Zabit didn't give Sheymon a chance (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFCBrasil)
After years of waiting, Brazilian Sheymon Moraes finally made his debut in the biggest MMA organization in the world. However, the start was on the wrong foot. Totally dominated during the three rounds of the fight, the featherweight was unable to overcome the talented fighter's takedown game Zabit Magomedsharipov, who submitted him at 4:33 of the third round, in the fight that closed the UFC China preliminary card, this Saturday (25), in the city of Shanghai.
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This was the second professional defeat for Sheymon, who still has nine victories on his record. Pupil of Anderson Silva, the 27-year-old from Rio had been inactive for a year and a half, having last played in June 2016, when he beat Luis Palomino in the now-defunct WSOF. Magomedsharipov, in turn, achieved his second victory in two fights in Ultimate – he had already submitted Mike Santiago at UFC Netherlands, in September. At 26 years old, the Russian has 14 positive results and only one negative result in his career. Even with just two performances in the house, his name is already starting to be mentioned as one of the main promises in the under-66kg category.
The fight
The two athletes started studiously, firing shy low kicks. Sheymon, when firing a right kick to the leg, was countered with a good right. With a larger reach, Zabit started to grow in the fight, landing good blows on the newcomer. Moraes fired a kick to the waistline, but his leg was grabbed by the Russian, who took the fight to the ground. Sheymon still tried to get up, but was knocked down again, giving way to his back. The Brazilian, however, managed to free himself from the position, making good movement underneath. The round ended with Magomedsharipov hitting on top.
Magomedsharipov returned for the second stage, releasing plastic blows, but without force. Once again down, Sheymon tried to place a triangle in the guard, but Zabit defended himself masterfully. With the advantage again, the Russian went to the Brazilian's back and started punishing him with strong punches to the head. Magomedsharipov continued on top, in half guard, throwing good elbows at Moraes, who was just defending himself.
Aware of the disadvantage in the early rounds, Shyemon returned more aggressive, trying to surprise in his striking. Zabit, however, defended himself efficiently, taking advantage of a gap from the Brazilian to take the fight to the ground. Once again on top, Magomedsharipov went for Moraes' back, who was already showing little reaction. The Russian continued with total positional control on the ground, sweeping with ease. When trying to get up, Sheymon ended up leaving his neck to Zabit, who quickly applied the hand triangle, forcing the Brazilian to give three taps in withdrawal.
Chinese shine in busy preliminary card
Yadong debuted in the UFC on the right foot (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFCBrasil)
In the other seven fights of the preliminary portion, six Chinese fighters were in action, with a 50% balance for the home athletes, with three positive and three negative results. The highlights were three newcomers: the bantamweight song yadong, who had an impeccable performance in her debut and submitted Bharat Khandare in the first round, in the women's strawweight division yan xiaonan, who defeated Kailin Curran by unanimous decision after three busy rounds, and welterweight Kenan Song, who dispatched Bobby Nash with a lightning knockout in 15 seconds.
Other names that shone were heavyweights Shamil Abdurakhimov and Cyril Asker. While the Russian with the difficult name needed just 84 seconds to knock out Chase sherman, the Frenchman Asker did not give the Chinese debutante a chance Yaozong Hu, submitting his rival with a fair rear naked choke at 2:33 of the second round. The points victories of Rolando Dy and Gina Mazany about Wuliji Buren and Yanan Wu, respectively, completed the preliminary card.
UFC China results
MAIN CARD
Average weight: Kelvin Gastelum derrotou Michael Bisping by technical knockout at 2:30 of R1
Welterweight Weight: li jingliang defeated Zak Ottow by technical knockout at 2:57 of R1
Featherweight: Wang Guan defeated Alex Caceres by split decision of the judges (29×28, 28×29, 29×28)
Welterweight: Alex Garcia defeated muslim salikhov via submission (rear naked choke) at 3m22s of R2
PRELIMINARY CARD
Feather weight: Zabit Magomedsharipov derrotou Sheymon Moraes via submission (hand triangle) at 4m33s of R3
Welterweight Weight: Kenan Song defeated Bobby Nash via technical knockout 15 seconds into R1
Straw weight: yan xiaonan defeated Kailin Curran by unanimous decision (29×28, 29×28, 30×27)
Bantamweight: song yadong defeated Bharat Khandare via submission (choke) at 4:16 of R1
Heavyweight: Shamil Abdurakhimov defeated Chase sherman by technical knockout at 1:24 of R1
Bantamweight: Gina Mazany derrotou Yanan Wu by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27, 30×27)
Featherweight: Rolando Dy defeated Wuliji Buren by unanimous decision (30×27, 29×28, 30×27)
Heavyweight: Cyril Asker defeated Yaozong Hu via submission (rear naked choke) at 2m33s of R2
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