Amir Albazi
The Prince
Iraq
Taira up next
Albazi is scheduled to face Tatsuro Taira in a flyweight fight at the UFC's Aug. 2 event in Las Vegas, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Albazi and Taira are both looking to bounce back from devastating losses. In the former's case, he most recently faced off against Brandon Moreno in October, with Moreno emerging as the victor in dominating fashion in the five-round fight. Meanwhile, Taira suffered his first professional loss back in October.
Albazi and Taira are both looking to bounce back from devastating losses. In the former's case, he most recently faced off against Brandon Moreno in October, with Moreno emerging as the victor in dominating fashion in the five-round fight. Meanwhile, Taira suffered his first professional loss back in October.
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Dominated in main event loss
Albazi lost to Brandon Moreno via unanimous decision (46-49, 45-50, 45-50) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Edmonton.
ANALYSIS
Competing in his second straight main event, Albazi was totally overwhelmed by one of the best fighters in the division. Perhaps it shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The only reason he was in this position was because of a split decision victory over Kai Kara-France in June in which most everyone scored the bout for KKF. Albazi engaged Moreno in a kickboxing match and paid for it mightily. Hoping to get off to a quick start, Amir landed all of 22 total strikes over the course of the first 10 minutes. He was credited with one successful takedown, at which point Moreno got back to his feet immediately. It just wasn't happening for him on this evening. Albazi is a talented fighter, but outside of the Kara-France "win", he doesn't have a notable victory on his UFC ledger. There's a massive gap between he and the best in the world at 125 pounds.
Competing in his second straight main event, Albazi was totally overwhelmed by one of the best fighters in the division. Perhaps it shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The only reason he was in this position was because of a split decision victory over Kai Kara-France in June in which most everyone scored the bout for KKF. Albazi engaged Moreno in a kickboxing match and paid for it mightily. Hoping to get off to a quick start, Amir landed all of 22 total strikes over the course of the first 10 minutes. He was credited with one successful takedown, at which point Moreno got back to his feet immediately. It just wasn't happening for him on this evening. Albazi is a talented fighter, but outside of the Kara-France "win", he doesn't have a notable victory on his UFC ledger. There's a massive gap between he and the best in the world at 125 pounds.
Will return vs. Moreno in Edmonton
Albazi (undisclosed) will fight Brandon Moreno in a flyweight bout at UFC Edmonton on Nov. 2, UFC chairman Dana White announced Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Albazi was expected to fight Moreno in Mexico City earlier this year, but he withdrew from the bout due to an undisclosed injury that required surgery. However, the fight is back on, and these two top contenders in the division will collide in the UFC's return to Canada. Albazi has gone 5-0 at the UFC level in his career, but he'll endure a tough matchup trying to keep this streak alive.
Albazi was expected to fight Moreno in Mexico City earlier this year, but he withdrew from the bout due to an undisclosed injury that required surgery. However, the fight is back on, and these two top contenders in the division will collide in the UFC's return to Canada. Albazi has gone 5-0 at the UFC level in his career, but he'll endure a tough matchup trying to keep this streak alive.
Withdraws, needs surgery
Albazi will require surgery to address an undisclosed injury and withdrew Thursday from his scheduled flyweight bout with Brandon Moreno at the UFC's Feb. 24 event in Mexico City, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Albazi presumably sustained the injury while training and is without a timeline to return to the Octagon. The promotion has added Brandon Royval to the Feb. 24 card as a replacement for Albazi.
Albazi presumably sustained the injury while training and is without a timeline to return to the Octagon. The promotion has added Brandon Royval to the Feb. 24 card as a replacement for Albazi.
Booked against Moreno
Albazi will fight Brandon Moreno on Feb. 24 in Mexico City, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Albazi's UFC record remains unblemished (5-0) following his controversial main-event victory over Kai Kara-France in June. If Albazi wants his shot at the flyweight title, beating Moreno would certainly be a great step in that direction.
Albazi's UFC record remains unblemished (5-0) following his controversial main-event victory over Kai Kara-France in June. If Albazi wants his shot at the flyweight title, beating Moreno would certainly be a great step in that direction.
Fortunate to earn main event win
Albazi defeated Kai Kara-France via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47) at UFC on ESPN 46 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Albazi has been vocal for quite a while about wanting a fight against a top contender. He finally got his chance here and should thank his lucky stars two of the three judges thought he did enough to win this bout. Albazi managed to gain some separation following a razor-thin first ten minutes. He dominated Round 3 and nearly finished KKF with a rear-naked choke. Yet he was unable to carry that momentum through to the championship rounds, as Kara-France was the fresher and more effective fighter throughout Rounds 4 and 5. This isn't the worst decision we've ever seen, but if you polled everyone that watched this fight from start to finish, the vast majority of the crowd would almost certainly have scored it for Kara-France. As a result, Albazi doesn't figure to get the massive bump in the rankings he was probably hoping for. He called for a title shot in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, but this performance, while fine, suggests he has plenty of work to do before that becomes a reality.
Albazi has been vocal for quite a while about wanting a fight against a top contender. He finally got his chance here and should thank his lucky stars two of the three judges thought he did enough to win this bout. Albazi managed to gain some separation following a razor-thin first ten minutes. He dominated Round 3 and nearly finished KKF with a rear-naked choke. Yet he was unable to carry that momentum through to the championship rounds, as Kara-France was the fresher and more effective fighter throughout Rounds 4 and 5. This isn't the worst decision we've ever seen, but if you polled everyone that watched this fight from start to finish, the vast majority of the crowd would almost certainly have scored it for Kara-France. As a result, Albazi doesn't figure to get the massive bump in the rankings he was probably hoping for. He called for a title shot in his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, but this performance, while fine, suggests he has plenty of work to do before that becomes a reality.