Billy Elekana Outpoints Ibo Aslan in Tactical UFC Abu Dhabi Clash
So at UFC Abu Dhabi, we saw a light heavyweight matchup between Turkey’s Ibo Aslan and American southpaw Billy Elekana — and let’s just say, it wasn’t the barnburner some fans might’ve hoped for. This one played out more like a slow, methodical chess match than an all-out brawl, and in the end, it was Elekana who walked away with the unanimous decision victory.
Both fighters came into the bout with something to prove. Aslan was looking to rebound from the first loss of his UFC career — a submission loss to Ion Cutelaba — while Elekana was also trying to get his first win in the promotion after a tough debut loss to Bogdan Guskov. The stakes were high, but neither man seemed fully willing to take the big risks.
Also Read:- Aaron Judge Sidelined with Elbow Injury as Yankees Face Phillies
- Montreal's Air Ranked Among the Worst in the World Due to Prairie Wildfires
Right from the start, you could tell this was going to be a cautious fight. The opening round saw a handful of kicks exchanged, but neither fighter committed much beyond that. It was almost like they were both waiting for the other to make a mistake — but those mistakes never really came. The lack of action was especially noticeable considering the high-energy fight that came right before it on the card. Fans definitely felt the difference in pace.
The second round followed a similar pattern. There was movement, there were feints, but there wasn’t a lot of damage being done. You had to wonder how the judges were going to score it if things continued that way — and they did. The third round brought a brief pause due to a low blow on Elekana, but the action resumed quickly. It wasn’t until the final 90 seconds or so that Elekana landed a clean shot that really stood out, snapping Aslan’s head back and maybe sealing the round.
As the clock ticked down, Elekana pushed a little harder, throwing a big swing in the final 30 seconds. But ultimately, it was a tactical, low-output affair. Neither man ever seemed fully willing to go for broke, and that showed on the scorecards. Elekana won it with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28.
So while it won’t go down as a Fight of the Night contender, Elekana did what he needed to do — he got the win, showed composure, and put himself back on track in the UFC. For Aslan, it’s now back to the drawing board after dropping two in a row.
Read More:
0 Comments