With an exciting main event featuring superstars such as Robert Whittaker, Reinier de Ridder and Peter Yan, the prelims have set the tone perfectly for the rest of the night with some brutal knockouts.

The Fights:

(13) MARTIN BUDAY (15-2) VS MARCUS ‘BUCHECHA’ Almeida (5-1) (Debut) – Heavyweight

Marcus Almeida opened his UFC career with a loss via unanimous decision against Martin Buday. Buday showed great takedown defence against the former multiple world Jiu Jitsu champion in the opening round.

The second round started much better for ‘Buchecha’ after getting his first takedown in the UFC and landed ground and pound. However, Buday managed to survive taking the fight into the final round. The finale followed a similar pace with both fighters failing to take control of fight but Buday managed to get his 16th victory.

Mohamed Yahya ( 12-5) VS Steven Nguyen (9-2) – Featherweight

The second fight of the night set off fireworks at the Etihad Arena after Steven Nguyen broke a UFC record with seven knockdowns in one fight, five of them coming in a truly dominant first round.

Mohamed Yahya survived the second round but walked back to his corner with his left eye the size of a plum. Due to a doctor stoppage Steven ‘The Ninja’ Nguyen gets his first UFC win. 

Despite a loss in his debut against Jarro Errens, he won fight of the night and after tonight’s performance he surely will earn another performance bonus check.

Ibo Aslan (14-2) VS Billy Elekana (7-2) Light Heavyweight

Billy Elekana earned his first UFC win on Saturday night via unanimous decision. However, the fight did not live up to even half of its potential, leaving the Abu Dhabi crowd disappointed. Elekana now has eight professional wins and finds himself back in the win column.

(7 )Amanda Ribas  (13-6) VS (10 )Tabitha Ricci (11-3) -Strawweight (First Women’s fight of the night)

Tabitha ‘Baby Shark’ Ricci got the second TKO of the night after unleashing devastating elbows in the clinch against the cage that saw Amanda Ribas drop to the ground. The onslaught didn’t stop there with Ricci landing heavy ground and pound that left the referee no choice but to stop the bout in the second round. Beating the 7^th ranked Brazilian, Ricci is eager to fight again this year.

 Davey Grant (16-7) VS Da’Mon Blackshear (17-7-1) Bantamweight

‘Dangerous’ Davey Grant got his first win of the year by unanimous decision. The opening round saw Blackshear dominate on the ground after the early takedown. However, Grant came back brilliantly in the last two rounds, been the more active fighter and landing more significant strikers. The veteran also eliminated Blackshear’s biggest threat after defending all of his takedown attempts after the first round.

Muslim Salikhov (21-5) VS Carlos Leal (22-6) – Welterweight

Muslim ‘King of Kung Fu’ Salikhov makes easy work of the Brazilian Kickboxer after knocking out Carlos Leal with a devastating right hook in just 42 seconds.

The 41-year-old has 15 first round finishes of his career and now has back to back first round knockouts and truly defines the saying “age is just a number”. In his post-fight interview he called out Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. 

Coming into the final prelim matchup, controversial Bryce Mitchell returned to the octagon.

Bruce Mitchel (17-4) Vs Said Nurmagomedov (18-4) -Bantamweight

Bryce Mitchell is back into the win column after dropping down to the Bantweight class due to his last loss against Jean silva. 

Despite a big knee by Nurmagomedov which dropped Mitchell in the first round,  the American managed to survive and turn the fight on its head. The second round was an even contest on the ground. The final round of the prelims saw Mitchell control the bout brilliantly on the ground resulting in his first win as a Bantamweight.