INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Muin Gafurov beat Rinya Nakamura with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Take a look inside the fight with Gafurov, a former LFA bantamweight champion who has back-to-back wins after consecutive losses to open his UFC career.
Muin Gafurov def. Rinya Nakamura
Result: Muin Gafurov def. Rinya Nakamura via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Gafurov (20-6 MMA, 2-2 UFC) def. Rinya Nakamura (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC)
Key stats: Nakamura was one of the biggest favorites on the card at as much as -850.
Gafurov on the fight’s key moment
“Before the fight, coach John Wood told me my striking, my wrestling – everything is good. Don’t worry. I was running around and I was feeling good, so I decided to show something crazy.”
Gafurov on feeling loose and inspired
“Before the fight, coach John Wood told me my striking, my wrestling – everything is good. Don’t worry. I was running around and I was feeling good, so I decided to show something crazy.
“After Saudi my last fight (against Kyung Ho Kang), I told everyone I’m following (Merab Dvalishvili’s) path. I’ll never lose after this.”
Gafurov on what he wants next
“After I go back home a little bit, relax with my kids, this year I want to fight once more. I’ll ask Sean Shelby or Dana White or somebody, if somebody wants to watch a good fight: I’ll defend this Olympic wrestling. I’d like for the second guy to be Henry Cejudo.”
To hear more from Gafurov, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
Muin Gafurov def. Rinya Nakamura at UFC 311: Best photos
UFC 311: Official scorecards from Los Angeles
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 311 winner Muin Gafurov finds inspiration in champ Merab Dvalishvili’s 0-2 UFC start
