A lackluster and bizarre UFC co-main event was highlighted by poor officiating from referee Herb Dean as Shara “Bullet” Magomedov defeated Michel Pereira.
Pereira managed to drop Magomedov in the opening round with a right hand. While he landed some ground-and-pound, more notable was Magomedov pulling Pereira’s hair multiple times while on the ground. Referee Herb Dean gave a hard warning but did not take a point.
The second round was quiet, with the biggest offense being Magomedov’s leg kicks toward Pereira. Pereira’s inactivity continued to get the better of him in the third, but an eye poke by Magomedov during a scramble could have resulted in a point deduction — but Dean didn’t take a point again.
The two had a couple of exchanges late in the third, with Magomedov ultimately getting the decision win with 29-28s on all three cards.
Shara Magomedov Defeats Michel Pereira In UFC Baku Co-Main Event
Magomedov now improves to 6-1 in the Octagon since his UFC debut. He entered this fight off a decision win over Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC Abu Dhabi last July.
Pereira has now lost four of his last five.