Fight week in Saudi Arabia got off to an explosive start at ANB Arena, with five of the eight bouts at Power Slap 11 ending via knockout. The most significant belonged to Ron "Wolverine" Bata, whose first-round stoppage secured his light heavyweight title defence. In an emotional turn of events, Wolverine announced his retirement, vacating the belt and leaving the stage as a true pioneer of the sport.
The main event featured a rematch between Dumpling and Da Crazy Hawaiian, with Da Crazy Hawaiian making an incredible transformation, shedding 70 pounds since their last meeting at UFC 308 fight week in Abu Dhabi. In an entertaining showdown highlighted by their antics after each slap, Dumpling displayed a rare level of emotion on stage. Ultimately, he dominated the bout, finally claiming the super heavyweight championship and taking the belt back to Russia after falling just short in October.
Capping off a defining night for the sport, Da Crazy Hawaiian announced his plans to drop from super heavyweight to heavyweight. With three of Power Slap's biggest names Wolverine, Dumpling, and Da Crazy Hawaiian making headlines, the event gave fans plenty to talk about in the weeks ahead.
As we transitioned into UFC action, Saturday night’s Fight Night card delivered in spectacular fashion, with thrilling finishes, breakout performances, and a defining moment for a new championship contender. The night belonged to the likes of Vinicius Oliveira and Nassourdine Imavov, both of whom put on career-defining performances in Riyadh’s ANB Arena.
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs Jamal Pogues
Abdelwahab caught Pogues early in the opening round and used his wrestling to inflict further damage, while Pogues found some success with his jab once the fight returned to the feet. The second round was uneventful and likely favored Pogues, while the third followed a similar pattern, giving a slight edge to Abdelwahab. Overall, it was a lackluster fight, with Abdelwahab earning a split-decision victory.
Bogdan Grad vs Lucas Alexander
As expected after missing weight by 2.5 lbs, Alexander started strong and took the opening round. He maintained momentum early in the second, but Grad turned the tide by dropping him and spending most of the round wearing him down. With 38 seconds left, the referee stepped in as Grad unleashed a barrage of elbows and hammerfists on a defenseless Alexander, securing the stoppage victory.
Jasmine Jasudavicius vs Mayra Bueno Silva
The fight began with both fighters trading blows until Jasudavicius got caught in a guillotine while attempting a takedown. The choke never seemed too deep, and once she escaped, she poured on the pressure, dominating the remainder of the round. Another guillotine scare opened the second, but aside from that, Jasudavicius controlled the fight. Her dominance continued into the third, securing a convincing decision victory for the Canadian.
Terrance McKinney vs Damir Hadzovic
This one ended as quickly as it started, with T.Wrecks fighting his trademark all-out style, no brakes, just full throttle. He earned a well-deserved first-round TKO victory.
Shamil Gaziev vs Thomas Petersen
Much like the previous fight, this one didn't take long to find a winner. Gaziev landed a devastating straight right, securing a highlight-reel walk-off knockout.
Muhammad Naimov vs Kaan Ofli
In one of the evening’s most anticipated prelims, Australia’s own Kaan Ofli, a rising star from The Ultimate Fighter, squared off against the tough and experienced Muhammad Naimov. The stakes were high for Ofli, making his UFC debut and eager to showcase his potential on the big stage. Unfortunately, Naimov's well-rounded skillset proved too much for Ofli to crack, with the Australian fighter finding it tough to impose his game. Despite the setback, Kaan’s journey is far from over, every fighter has their ups and downs, and this is just another step in what promises to be a bright future. There's no doubt he'll bounce back stronger from this challenge, and Aussie fans will continue to support him every step of the way.
Fares Ziam vs Mike Davis
In one of the bloodiest encounters in recent memory, Fares Ziam entered the octagon in white shorts and left them completely soaked in red. From the start, Ziam was sharp, controlling the action and never giving Mike Davis a chance to get going. His performance was nearly flawless, neutralising Davis' offense, showcasing his striking, and dominating on the mat. Ziam’s dominant display earned him a well-deserved victory, solidifying his status as a serious contender in the lightweight division.
Said Nurmagomedov vs Vinicius Oliveira
A fight that promised so much certainly delivered, as it unfolded into a highly entertaining battle that went to the judges' scorecards. Nurmagomedov appeared poised for victory after a strong start, clearly the better fighter early on and seemingly moments away from landing a fight-winning blow with his creativity on full display. However, Oliveira weathered the storm and began to assert himself in the second round as Nurmagomedov visibly started to tire. With his gas tank running low, Nurmagomedov’s creativity remained, almost baiting Oliveira into dangerous exchanges. Despite battling through a pre-existing rib injury, Oliveira finished the stronger of the two, ultimately swaying the judges in his favour with a dominant final round.
Sergei Pavlovich vs Jarzinho Rozenstruik
Former teammates collided in a highly anticipated heavyweight matchup, and Pavlovich wasted no time, landing a series of heavy blows early on. An unfortunate slip saw Rozenstruik end the first round on his back, a position that would become familiar as all three rounds ended in the same way. Despite failing to land his trademark knockout blow, Pavlovich controlled the fight from start to finish, dominating the action and securing a clear victory.
Shara Magomedov vs Michael Page
From the start, Page showcased his superior striking and movement, controlling the distance and pace of the fight. He dropped Magomedov briefly in the first round and continued to evade and counter throughout, never letting his opponent find any rhythm. Magomedov, known for his creativity and spinning back fists, struggled to land anything significant on Page. Despite a few aggressive attempts in the final round, he couldn’t break through Page’s elusiveness and precision. Page handed Magomedov his first professional loss, snapping his undefeated streak.
Israel Adesanya vs Nassourdine Imavov
In Adesanya's first fight without a championship belt on the line in six years, he faced a young and hungry Frenchman in Nassourdine Imavov. Adesanya started strong, showcasing his striking skills, but Imavov kept pressing forward exploring a number of takedown avenues. Midway through the first round, Adesanya absorbed a powerful right hand from The Sniper, but it was in the second round where things ended abruptly. Imavov landed another devastating right hand, followed by a left uppercut, that forced the referee to stop the fight just as Imavov was getting into his ground and pound work. Imavov handed Adesanya his third consecutive defeat and you can't help but wonder what is next for The Last Stylebender.
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