Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

Tagir Ulanbekov has no callouts planned until he’s wearing a belt after submission win at UFC 296

LAS VEGAS – Tagir Ulanbekov beat Cody Durden with a second-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Ulanbekov, who won for the fourth time in five fights and second straight time by submission.

Cody Durden vs. Tagir Ulanbekov

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tagir Ulanbekov (red gloves) fights Cody Durden (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Result: Tagir Ulanbekov def. Cody Durden via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 4:25
Updated records: Ulanbekov (15-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) , Durden (16-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC)
Key stats: Ulanbekov had more than 6 minutes of control time in less than two rounds and five submission attempts on his way to the tapout win.

Ulanbekov on the fight's key moment

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tagir Ulanbekov (red gloves) fights Cody Durden (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“The first time, when I caught him with a punch and then went for the submission, I rushed a little bit. But then in the same round, I went for the choke and it was very deep. I was surprised he got out. Then in the second, I got a few submission attempts. But the last one was too deep and no one could escape it.”

Ulanbekov on expectations

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tagir Ulanbekov (red gloves) fights Cody Durden (blue gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“To be honest, this expectation (to live up to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev) doesn’t pressure me at all. My coach (Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov) believed in me that I could do it, and that’s what’s most important. No one could beat me harder than the guys in training on my team. He did everything to get us here. No one believed in him. When he started MMA, no one took it seriously. Everyone said it was not a sport. But he believed in what he did, and today we honor his legacy.”

Ulanbekov on what he wants next

Dec 16, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Tagir Ulanbekov (red gloves) during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

“Since I joined the UFC, I’ve had very few fights. But it’s not because I don’t want to be active. I’ve had bad luck with injuries, with some sickness and infections, but I want to be more active.”

To hear more from Ulanbekov, check out the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.