Jacob Malkoun easily outwrestles Abdul Bazak Alhassan for UD victory
Jacob Malkoun gets takedown after takedown on way to an easy unanimous decision victory over Abdul Bazak Alhassan.
UFC Vegas 24 goes down tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The main event will feature a key fight in the middleweight division as former champion Robert Whittaker finally fights Kelvin Gastelum. The two were first booked back in February of 2019 at UFC 234, bu Whittaker was forced to withdraw from after having emergency surgery just a few hours before the fight.
Prior to the main event, another middleweight fight takes place as Abdul Razak Alhassan and Jacob Malkoun will square off.
Alhassan (10-3) returned to the octagon last year after missing all of 2019. His return was rough one as he lost back-to-back fights against Mounir Lazzez and Khaos Williams, who knocked out Alhassan in 30 seconds. Prior to the two losses, Alhassan was on a three-fight winning streak.
Malkoun (4-1) made his UFC debut in October and suffered his first professional defeat to Phil Hawes. Prior to the loss, Malkoun was undefeated with a 4-0 record.
Here’s how the Alhassan and Malkoun fight went down with a round-by-round breakdown and scoring. For a full list of UFC Vegas 24 results, click here.
Round 1
Malkoun shots right in for a single leg takedown and he gets it. Right from the start this fight is on the canvas.
Alhassan throws some big elbows that help him break free and the two return to the feet.
Malkoun is trying for a takedown again and eventually he gets one. Alhassan gets to the feet only to have Malkoun take him right back down and is down trying to take Alhassan’s back.
Alhassan works his way to the feet again, but yet again as soon as he gets up, Malkoun takes the fight right back to the ground.
The two get back standing and Alhassan throws some kicks to the body as the horn sounds. Easy round for Malkoun, who secured four takedowns in the round.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Malkoun
Round 2
Malkoun gets takedown number five within the first 30 seconds of the round. Alhassan is trying for a guillotine, but he doesn’t get it.
Malkoun is doing work on the ground. He’s coming close to locking in a choke. He is literally all over Alhassan right now and the round is only halfway over.
This round is all Malkoun. He nearly got an anaconda choke. Alhassan is starting to breath heavy.
Alhassan escpaes from his back and is back on his feet with one minute left in the round.
Malkoun lands a nice strike and goes to the clinch to close out the round.
Not sure if the judges go 10-8 here. While Malkoun smothered Alhassan for the five minutes, he wasn’t overwhelming him.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Malkoun
Round 3
Malkoun comes out blitzing and throwing some heavy nice shots that land and Alhassan backs into the fence.
A few seconds later, Alhassan once again on his back as Malkoun gets another takedown within the first 45 seconds of the round.
Alhassan works back to the feet and starts swinging. Malkoun gets under the shots and goes to the clinch. Alhassan breaks it, but Malkoun goes right back to the clinch and pushes Alhassan back into the fence.
Malkoun is still trying for a takedown and with just under 90 seconds left in the round, he gets it.
One minute left in the fight and the official UFC stats now list Malkoun with eight takedown in the fight.
Alhassan breaks free with seven seconds left in the round, but it doesn’t matter. This fight was all Malkoun.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Malkoun
MyMMANews scorecard: 30-27 Malkoun
Official Result: Jacob Malkoun defeats Abdul Bazak Alhassan by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
