LAS VEGAS – Denis Tiuliulin was perhaps harshly deducted a point prior to finishing Jamie Pickett at UFC 279, but it only fueled him.
Tiuliulin (11-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) scored a second-round TKO of Pickett (13-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday. But prior to stopping Pickett, Tiuliulin was deducted a point for an inadvertent low blow, which could have cost him the fight had it gone the distance.
It was the second time referee Mike Beltran had warned Tiuliulin, which prompted him to take a point off the Russian fighter. The first warning was for a body kick which appeared to connect above the belt, but had an affect on Pickett regardless. The second blow was clearly to Pickett’s cup.
“No, I speak with referee and now I understand him,” Tiuliulin told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the post-fight news conference.
He continued, “When this situation (happened), I was motivated to finish because if this was a decision, this is a problem for me.”
The win over Pickett marked Tiuliulin’s first octagon victory. He lost his UFC debut on short notice to Aliaskhab Khizriev in March, where he was controlled and submitted on the ground.
“I’m happy because first fight I lost and this was a very fast fight, very wrestling opponent,” Tiuliulin said. “He has very good wrestling, Aliaskhab is a very good fighter, and I wasn’t prepared for that fight and he won. This fight I had time, not much time, but I had time, I had a plan, I had my coach and I won. No problem.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.
