VIDEO: 'The Lazy King' Abdoul Abdouraguimov Scores Dominant First-Round Finish in PFL Debut
"The Lazy King" Abdoul Abdouraguimov has made a successful debut in the PFL, finishing Brad Wheeler by rear-naked choke in the very first round.
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The two traded strikes on the feet for the first two minutes of the fight. Wheeler landed some crisp shots which put Abdouraguimov on notice. Once the fight hit the floor, however, "Lazy King" showed his dominance, securing Wheeler's back and threatening a rear-naked choke.
Wheeler denied the choke, but Abdouraguimov pursued the position, first squeezing with an arm-triangle choke, and then tapping Wheeler with a tight rear-naked choke.
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"He surprised me he was really calm and collected. ...He defended [on the ground] very well," Abdouraguimov paid respects to his opponent in his post-fight interview, before remarking that his jiu jitsu is "one of the best" in mixed martial arts.
Abdouraguimov then registered his interest in PFL's 2024 lightweight tournament. The French crowd went wild as Abdouraguimov hung off the cage by his knees and continued to do acrobatics in the ring.
The PFL undoubtedly boasts a rising superstar, a thrilling prospect for combat sports fans globally. MMA needs robust competition to challenge the UFC's dominance, and with Abdouraguimov's stellar showing and Cedric Doumbe's exciting debut, the future appears promising for the PFL.
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