Dagestani fighters are typically known for their wrestling prowess, but Sharaputdin Magomedov is breaking the mold. The undefeated middleweight brought his own flavor of striking artistry to UFC 308. Fighting with just one eye, Magomedov didn’t just win; he painted a masterpiece with a finish that had fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief.
Both fighters came in with impressive striking credentials, though Magomedov carried the pressure of an unblemished 14-0 record. The first round set the stage for what would become a striking clinic. Petrosyan opened aggressively with leg kicks, clearly looking to chop down the Dagestani’s legs. But Magomedov, even after taking some solid shots, showed why he’s considered one of the division’s most promising prospects. He answered back with a diverse striking arsenal.
The second round is where things got really interesting. Both fighters exchanged leg kicks and pouches, each looking for the perfect moment to land their signature move. Magomedov, now fully warmed up, started to find his rhythm. The end came in spectacular fashion with just eight seconds left in the round, as he unleashed a double spinning back-fist. Petrosyan found himself meeting the canvas rather abruptly.
This finish is only one of 11 spinning-back fist finishes ever recorded in UFC history. What makes this victory particularly special is not just the highlight-reel finish but the fact that Sharaputdin Magomedov did it while essentially fighting with half his vision. The win pushed his record to 15-0. While he might not be ranked yet, this finish will certainly have the middleweight division’s top contenders taking notice!
Armen Petrosyan Expected A “Fiery” Fight Against Shara Magomedov
The fight game has a funny way of bringing old acquaintances together under the bright lights. In the lead-up to UFC 308, Armen Petrosyan shared an interesting nugget about his history with Shara Magomedov. These two striking specialists had previously shared training mats and competed in the same kickboxing tournaments, though never against each other.
The Armenian strike saw this as more than just another fight. He recognized the golden opportunity that came with facing an undefeated prospect like Magomedov, who had been turning heads in the middleweight division. He believed their fight would be explosive.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral MMA stories via Google! Follow Us
“I wouldn’t say we’re best of friends, but we’re really good acquaintances. We know all of his weak parts, we know all of his good sides, so you’ll see it. For every opponent, we make sure to study him really well, so I think you’ll see everything in the fight. … It’s going to be very fiery, very exciting,” said Petrosyan via UFC 308 Media Day.
Petrosyan’s openness about their previous encounters added an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup. He didn’t try to downplay Sharaputdin Magomedov’s abilities or the hype surrounding him. Instead, he embraced the challenge with the confidence of someone who had seen behind the curtain and still liked their chances.
