“Jon Jones has officially retired” – MMA fans go into frenzy as Shamil Gaziev secures walk-off KO at UFC Saudi Arabia

UFC Saudi Arabia results: Shamil Gaziev logs quick KO over Thomas Petersen, ekes out past decision merchant allegations with big win.

“Jon Jones has officially retired” – MMA fans go into frenzy as Shamil Gaziev secures walk-off KO at UFC Saudi Arabia

UFC Saudi Arabia video: Shamil Gaziev scores walk-off KO of Thomas Petersen (Source: UFC News (@UFCNews) / X)

UFC Saudi Arabia marks the 719th UFC event and the 108th UFC on ESPN main card. The 3rd UFC event of the year and 2nd from Saudi Arabia/Riyadh does not disappoint. Shamil Gaziev added a highlight-reel KO under his belt at UFC Saudi Arabia against Thomas Petersen.

Shamil Gaziev saw his perfect stats ruined in a lackluster main event with Jairzinho Rozenstruik in March 2024. However, he got back big into the win column tonight. Gaziev (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) has now strung up back-to-back wins after flooring Thomas Petersen with a walk-off KO. Before the Riyadh UFC Fight Night 250 prelim lineup at Saudi Arabia, he last defeated Don’Tale Mayes at UFC on ABC 7.

Last fight, I broke my hand – that’s why my fight went to decision, …[chuckles] I promise you guys when I’m healthy, I will try to look at first-round finish…

Shamil Gaziev during UFC Saudi Arabia post-fight Octagon interview with Paul Felder, through an interpreter
YouTube video

Widely popular Gaziev, 34, often goes viral for a reason or two or more, sometimes not even in the right manner. The knockout at the 3:12 mark of Round 1 in the heavyweight bout on Saturday makes things right for him. Shamil Gaziev knows he had an underwhelming decision win at UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov. He said it was a product of injury and bad juju and all things souring.

FS Video

But now, the Dagestan, Bahrain fighter is wishful to climb the heavyweight ranks. He has his performance behind him. Gaziev defeated Thomas Petersen via knockout (punch) – Round 1, around the 3:12 mark. He left no room for doubt and closed the window on any speculations. This puts him at 4-1 in his last few and quite the challenge ahead. As such, the quick KO has gone quite viral.

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Fight fans react to Shamil Gaziev landing walk-off KO

Walk-off knockouts have their own particular fandom that adds to the intrigue. Ask neo-blazer Sean O’Malley or Alex Pereira for that. Devout Dagestanis have their own fandom with prime performances. Shamil Gaziev mixed those two logging a quick tag over Thomas Petersen at UFC Saudi Arabia.

Fans react to one-punch UFC Saudi Arabia man Shamil Gaziev
Fans react to one-punch UFC Saudi Arabia man Shamil Gaziev (Source: es.agfight.com)

Heavyweights getting the groove on have their own separate fandom as well. With a logjam since early 2023, the 265lbers all pooled in for the top spot. Now, UFC Saudi Arabia’s Shamil Gaziev has added himself to the ranks of consideration. Here is what fans think of his win:

Fans/peers/analysts are here for Gaziev’s knockout and performance. Widely gaining traction, the popular ‘Show Me The Money’ Podcast (@showmethepod) quipped on socials “BREAKING: Jon Jones has officially retired“. While others have warned champ [IC] Tom Aspinall to beware.

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While it’s taking a good mickey out of it, it’s hardly plausible he leapfrogs that far. Or does he? ‘Bigi Boy’ Rozenstruik and Derrick Lewis are proper KO artists. Alexander Volkov was riding on a neat 4-fight win streak and was shaping up a top contender for gold until some judges put the curse on him. Sergei Pavlovich still has his fight left.

There are other names in the cog if unification fails and the 265 gold stays put. But for tonight, heavyweight heavyweight Gaziev is the ‘it’ man at UFC Saudi Arabia.

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