UFC on ABC 9 video: Steven Nguyen makes history, deforms Mohammad Yahya's face
On the UFC on ABC 9 prelims, Nguyen (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) dropped Yahya (12-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) a record-breaking six times. The fight was stopped between Round 2 and Round 3 due to Yahya's grotesquely swollen eye. The fight took place at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Yahya hung tough throughout the beatdown, but the human body (or in this case, face) can only take so much. The swelling escalated around the final knockdown, which took place in Round 2. When his face was shown on the big screen between rounds, his distorted face got an audible reaction from the crowd.
Nguyen picks up his first UFC victory in what was his first fight since his debut in March 2024. The Fortis MMA product moves to 4-1 in his most recent five.
Yahya could be on the chopping block after coming up empty-handed three times in as many UFC fights.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on ABC 9 results
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USA Today
22 minutes ago
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Referee's reasoning for not stopping Nguyen vs. Yahya earlier 'seemed fine,' says exec
Steven Nguyen set a UFC record in Abu Dhabi, prompting cause for concern. On the UFC on ABC 9 prelims at Etihad Arena, Nguyen (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was officially credited with six total knockdowns on Mohammad Yahya, setting a new UFC record. The previous total was five, which Nguyen reached in the opening round. Yahya (12-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) continued to get back to his feet, the commentary team and many sharing their thoughts on social media began to wonder if and when referee Jason Herzog would say enough was enough, and stop the fight. UFC executive Dave Shaw said they spoke to the referee after the fight to understand his thought process. "We talked to Herzog after, and he was commenting that there was certain moments in the fight where Yahya looked like he was right back in it," Shaw told reporters during a post-fight news conference. "So, he'd get knocked down, he got knocked down quickly. I think there were five in the first round and maybe two more in the second. I think how rapidly his eye changed, and got swollen and bulged up – what do I think? Definitely there was a solid argument for that fight could have been called earlier, but he provided his justification, and it seemed fine to me." As the fight continued into Round 2, Yahya's left eye became freakishly swollen. When the fighters returned to their stools, the cageside doctor said the fight could not continue, and Nguyen was awarded the TKO victory. Yahya was assessed at a medical facility, and luckily, Shaw said he suffered no permanent damage. "The other side of it now too is post-medical evaluation, going to the hospital – just all swelling," Shaw said. "So, there's no damage – no permanent damage that requires surgery." Shaw was asked by a reporter if this fight could lead to the implementation of a three-knockdown rule, similar to boxing. "No, I don't think so," Shaw said. "I mean, the record was five, and I don't want to make a judgment on that just we've got one fight that we're commenting on. We should be looking at a wide body of evidence and I think we've all seen some pretty incredible fights over the years that are three rounds, that are five rounds that have three, four, five knockdowns, and they're wildly entertaining. It doesn't necessarily there's an extensive amount of damage."
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an hour ago
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Amanda Ribas says facial surgery required after TKO loss at UFC on ABC 9
Amanda Ribas' body language as she fell to the canvas in a TKO loss to Tabatha Ricci at UFC on ABC 9 was the result of some serious damage. After a competitive strawweight fight for nearly eight minutes on Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Ricci (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) unleashed a pinpoint elbow to the right eye socket of Ribas (12-7 MMA, 7-6 UFC) during an exchange on the clinch. The Brazilian immediately showed signs of distress after it landed, then moments later she was curled up as the referee pulled her opponent off. It was a significant shot from Ricci, because Ribas revealed in the hours after the fight that she suffered facial damage to the point that surgery will be required and a plate will have to be inserted (via X): It wasn't the result I wanted, but I know it's what I love! It's where I love to be, it's where it makes my eyes shine, and I get paid very well for it. Thank you to God for the opportunity to work with what I love and to @ufc.I'm going to have surgery soon, on top of the one I already had on my facial bone. God continues to be wonderful to me and is in control. Prayers. 🙏🏼❤️🥰 According to Ribas, this is not the first time such a surgery will be required, but she maintained her trademark positive attitude despite the difficult moment. With the result, the 31-year-old is on a three-fight losing skid for the first time and hasn't seen her hand raised since October 2023. Ribas did not provide a specific timeline for her recovery and when she could potentially make an octagon return.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
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UFC on ABC 9 bonuses: Record-breaking knockdown performance appropriately rewarded
The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday's card in Abu Dhabi, including a record-breaking performance. After UFC on ABC 9, four fighters picked up an extra $50,000 for their performances at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Check out the winners below. Performance of the Night: Muslim Salikhov Age is no problem for the 41-year-old Muslim Salikhov (22-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who came into his fight against Carlos Leal (22-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) as a massive underdog. "The King of Kung Fu" blasted an overly aggressive Leal with a clean counter shot for a sub-minute knockout, to notch his second straight opening-round finish – both of which earned Perfomance of the Night bonuses. Performance of the Night: Steven Nguyen Steven Nguyen (10-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) picked up his first win under the UFC banner with a record-breaking performance. Nguyen repeatedly put Mohammad Yahya (12-6 MMA, 0-3 UFC) on the canvas with accurate punches, totalling a record six knockdowns en route to a TKO stoppage by the cageside doctor after Round 2. That's two fights and two bonuses in the UFC for Fortis MMA's Nguyen, who returns home with an extra check and his name in the record books. Fight of the Night: Shara Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault On the main card, middleweights Shara Magomedov (16-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) and Marc-Andre Barriault (17-10 MMA, 6-9 UFC) put on an incredible back-and-forth war over 15 minutes. After a close opening round, all hell broke loose when both fighters had near-finishing moments. Barriault flattened Magomedov's nose, but he ended up in big trouble as the round came to a close. The bloody affair somehow reached the final horn, where Magomedov was announced the winner by unanimous decision. For their efforts, they both take home an extra $50,000. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Abu Dhabi bonuses: Steven Nguyen breaks records, takes one of four
