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#3 Ed Herman vs. Khadis Ibragimov (Light Heavyweight)
This was a battle between a 39-year-old veteran in Ed Herman and a young 24-year-old prospect in Kadis Ibragimov. Who prevailed, the old warhorse or the up and coming rookie?
Round 1: Ibragimov was the more active fighter in the initial stages as he looked to stun the veteran Herman with a flurry of strikes.
Herman clinched to avoid taking a lot of damage with Ibragimov working towards a takedown.
The veteran landed knees and elbows in the clinch after stuffing a judo takedown attempt from Ibragimov. The Russian's Sambo credentials were on display as he pinned up Herman against the cage. Herman tried an outside leg trip but Ibragimov stayed put on his feet.
Ibragimov landed a punch on the break. Herman connected with a solid kick to the thigh. Herman took a deep breath with 30 seconds left to go in the round. Ibragimov went for an overhand right as the round came to a close. Ibragimov's nose was busted as a result of the knees he took in the clinch.
Round 2: Herman landed a few good body kicks to start the round. Both men tagged each other with wild strikes in the pocket.
A brief clinch followed by Ibragimov landing an overhand right. He followed it up with a string of strikes and Herman retreated. Ibragimov put his chin forward and invited Herman to hit him.
Herman obliged a few seconds later with a right. They clinched again. Herman landed a few good elbows. Ibragimov changed levels for the takedown. Herman defended it. They broke up and got into another clinch. Herman landed a few more knees in the clinch.
Ibragimov looked spent as the round came to a close with Herman hurting him with a combination.
Round 3: The final round saw a scrappy beginning as both men threw labored shots and somehow connected. Ibragimov was exhausted but stayed on his feet and kept throwing down with Herman.
The Russian got hold of Herman's left leg and landed a brief takedown. They clinched again against the fence and Herman kept crushing Ibragimov with the knees. These knees were brutal to watch. Herman caught him in a standing Guillotine but Ibragimov got his head out and flipped the position.
It was Herman whose back was against the cage now. The Russian got Short Fuse down in the final minute of the fight. Herman landed strikes from his back with Ibragimov attempting a choke.
The veteran Light Heavyweight got back up and pushed his opponent against the fence. The fight ended with some dirty boxing in the clinch and an exhausting hug between the two Light Heavyweights.
Result: Ed Herman def. Khadis Ibragimov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
That was an exhausting fight as both men emptied their gas tanks to go the distance. In the end, the seasoned warhorse managed to overcome the young up-and-comer in a scrappy three-round showdown.
