Featherweight talents Felipe Lima and Muhammad Naimov threw down earlier tonight (Sat. June 22, 2024) live on ABC inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After ten competitive minutes, Lima grabbed the initiative and a rear naked choke.
Lima started the fight really strong. He stormed out of the gate, firing big combinations and jumping into a flying knee connection. Naimov seemed a little thrown off by his opponent’s aggression, and it took him some time to settle into the fight. By the second, however, the tide began to turn. Lima — who took the fight on short-notice — began to slow a bit, whereas Naimov upped his activity and started to score more as a result.
Between rounds, Lima’s corner gave him a huge motivational speech and brought up his mother, whom Lima hadn’t seen in a couple years. It worked! A renewed Lima came out firing once again, then he flipped the script with a sudden takedown. Immediately, he transitioned onto Naimov’s back, locking up a palm-to-palm rear naked choke very soon after gaining the position.
Check out the highlight clip below:
At 26 years of age, Lima just announced himself as a prospect to watch. “Jungle Boy” is usually a Bantamweight, and he just secured his 13th straight victory over an experienced UFC opponent. That’s one hell of a way to make a UFC debut!
For complete UFC Saudi Arabia results, coverage, and highlights, click HERE.
