Round 1: The two fighters touch gloves and the UFC Fight Night 36 prelims are underway. Tukhugov takes the center of the cage. Silva lands first with an outside leg kick. Tukhugov misses with a spinning back kick to the body. Silva responds with a heavy outside leg kick. He lands another. Silva lands a kick to the body, but Tukhugov catches it and tosses him to the canvas. Silva quickly gets back to his feet. Tukhugov moves forward. He partially lands a spinning back fist. Silva fires back with a leg kick. Tukhugov bounces on the outside. He throws a kick to the body. Silva catches it and fires a right hand down the middle. Tukhugov delivers a left hand counter than lands flush. Silva is cut. Tukhugov misses with a spinning back fist. He changes levels and takes Silva down with a double leg. He lands punches and elbows. Heavy ground and pound by Tukhugov. Silva scrambles to his feet and gets hit with a combination. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Tukhugov.
Round 2: Silva’s cut is on his forehead above his left eye. The stop the bleeding between rounds. Tukhugov takes the center of the cage and inches forward. He delivers a lead kick to the body. Silva lands a slapping leg kick and misses with a spinning back kick meant for the body. Silva continues to land leg kick. He closes the distance and lands a knee to the body. Tukhugov answers with a combination. Tukhugov moves inside with a combination and they clinch. Tukhugov looks for a single leg, but Silva spins free. They both miss with kicks. Silva delivers an inside leg kick. Tukhugov continues to press forward. Tukhugov secures a takedown as Silva throw a spinning kick. Silva quickly gets back to his feet. Tukhugov moves in with a right hand. Silva counters with a right hand and Tukhugov backs away. Silva blocks a spinning back fist by Tukhugov. Silva lands to the body and the round ends. Close round. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Tukhugov.
Round 3: Tukhugov lands a right hand and Silva counters. Tukhugov knocks Silva off balance with a side kick to the body. Tukhugov rushes forward landing a right hand. Silva circles on the outside. Tukhugov goes to the body with a big right hand. Silva answers with a glancing high kick and right hand. Tukhugov comes up with air on an spinning kick attempt to the body. Silva lands a right hand. Tukhugov pressures landing a combination. Tukhugov continues to move forward. Silva looking to counter. Tukhugov delivers a combination. Tukhugov looks for a takedown, but Silva sprawls. Silva is winging big punches but missing. Tukhugov gets a takedown, but Silva scrambles back to his feet. Silva lands a left hook on the inside. Tukhugov presses forward and lands a left hand of his own. Tukhugov partially lands a spinning back fist. Silva fires back with a left hand. The round ends. MMAWeekly scores the round 10-9 for Tukhugov.
The judges scored the fight for Tukhugov by unanimous decision. The scorecards read 30-27, 29-28 and 30-27.
QUOTES
Zubaira Tukhugov:
“I’m very pleased with the fight, with myself, with the judges, with the whole show. My opponent was very good and he has shown he is a great fighter.”
Douglas Silva:
“I am thankful I was able to go three rounds. For someone who only had nine days to prepare for the fight, I think I did very well. There are no excuses, I took the fight, but I feel like it will be a whole different story when I’m able to train for longer.”
SCORECARD