The rise of Australia’s talented UFC prospect Jamie Mullarkey came to a shuddering halt at UFC Vegas 74 on Sunday when the gifted lightweight prospect copped a devastating knockout defeat.
Mullarkey was fighting a last-minute replacement in Tajikistani debutant Muhammad Naimov, the biggest underdog on the entire card at around $4.50 odds after being called up only on Tuesday.
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Yet, Naimov wasn't dismayed by the one in a million chances, and came out firing bombs in an ever changing opening several rounds. Mullarkey used his rangy punch well and seemed to be marginally on top, landing 43 strikes to Naimov's 20 halfway through the second round.
Yet, as Mullarkey supported up his rival and walked in on a bring down feint, he was gotten with a thunderous counter right snare that landed level on the chin and sent the Australian crashing to the canvas.
Naimov leapt to finish the bout with a couple of extra shots on his downed opponent, with the referee quickly stepping in to end the fight at 2:59 in the second round.
It was 28-year-old Mullarkey's sixth loss in his MMA vocation to go with his 16 wins, and ends a two-fight win streak that saw him take steps to rise into the rankings.
For the previous Competitor Series fighter Naimov, it was a first UFC win on his presentation, taking him to 9-2 by and large.
“The last three years have been a really hard time,” Naimov said. “Three years, I carried a lot of things in this sport. Today it pays off. A lot of people wait for this debut. Nobody believed I can beat this lightweight. Featherweight, you guys have a problem. You guys have a big problem.
“You guys have a new king. That short guy [Alexander Volkanovski], Max Holloway, forget about them. I’m here.”
Such is the popularity of UFC in Tajikistan that thousands of fans gathered in a football stadium to watch the bout – despite it taking place after 4am local time.