Hamdy Abdelwahab defeats Don’Tale Mayes, showcases wrestling and durability at UFC 277
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to us tonight, July 30, 2022, for UFC 277, going down live from the American Airlines Arena in Dallas, Texas.
Headlining the event is a bantamweight championship rematch between current champion Julianna Pena (11-4) and former champion, no. 1 ranked Amanda Nunes (21-5).
Co-headlining the event is also a championship rematch, this one going down in the flyweight division between former champion, no. 1 ranked Brandon Moreno (19-6-2), who faces no. 2 ranked Kai Kara-France (24-9) for the interim title in the co-main event of the evening.
Our second bout on the preliminary card tonight came in the heavyweight division between Don’Tale Mayes (9-4) and Hamdy Abdelwahab (5-0).
Mayes came into the bout on a two-fight win streak, while Adbelwahab is a former Olympian in the Greco-Roman wrestling category.
Continue reading to see how this heavyweight encounter went down:
Official Result: Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Don’Tale Mayes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Abdelwahab is able to stun Mayes, who ran straight into a shot, and chases him down with more punches. He then drops Mayes and continues reigning down punches, before suplexing him and throwing a few more punches for good measure.
Mayes is able to recover whilst being held up against the fence and the two are back to striking range for the final minute of round one.
Mayes lands a thunderous left cross in the second that badly stuns Abdelwahab and he follows up with a flying knee that was partially blocked. The tides have certainly turned, as Mayes continues his assault, but doesn’t force the finish and it doesn’t come.
Adbelwahab recovers, and with about 40 seconds left in the second Mayes goes for a trip and ends up on bottom.
It looks like it’s 19-19 going into the third.
Abdelwahab secures a beautiful takedown to start the third; he initiated a clinch, ducks under to the back, and lets Mayes spin into him so he could secure the double leg. Just a beautiful set up.
Abdelwahab probably would have remained on top for the rest of the fight, but the referee stands them up with 50 seconds left. Both men were absolutely exhausted.
Mayes lands a couple hard shots toward the end of the bout, but was unable to secure a finish., as he wins his UFC debut, improving his professional record to 6-0.
Congratulations to Hamdy Abdelwahab on becoming the first Egyptian to ever fight, or win in the UFC octagon.
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