AJ Dobson
USA
Finished after fast start
Dobson lost to Edmen Shahbazyan via TKO (strikes) at 4:33 of Round 1 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This was a crushing loss for Dobson in a fight he seemed to be in full control of. AJ was battering his opponent in the early going, at which point Shahbazyan dragged him to the mat. Dobson worked his way back to his feet and seemed to be in good shape, but one big left hand sent him crumbling to the mat and essentially ended the fight in an instant. Unfortunately, this is the story of Dobson's career. He has legitimate tools but it unable to put it together on a consistent basis. A loser in three of his first four UFC bouts, there's a non-zero chance the Ohio native could be looking at a release.
This was a crushing loss for Dobson in a fight he seemed to be in full control of. AJ was battering his opponent in the early going, at which point Shahbazyan dragged him to the mat. Dobson worked his way back to his feet and seemed to be in good shape, but one big left hand sent him crumbling to the mat and essentially ended the fight in an instant. Unfortunately, this is the story of Dobson's career. He has legitimate tools but it unable to put it together on a consistent basis. A loser in three of his first four UFC bouts, there's a non-zero chance the Ohio native could be looking at a release.
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Quickly gets new opponent
Dobson will now face Edmen Shahbazyan in a middlweight matchup at UFC Vegas 89 on March 23, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Dobson was scheduled to face Tresean Gore at UFC 298 this Saturday, but the UFC was unable to find him an opponent on short notice after Gore's withdrawal. Meanwhile, Dusko Tudorovic was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight against Shahbazyan a month out, leaving an open slot for Dobson. Dobson is coming off his first UFC victory last August and is set to face a once highly-regarded prospect in Shahbazyan who has hit a major rough patch of late.
Dobson was scheduled to face Tresean Gore at UFC 298 this Saturday, but the UFC was unable to find him an opponent on short notice after Gore's withdrawal. Meanwhile, Dusko Tudorovic was forced to withdraw from a scheduled fight against Shahbazyan a month out, leaving an open slot for Dobson. Dobson is coming off his first UFC victory last August and is set to face a once highly-regarded prospect in Shahbazyan who has hit a major rough patch of late.
Not fighting at UFC 298
Dobson will not fight at UFC 298, according to the UFC's press release Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Dobson was scheduled to compete against Tresean Gore before he withdrew from the fight because of a shoulder injury. Seemingly unable or unwilling to find a new opponent for him on the fly, the UFC has canceled Dobson's UFC 298 bout altogether.
Dobson was scheduled to compete against Tresean Gore before he withdrew from the fight because of a shoulder injury. Seemingly unable or unwilling to find a new opponent for him on the fly, the UFC has canceled Dobson's UFC 298 bout altogether.
Needs new opponent
Dobson will not fight Tresean Gore at UFC 298, per Nolan King of MMAJunkie.com.
ANALYSIS
Gore withdrew from the fight because of a shoulder injury. Currently, Dobson does not have an opponent 10 days before the pay-per-view event, which means he would be taking on a short-notice opponent if a fight goes through for him at UFC 298.
Gore withdrew from the fight because of a shoulder injury. Currently, Dobson does not have an opponent 10 days before the pay-per-view event, which means he would be taking on a short-notice opponent if a fight goes through for him at UFC 298.
Facing Gore in Anaheim
Dobson (7-2-0, 1 NC) is scheduled to face Tresean Gore (4-2-0) in a middleweight bout Feb. 17 at UFC 298 in Anaheim, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Dobson will be looking to extend his winning streak to two after he defeated Tafon Nchukwi in an unanimous decision in his last appearance in the Octagon back in August. The 31-year-old had previously opened his UFC tenure with consecutive losses.
Dobson will be looking to extend his winning streak to two after he defeated Tafon Nchukwi in an unanimous decision in his last appearance in the Octagon back in August. The 31-year-old had previously opened his UFC tenure with consecutive losses.
Gets past heavy opponent
Dobson defeated Tafon Nchukwi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) at UFC on ESPN 51 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Credit Dobson, who was winless in two UFC bouts coming into the evening and could be looking at a release with a loss, for agreeing to compete here after Nchukwi missed weight by 3.5 pounds on Friday morning. Now, not only will he walk away with his show and win money, but also with a portion of Nchukwi's purse as well. Dobson closed with a 98 to 59 edge in total strikes landed, in addition to connecting on the only two takedowns of the bout. The Ohio native is well behind where he needs to be in terms of experience given the fact he will be 32 years of age next January, but this win ensures he will receive another fight with the company.
Credit Dobson, who was winless in two UFC bouts coming into the evening and could be looking at a release with a loss, for agreeing to compete here after Nchukwi missed weight by 3.5 pounds on Friday morning. Now, not only will he walk away with his show and win money, but also with a portion of Nchukwi's purse as well. Dobson closed with a 98 to 59 edge in total strikes landed, in addition to connecting on the only two takedowns of the bout. The Ohio native is well behind where he needs to be in terms of experience given the fact he will be 32 years of age next January, but this win ensures he will receive another fight with the company.