One of Khabib Nurmagomedov's hunters got away with cheating at UFC Baku.
For the first time, the UFC goes to the Land Azerbaijan for a Fight Night event.
Top Light Heavyweights meet each other in the main event of UFC Baku as former champion Jamahal Hill seems to return from back-to-back losing against Muay Thai striker Khalil Rountree Jr.
The Undercard contained a flying weight conflict between 15-1 Azat Maksum and #13-ranged UFC Flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov, who had coach and former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov in his corner.
Ulanbekov would eventually get up his hand at UFC Baku, but not without controversy.
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC
Tagir Ulanbekov did not obey the referee as he grabbed the fence while Azat Maksum knocked him down
During three action rounds, Maksum was able to bring Ulanbekov three times and defended eight Takedown attempts from the Dagestani.
Maksum tried a Takedown on Ulanbekov minutes in the first round and Ulanbekov tried to defend by illegally holding the cage.
The referee immediately told Ulanbekov not to catch the fence and decided not to take a point of the hunter, because his opponent Maksum completed the Takedown despite the illegal move.
“That is flagrant when they become,” said UFC commentator Michael Bisping about Ulanbekov cheating at UFC Baku.
“I am not saying that I am taking a point, but they are previously warned very hard,” said Bisping.
“That prevented him from being brought down there in that specific case and that is where it is coarse,” said commentator Paul Felder about the fence of Ulanbekov.
Tagir Ulanbekov won all three rounds on the controversial score card of jury members
The fans were not happy with the fence or the decision of the jury members after the flight weight was over.
Fighting up to the distance, Ulanbekov foreign Maksum with two total strikes and achieved almost four minutes of control time in the conflict.
Maksum scored three Takedowns on Ulanbekov and gathered in the third round with punches and a successful removal at the last bell.
Maksum eventually lost through a unanimous decision, in which two jury members all scored the rounds for Ulanbekov.
“Two 30-27s is wild,” a fan responded to the decision on 'X'.
“30-27 was ridiculous and took away a great fight. A draw is a better call than 30-27,” wrote another fan.
“Automatic two rounds up when Khabib is in your corner,” wrote a fan.
“Maksum was robbed,” wrote another fan.