Muhammad Saidov was fighting in the UFC for the first time, but he looked like an instant contender.
The debutant stole the show on Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi prelims, out-striking MMA and kickboxing veteran Dustin Jacoby en route to a spectacular second-round knockout.
Watch Saidov’s blistering combination that ended the fight below.
Saidov, who improved to 10-0 with the win, looked sharp throughout the fight, even as he went toe-to-toe with Jacoby, an opponent known for his technical striking prowess. Likely up on the cards through five minutes, Saidov stuck with the game plan in Round 2, controlling the range and consistently winning exchanges.
It wasn’t until the final minute of the round that Saidov stepped on the gas, cracking Jacoby with a hard head kick that stunned the American fighter. Saidov followed with a swarm of punches, not stopping until referee Jim Perdios stepped in.
The official time of the stoppage was 4:49 into Round 2.
Saidov scored the seventh knockout of his pro career to move to 1-0 in the UFC, while Jacoby (22-10-1) sees a three-fight win streak come to an end.
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