In an electrifying five-round middleweight showdown, Sean Strickland showcased his prowess by delivering a remarkable knockout victory over Abus Magomedov in the main event of UFC Vegas 76. With this dominant performance, Strickland solidified his position among the top contenders in the highly competitive middleweight division.
Before the thrilling encounter on July 1, Abus Magomedov had just embarked on his journey in the promotion. The 32-year-old Russian swiftly defeated Dustin Stoltzfus in his UFC debut, securing a lightning-fast finish in a mere 19 seconds of the opening round.
On the other hand, Strickland entered the octagon after a resounding unanimous decision triumph over Nassourdine Imavov in a light heavyweight clash earlier in January 2023. Prior to that, he had encountered two consecutive defeats against Alex Pereira and Jared Cannonier.
Sean Strickland fighting like he talks for once
FINALLY #UFCVegas76 pic.twitter.com/Jhx2iLcCF9— Sober Costa 🍷 (@SoberlCosta) July 2, 2023
Unfortunately, the match’s commencement was marred by an accidental eye-poke that temporarily halted the bout. But Strickland managed to recuperate swiftly, allowing the bout to resume shortly after.
From the second round onward, Strickland relentlessly imposed pressure upon Magomedov. This left the Russian visibly exhausted. Strickland skillfully capitalized on his opponent’s fatigue, ultimately securing a remarkable TKO victory in the final minute of the second round.
Following the impressive triumph, numerous combat sports competitors and fans took to Twitter to express their admiration for Sean Strickland’s exceptional performance. Renowned UFC featherweight Billy Quarantillo lauded Strickland’s boxing prowess, while filmmaker Will Harris expressed his surprise at Strickland’s ability to finish the match in such a spectacular fashion.
Even boxing royalty Teddy Atlas weighed in on the Strickland vs. Magomedov clash, drawing parallels between their match and the iconic boxing encounter between Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns.
MMA fans also shared their thoughts on Sean Strickland’s exceptional performance at UFC Vegas 76. While many extended their congratulations to Strickland for his remarkable win, some remained unimpressed by his triumph over an unraked competitor.