The last event of the year 2022 for promotion, UFC Vegas 66, took place at UFC APEX on Dec. 17, featuring the middleweights Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland. Markedly, the Fight Night event on Saturday had no title fights, but the event offered fighters a chance to rise to the occasion and jump in the ranks. While the event almost flew under the radar in its build-up, the stacked event offered exciting matchups and high-paced action. Similarly, the event had the potential to leave an imprint on the upcoming year. However, a come-from-back victory in one prelims card fight involving Said Nurmagomedov and Saidyokub Kakhramonov attracted the attention of the fans.
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Notably, both fighters engaged in a back-and-forth fight where the Russian fighter scored a come-from-back victory via guillotine choke in round 2.
How did the fans react to the come-from-back win at UFC Vegas 66?
Said Nurmagomedov, who has a name that attracts the eyeballs in the MMA world, has no connection whatsoever with the Dagestan dynasty. Both the fighters with 2 losses each in their MMA career entered the Octagon, and it was the Russian fighter who snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat.
UFC star Belal Muhammad wrote, “Woooow”
Woooow
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) December 17, 2022
Another UFC fighter, Adrian Yañez, commented, “One-sided fight till it wasn’t.”
One-sided fight till it wasn't.
— Adrian Yañez (@yanezmma) December 17, 2022
Similarly, the English MMA fighter, Arnold Allen, praised both fighters and called the unexpected choke towards the dying seconds of the final round a ‘ninja choke’.
Thus, the featherweight fighter declared, “Love a good ninja choke 👏🏼 great fight kakhramanov showed some good skills #ufcvegas66”
Love a good ninja choke 👏🏼 great fight kakhramanov showed some good skills #ufcvegas66
— Arnold billy allen (@Arnoldbfa) December 17, 2022
Amazing fight and amazing comeback win for Nurmagomedov #UFCVegas66
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) December 17, 2022
"Did you feel any fatigue?" Paul Felder asks an absolutely gasping Said Nurmagomedov who claims he could "fight five more rounds" if he had to. #UFCVegas66
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) December 17, 2022
Said Nurmagomedov was handily losing Round 2 before snatching this air-tight guillotine choke #UFCVegas66 pic.twitter.com/sGbhJG7sTr
— Shakiel Mahjouri (@Shak_Fu) December 17, 2022
Time of submission, 3:52 of second, for Said Nurmagomedov. #UFCVegas 66
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) December 17, 2022
Finally we get our first finish of the day 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/m6TdlWOUSE
— Heavyweight Thanos (@MMAThanos) December 17, 2022
Gotta feel for Kakhramonov, he was controlling that bout for the most part up until that submission.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 17, 2022
Do NOT let Said near your neck. Good lord
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 17, 2022
What happened in the fight at UFC Fight Night?
Nurmagomedov, 30, never looked settled in the fight as evidenced by the stats of the fights. In comparison to his opponent, the Russian fighter landed only 7 significant strikes throughout the fight. In addition, the Uzbekistan fighter had a ground control time of almost 8 minutes.
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Therefore, for the Xtreme Couture team representative, only a miracle could save him after a phenomenal performance by his opponent. That moment came with only 1:30 minutes remaining in the class. Grabbing his opponent, the Warrior Camp MMA team representative’s neck found itself strangled by the hands of Nurmagomedov, who came into the fight with a 3-win streak momentum.
Thus, with just 1 minute left in the clock, the fight turned its head upside down and handed Kakhramonov his first defeat in the promotion.
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What do you think of this bout? Let us know in the comments below.