands a leg kick. Magomedov lands a high kick. Pereira with a pair of short kicks. Magomedov lands a trio of kicks as Pereira rushed in trying to land. Magomedov with another leg kick. They trade kicks. Magomedov lands a knee and a right hand. They have a wild exchange as Pereira lands a right hand and Magomedov lands some kicks. 10-9 Magomedov, 19-19.
Magomedov landing kicks to start the third. Pereira with a jab to the body. Magomedov with another leg kick. Magomedov lands a side kick. Magomedov lands a series of kicks. Pereira with a right hand. Timeout is called as Magomedov poked Pereira in the eye. They get back to action and Magomedov lands a leg kick. Pereira lands a jab and then a leg kick. They trade punches as Magomedov lands a combination. Pereira with a couple of leg kicks. Magomedov lands a right hand and then a head kick. Pereira looked for a takedown and they crashed to the mat, and Pereira has clinch advantage against the fence. Both land to the body. They separate and Magomedov lands a pair of body kicks. 10-9 Magomedov, 29-28 Magomedov.
Fight Result- Shara Magomedov def. Michel Pereira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Lightweights- Rafael Fiziev (13-5, 7-5 UFC) vs. #13 Manuel Torres (17-3, 5-1 UFC)
Fiziev with a body kick and they trade right hands. Fiziev lands a leg kick. Torres with a body kick. Torres comes forward throwing punches, but Fiziev backs away from them connecting. Fiziev scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Torres lands a knee to the groin and timeout is called. They get back to action. Fiziev lands a calf kick. He lands another. Fiziev throwing more kicks. Torres lands a jab. Torres with a left hook. Fiziev lands another leg kick. Torres lands a leg kick. Torres with a right hand. Fiziev with a pair of leg kicks. Torres lands a body kick, but Fiziev catches it and gets a takedown. They get right up. Fiziev lands a left hand and Torres lands a combo. Torres with a left hand and a big jab. 10-9 Torres.
Fiziev lands a spin kick and Torres goes down. Torres scrambles up but Fiziev is landing a big flurry and lands a right hand and Torres goes back down and Fiziev lands some more punches from the top to get the finish. What a finish by Fiziev!
Fight Result- Rafael Fiziev def. Manuel Torres by knockout (spin kick and punches) at :15 of Round 2
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter