Nick Maximov
USA
Let go by UFC
Maximov was released from the UFC on Tuesday, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Maximov ends his UFC run after four fights. After winning his first two, he was demolished as a favorite against Andre Petroski and Jacob Malkoun.
Maximov ends his UFC run after four fights. After winning his first two, he was demolished as a favorite against Andre Petroski and Jacob Malkoun.
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Another poor performance
Maximov lost to Jacob Malkoun via unanimous decision (27-30, 27-30, 27-30) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
In desperate need of a bounce-back effort following a 76-second submission loss to Andre Petroski as a -380 favorite this past May, Maximov wasn't the least bit competitive as a -140 favorite against Malkoun. Maximov is known as a high-end wrestler, but that apparently doesn't extend to his takedown defense. Maximov gave up nine takedowns on 13 attempts, leading to 7:37 worth of control time for Malkoun. That ended any chance Maximov had of winning a decision. The loser of two fights in a row in ugly fashion, the soon-to-be 25-year-old Maximov is likely fighting for his job his next time out.
In desperate need of a bounce-back effort following a 76-second submission loss to Andre Petroski as a -380 favorite this past May, Maximov wasn't the least bit competitive as a -140 favorite against Malkoun. Maximov is known as a high-end wrestler, but that apparently doesn't extend to his takedown defense. Maximov gave up nine takedowns on 13 attempts, leading to 7:37 worth of control time for Malkoun. That ended any chance Maximov had of winning a decision. The loser of two fights in a row in ugly fashion, the soon-to-be 25-year-old Maximov is likely fighting for his job his next time out.
Booked for UFC Vegas 62
Maximov will face Jacob Malkoun in a middleweight bout at UFC Vegas 62 on Oct. 15, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Maximov suffered his first professional defeat in mid-May, losing to Andre Petroski via submission (Anaconda Choke) at UFC on ESPN 36 despite entering the fight as a heavy favorite. He'll have a chance to bounce back against Malkoun, who is 2-2 to begin his UFC career, most recently losing to Brendan Allen via unanimous decision at UFC 275 in June. Malkoun has an edge in height, while Maximov has an advantage in reach.
Maximov suffered his first professional defeat in mid-May, losing to Andre Petroski via submission (Anaconda Choke) at UFC on ESPN 36 despite entering the fight as a heavy favorite. He'll have a chance to bounce back against Malkoun, who is 2-2 to begin his UFC career, most recently losing to Brendan Allen via unanimous decision at UFC 275 in June. Malkoun has an edge in height, while Maximov has an advantage in reach.
Taps as biggest favorite on card
Maximov lost to Andre Petroski via submission (Anaconda Choke) at 1:16 of Round 1 at UFC on ESPN 36 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's the first loss of Maximov's professional career and it came in a fight in which he entered as a -380 favorite -- the largest on the entire card. Known as a fighter who relies on his wrestling game for success, Maximov pushed forward for a single-leg takedown and left his neck exposed in the process. Petroski clamped on the choke and Maximov went to sleep as opposed to tapping out. Nick won't turn 25 years of age until December, so there's theoretically upside here, but his offensive arsenal has appeared quite limited through the course of three UFC bouts despite the fact he has a 2-1 record with the company.
It's the first loss of Maximov's professional career and it came in a fight in which he entered as a -380 favorite -- the largest on the entire card. Known as a fighter who relies on his wrestling game for success, Maximov pushed forward for a single-leg takedown and left his neck exposed in the process. Petroski clamped on the choke and Maximov went to sleep as opposed to tapping out. Nick won't turn 25 years of age until December, so there's theoretically upside here, but his offensive arsenal has appeared quite limited through the course of three UFC bouts despite the fact he has a 2-1 record with the company.
Set for fight in May
Maximov will take on Andre Petroski in a middleweight bout at UFC Fight Night on May 14, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Maximov has started his in MMA career with an 8-0-0 record, which includes a 2-0 start at the UFC level. The 24-year-old used his superior wrestling skills to take down Puna Soriano 11 times in his last match on Feb. 5, securing the victory. Maximov's opponent Andre Petroski has also began his UFC career 2-0, winning his last fight in October over Hu Yaozang via submission (arm-triangle choke).
Maximov has started his in MMA career with an 8-0-0 record, which includes a 2-0 start at the UFC level. The 24-year-old used his superior wrestling skills to take down Puna Soriano 11 times in his last match on Feb. 5, securing the victory. Maximov's opponent Andre Petroski has also began his UFC career 2-0, winning his last fight in October over Hu Yaozang via submission (arm-triangle choke).
Uses wrestling to secure victory
Maximov defeated Puna Soriano via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
The 30-27 scorecard submitted by (shockingly) Doug Crosby was quite terrible, but most people would likely tell you Maximov deserved to win this fight. That said, there wasn't a whole heck of a lot separating him and Soriano. As was the case in his UFC debut against Cody Brundage last September, Maximov leaned on his wrestling to secure the win. He was credited with a whopping 11 takedowns on 16 attempts, good for 8:45 worth of control time. The fact he didn't runaway with the decision tells you that Maximov did relatively little with his positional advantage, but it was ultimately just enough to emerge victorious. Maximov's next challenge will be how to win a fight when those takedowns aren't landing. It wasn't an issue in this one, but it will be at some point in the not-too-distant future.
The 30-27 scorecard submitted by (shockingly) Doug Crosby was quite terrible, but most people would likely tell you Maximov deserved to win this fight. That said, there wasn't a whole heck of a lot separating him and Soriano. As was the case in his UFC debut against Cody Brundage last September, Maximov leaned on his wrestling to secure the win. He was credited with a whopping 11 takedowns on 16 attempts, good for 8:45 worth of control time. The fact he didn't runaway with the decision tells you that Maximov did relatively little with his positional advantage, but it was ultimately just enough to emerge victorious. Maximov's next challenge will be how to win a fight when those takedowns aren't landing. It wasn't an issue in this one, but it will be at some point in the not-too-distant future.