Dalby’s Persistent Clinch Work Spoiled Izagakhmaev’s UFC
Nicolas Dalby defeated Saygid Izagakhmaev by split decision at UFC Qatar on November 22, 2025, at ABHA Arena in Doha. Two judges scored the welterweight contest 29–28 for Dalby, while the third returned the same score for Izagakhmaev after three rounds.
The veteran repeatedly brought the newcomer to the fence
Izagakhmaev arrived with experience in ONE Championship and opened with a right hand. Dalby answered by closing the distance, establishing the clinch and pressing him against the cage.
Knees, reversals and takedown attempts punctuated the opening round. Izagakhmaev briefly gained top position when a Dalby attempt failed, but the Dane stood up and returned to fence pressure.
The middle round forced Dalby into defensive scrambles
Dalby began the second with a head kick before Izagakhmaev answered through his wrestling. Repeated takedown efforts and a back-control opportunity gave the newcomer meaningful attacking positions.
Dalby continued getting up and eventually turned into his opponent’s guard. He finished the round on top, preventing the grappling exchanges from developing entirely in Izagakhmaev’s favor.
The final round rewarded sustained pressure on two scorecards
Dalby kept forcing close-range exchanges in the third. Izagakhmaev attempted more takedowns, but struggled to maintain position when he did disrupt the veteran’s base.
The fight reached the horn with neither man securing a finish. Dalby’s persistent work earned the narrow majority verdict, giving him a victory over a newcomer who had created opportunities through wrestling without keeping him grounded consistently.
Sources
- UFC: official preliminary results, date and venue
- Cageside Press: clinch exchanges, reversals and decision
- UFC: debut and official bout history
