Khabib Nurmagomedov’s return to cage-side duties faced a setback! At the Bellator San Diego event, Imamshafi Aliev, a member of Team Khabib, took on Jordan Newman. Aliev’s corner had ‘The Eagle’ providing him with his expert advice but even that wasn’t enough to stop the surging Newman.
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Newman, a Roufusport MMA Academy fighter, was considered by many to be the underdog going into this matchup. Did that affect his performance? Not at all as the American fighter ran through his opposition en route to a unanimous decision victory. From the first round, it was clear that Newman had a strategy. He kept his distance, using sharp check-hooks to halt Aliev’s advances. One of those hooks even dropped Aliev briefly—making it Newman’s round without question.
🦅🦅🦅 Final instructions from Khabib Nurmagomedov to Imamshafi Aliev! #BellatorSanDiego | LIVE NOW on @SportsonMAX
Round two saw a more balanced exchange, but Newman’s precise strikes made the difference again. But Aliev wasn’t ready to back down. He came alive in the third, landing solid right hands and pushing Newman on the back foot. Still, Newman managed to land one final hook in the closing seconds, solidifying his lead. In the end, all three judges agreed—Newman took the fight with a unanimous decision. His perfect 7-0 record remains intact, while Aliev tasted defeat for the first time.
The win also drew an outpouring of responses from many prominent names in the MMA sphere including a UFC veteran who had a simple one-word response to the upset! Here’s a look at how the community reacted.
UFC veterans and the MMA world react to Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team facing a rare loss at Bellator San Diego
Ben Askren, the man behind the Askren Wrestling Academy where Jordan Newman honed his wrestling skills added his reaction on social media. With just one word, ‘Funky’ highlighted the incredible achievement of his protégé!
Beast!!!
STILL UNDEFEATED! 🇺🇸 Jordan Newman defeated Imamshafi Aliev via unanimous decision and advances to 7-0! #RoadToDubai #BellatorSanDiego | LIVE NOW on @SportsonMax
Aaron Bronsteter also chimed in by sharing the scorecards for the bout in a post made on X. The unanimous decision victory over Khabib Nurmagomedov’s teammate is a massive feather in the cap of Newman who has now put the rest of the division on notice!
Jordan Newman pulls off the massive upset over Imamshafi Aliev by unanimous decision (30-27 x3) Great performance
Nolan King provided an interesting perspective on the situation. His view? That a prospect like Newman taking on an opponent the caliber of Aliev is a “sink or swim” proposition. But, the American passed the test with flying colors and is now the talk of the MMA sphere.
Since the PFL-Bellator merger (and even a little before then), many slow-burn prospects are thrown in the deep end. It's sink or swim, and Jordan Newman swam tonight. I thought he looked fantastic.
Official #BellatorSanDiego Result: Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). #BellatorSanDiego | LIVE NOW on @SportsonMAX
Others like Jason Hagholm who provides his MMA insights for ‘The MMA Chronicles’ and ‘The Scrap’ were impressed by the scrappy Newman who silenced all the doubters with his performance.
Jordan Newman is a Dawg #BellatorSanDiego
Official #BellatorSanDiego Result: Jordan Newman def. Imamshafi Aliev via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). #BellatorSanDiego | LIVE NOW on @SportsonMAX
The impressive win has also led some fans to proclaim Newman to be ready to take his talents to the UFC. However, with the momentum firmly on his side with his massive win, a challenge for the Bellator title may be next for the man also known as ‘Not Human’.
ready for the UFC.
In conclusion, Jordan Newman’s hard-fought win over Imamshafi Aliev not only extended his undefeated record, but it has also given him a significant boost in the MMA world. Overcoming the odds as the underdog, especially against an opponent backed by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s expertise underscore the significance of his win. With Ben Askren and the broader MMA community all lauding his victory, it’s a sign that ‘Not Human’ is ready to make a step-up towards the Bellator middleweight title. Do you think Jordan Newman will eventually make his way to the UFC? Why or Why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
