Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu and Mehemmedeli Osmanli, UFC Vegas 121 weigh-in Credit: Patrick Danna/Cageside Press
Ilimbek Akylbek is The Ultimate Fighter 34 winner, but probably not in the way he imagined getting there.
Akylbek and Mehemmedeli Osmanli were battling it out before the fight took a wild turn when Osmanli dropped Akylbek and then blasted him with an illegal knee while he was clearly grounded. The shot left Akylbek unable to continue, forcing the referee to wave off the fight.
After a discussion with the commission, Osmanli was disqualified, giving Akylbek the victory and officially making him the TUF 34 winner.
Not exactly the storybook ending, but Akylbek leaves with the trophy all the same.
Round 1 – The two met right in the middle with Osmanli opening the fight with a high kick followed by a 1-2 to the body, but neither attack had much effect on Akylbek early.
Akylbek worked from the outside looking to land the overhand right, while Osmanli continued attacking the body with his hands and front kicks.
Then Osmanli started getting flashy, throwing attacks like spinning heel kicks. Akylbek wasn’t interested in playing that game. He changed levels, shot for the single leg and got the takedown.
Akylbek settled into top position and worked from inside Osmanli’s open guard, securing control while Osmanli fired off annoying little shots to the sides of his head from the bottom.
Osmanli eventually worked his way back to his feet, dropped Akylbek and that’s when everything went sideways.
With Akylbek clearly grounded, Osmanli landed a blatant knee to the head that appeared to badly hurt, and possibly knock out, Akylbek.
The referee immediately called timeout and went over to check on Akylbek.
After a couple minutes, it became clear Akylbek wasn’t going to be able to continue, and the referee waved the fight off.
Following a discussion with the commission Osmanli was disqualified and Akylbek was ruled the TUF 34 winner.
That one was…. not legal.
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Official Result: Ilimbek Akylbek def. Mehemmedeli Osmanli via DQ (illegal knee), 2:19