Fighter Explodes During UFC 253 Match: ‘Stop Running!’ [WATCH]

Hakeem Dawodu

Getty Hakeem Dawodu of Canada poses on the scale during the UFC 253 weigh-in on September 25, 2020 at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In the opening bout on the main card of UFC 253, featherweights Hakeem Dawodu and Zubaira Tukhugov met in the middle Octagon. The fight went all three rounds and the judges scored the fight for Dawodu via split decision (30-27, 29-28, 28-29).

In the third round, Tukhugov’s output and engagement dropped, sparking Dawodu to yell expletives at his opponent.

The following video contains strong language, viewer discretion is advised. Watch below:

With the victory over Tukhugov, Dawodu increased his UFC win streak to five. He has the fourth-longest UFC win streak in the featherweight division, behind champion Alexander Volkanovski with seven, Arnold Allen with seven and Zabit Magomedsharipov with six. Dawodu has a professional MMA record of 12-1-1 with seven wins by KO or TKO.

On the other end, Tukhugov’s lost his fifth professional bout on Saturday night. His record currently sits at 19-5-1 with seven wins via KO or TKO.

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Dawodu Gave a Passionate Post-Fight Interview After Defeating Dawodu

After getting his hand raised, the Canadian Dawodu spoke with UFC commentator Jon Anik inside the Octagon.

“This is one of the first fights that I felt I was fighting for something bigger than myself,” Dawodu said while holding the Nigerian flag. “All my Black people, all my African people, everybody that’s getting oppressed. They’re trying to make fun of us, they’re trying to bring us down. I refuse to kneel. We’ve been kneeling for too long.

“Canada get behind me. They only allowed me to bring one flag, so I’m sorry for not bringing the Jamaican and Canadian flag, but you know what I represent — Everybody back in the 403, my family, my friends.

“I promise the next fight, give me someone who isn’t going to run. This is five straight now. I need a top 10 and give me someone who isn’t going to run [anymore].”


UFC 253 Fight Card & Results

In the main event of UFC 253, Israel Adesanya defended his middleweight title by defeating Paulo Costa via second-round TKO.

And in the co-main event, Jan Blachowicz became the newest UFC champion, earning the vacant light heavyweight title by defeating Dominick Reyes via second-round TKO.

See the fight card and results from UFC 253:

Main Card

Middleweight Championship Bout: Israel Adesanya def. Paulo Costa via Second-Round TKO

Light Heavyweight Championship Bout: Jan Błachowicz def. Dominick Reyes via Second-Round TKO

Flyweight Bout: Brandon Royval def. Kai Kara-France via Second-Round Guillotine Choke

Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Ketlen Vieira def. Sijara Eubanks Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

150-Pound Catchweight Bout: Hakeem Dawodu def. Zubaira Tukhugov via Split Decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)

Preliminary Card

Lightweight Bout: Brad Riddell def. Alex da Silva Coelho via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Welterweight Bout: Jake Matthews def. Diego Sanchez via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)

150-Pound Catchweight Bout: Ľudovít Klein def. Shane Young via First-Round KO

Light Heavyweight Bout: William Knight def. Aleksa Camur via Unanious Decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

Early Preliminary Card

Heavyweight Bout: Juan Espino Dieppa def. Jeff Hughes via First-Round Scarf Hold Choke

Light Heavyweight Bout: Danilo Marques def. Khadis Ibragimov via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

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