Nurmagomedov was sharp to start out, utilizing his various putting arsenal and excellent grappling to select on the champion, largely hold issues standing, and get out to an early lead. However because the rounds handed, Dvalishvili’s ridiculous tempo began to put on on the challenger, with the Georgian titleholder having extra success within the third spherical after which taking it up one other notch within the championship rounds.

By the tip of the fourth, Nurmagomedov was spent and Dvalishvili was nonetheless urgent ahead, carrying it over into the fifth, the place he saved Nurmagomedov transferring backwards, attempting to stay above water.

When the nines and tens have been added up, it was Dvalishvili that got here out forward, efficiently defending his title whereas handing Nurmagomedov the primary lack of his skilled profession. This was an unbelievable instance of what an impression tempo and conditioning can have in a high-level battle, and an impressive win for “The Machine.”

Prelim Outcomes | Official Scorecards