5 most explosive moments from UFC 272: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal
After plenty of build, some of it controversial, there were high hopes that UFC 272 would deliver some exciting fights inside the octagon.
While UFC 272’s headline bout did not produce an explosive finish, the same could not be said for the rest of the event, which was largely excellent.
So with knockouts, tap outs, upsets, and an excellent comeback, this show had plenty for every fan to enjoy, even if 8 of its 13 bouts went the distance.
With that in mind, here are the five most explosive moments from UFC 272: Colby Covington vs. Jorge Masvidal.
#5. Umar Nurmagomedov blows away Brian Kelleher with no issues to go 2-0 in the UFC
The featherweight bout between hot prospect Umar Nurmagomedov – the cousin of former UFC lightweight kingpin Khabib – and veteran Brian Kelleher was largely flying under the radar last night, perhaps due to its curious position on the early preliminary card.
In the end, though, Nurmagomedov proved why he’s so highly touted. He blew right through ‘Boom’ in the first round, ending his night with a rear-naked choke that felt as explosive as any knockout.
This was a thoroughly one-sided fight. Kelleher even struggled to get things going on the feet before Nurmagomedov grabbed hold of him, and dragged him to the ground. From there, the fight seemed to be over in a matter of seconds as Nurmagomedov snaked his arm under the chin and forced a tap out.
The win moved Nurmagomedov to 2-0 in the UFC. However, he’s hardly inexperienced overall, holding an MMA record of 14-0. Judging by this, it’s time to match him with a top fifteen opponent next time out because only the elite fighters of the division would appear to stand a chance of stopping him.
It’ll be a hard task for him to match the incredible accomplishments of his cousin inside the octagon. While it’s early days, it seems like Umar will give it a good shot – and this was another great finish from him.