ABU DHABI – Muhammad Mokaev beat Malcolm Gordon with a third-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 280 in Abu Dhabi.
Take a look inside the fight with Mokaev, who was the biggest favorite on the card at nearly 12-1.
Malcolm Gordon vs. Muhammad Mokaev
Result: Muhammad Mokaev def. Malcolm Gordon via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 4:26
Updated records: Mokaev (8-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), Gordon (14-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stat: Mokaev outstruck Gordon 119-38 and landed more than 90 percent of his total strikes.
Mokaev on the fight's key moment
“He thought ‘I’m slipping out,’ but I was setting up a reverse triangle. He put his head (there) and I took his arm. He’s actually good at armbars, so I finished him at his own game.”
Mokaev on submitting a black belt
“I don’t care about his (jiu-jitsu) black belt. I wanted to actually finish him because he talked about his black belt. I don’t care about his black belt. I’m a black belt in my heart from my life experience. But about his (actual) belt, I don’t give a sh*t.”
Mokaev on what he wants next
“Both (Brandon Royval and Amir Albazi) are not my league. If I have good rest now and I fight in March, I will smoke both guys in the same night. Royval, if you think he’s a different level fighter, watch his fight against Charles Johnson (in LFA). … I’m ready to fight in December. ”
To hear more from Mokaev, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 280.
