Said Nurmagomedov didn?t break much sweat as he submitted Muin Gafurov in the maiden round (1:13 minutes) of their main card contest in UFC 294.

Returning to the win column in style, Nurmagomedov delivered a much-needed performance in front of a star-studded crowd in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, his opponent Gafurov suffered his third consecutive loss in the UFC.

Said Nurmagomedov began the UFC 294 main card with a statement win

?Tajik? Gafurov left the octagon crying as he may have expected a longer night. He kicked off the bout by managing a distance from Said Nurmagomedov. However, he soon fell into the Dagestani fighter?s trap.

Nurmagomedov put his opponent in a tight choke with nowhere else to go and Tajik tapped out in a blink. It was the third finish and second submission from UFC 294 tonight. The Abu Dhabi crowd was clearly cheering for Nurmagomedov with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, KDB, and many more people in the Etihad Arena. He delivered what the crowd was seeking.

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