Evgeny Goncharov, the ACA heavyweight champion, shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net about Usman Nurmagomedov’s victory over Alexandr Shabliy in the Bellator lightweight division.
"The fight was intense and kept us on edge. After the second round, it became clear that both fighters were being very pragmatic. They didn’t take risks, but the high level of the athletes was evident. Alexandr defended well against grappling attempts. Usman neutralized his opponent's striking advantage. Neither fighter allowed the other to find their rhythm. That’s the picture of their fight," Goncharov stated.
The fighters could have shown more. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, making the fight less spectacular. It was unclear who would win until the fourth round, and then Nurmagomedov landed a high kick, changing the dynamics. I think the score was 3-2. It was very close. Usman won the fourth round and ultimately the fight. Alexandr will have more chances in the future. He needs to keep working, and he will become a champion.
Evgeny Goncharov exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
It’s worth noting that the fight between Nurmagomedov and Shabliy ended with Usman winning by unanimous decision. The scorecards read 50-45, 49-46, 49-46. Nurmagomedov now boasts 18 wins and no losses, with one fight officially declared a no contest. Shabliy has achieved 24 victories and suffered four defeats in his career.