Things just got interesting in Rotterdam, as the tallest fighter in UFC history got completely mauled, and Nate Diaz got called out by a feared KO striker…
Going down in Rotterdam, Holland last night was UFC Fight Night 115. The event hosted some great local talent, and for true fans of MMA was a sleeper card in the waiting. From the first fight, it was clear UFC Rotterdam was going to be great.
Featured in the main event were the gigantic duo of Stefan Struve and Alexander Volkov. Nicknamed ‘Skyscraper,’ Struve is the tallest fighter in UFC history at seven foot tall. At six foot seven, ‘Drago’ was made to look small by Struve.
Size was not the deciding factor, as Volkov unleashed brutal body kicks and boxing combinations. With Struve stunned against the fence in the third round, Volkov swarmed for the stoppage finish.
Watch the full war on the video below:
Next Up is Mairbek Taisumov
26-5 Mairbek Taisumov faced 8-1 Felipe Silva last night. Making it a quick night, Taisumov scored a harrowing 84-second one-punch knockout. The win extended Taisumov’s streak to five at lightweight.
Immediately after the KO, Taisumov challenged Nate Diaz to put his money where his mouth is. Watch the brutal KO below, followed by Taisumov’s challenge to Diaz:
“I say this before, and I’m going to tell this again: I’m here not to talk, I’m here to smash, smash anyone who steps into the octagon with me. I need top 10 (opponent), I need top 10. Anyone. These guys don’t want to fight me. I ask all top-10 fighters; nobody want to fight me. I am five finishes in a row, all knockouts, TKOs. Hey, UFC, Sean (Shelby), I think I deserve that.”
Anthony Pettis, he says I’m not famous enough to fight me. (Nate) Diaz says he’s the best, Nate Diaz is the best; he says if UFC pays him $20 million he’s going to fight me in my home country, but I think he smoke too much.” Quotes by MMAJunkie.com
Finally, check out Struve’s battered face after his loss to Volkov, followed by the full UFC Rotterdam results…
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 115 RESULTS:
265 lbs.: Alexander Volkov vs. Stefan Struve — Volkov def. Struve by TKO (punches) at 3:30 of Round Three
135 lbs.: Marion Reneau vs. Talita de Oliveira Bernardo — Reneau def. Bernardo by TKO (punches) at 4:54 of Round Three
185 lbs.: Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Rob Wilkinson — Bahadurzada def. Wilkinson by TKO (punches) at 3:10 of Round Two
170 lbs.: Bryan Barberena vs. Leon Edwards — Edwards def. Barberena by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
170 lbs.: Darren Till vs. Bojan Velickovic — Till def. Velickovic by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
155 lbs.: Felipe Silva vs. Mairbek Taisumov — Taisumov def. Silva by KO (punch) at 1:24 of Round One
155 lbs.: Mads Burnell vs. Michel Prazeres — Prazeres def. Burnell by submission (north-south choke) at 1:26
155 lbs.: Desmond Green vs. Rustam Khabilov — Khabilov def. Green by unanimous decision (29-28 x2, 30-27)
205 lbs.: Francimar Barroso vs. Aleksandar Rakic — Rakic def. Barroso by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
145 lbs.: Mike Santiago vs. Zabit Magomedsharipov — Magomedsharipov def. Santiago by submission (rear naked choke) at 4:22 of Round Two
205 lbs.: Abdul-Kerim Edilov vs. Bojan Mihajlovic — Edilov def. Mihajlovic by TKO (punches) at 2:32 of Round Two
155 lbs.: Thibault Gouti vs. Andrew Holbrook — Gouti def. Holbrook by TKO (head kick and punches) at 4:28 of Round One
