Rinya Nakamura and Muin Gafurov, UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

The second bantamweight fight of the evening at UFC 311 on Saturday saw Rinya Nakamura take on Muin Gafurov.

Japan’s Nakamura came in with an undefeated, 9-0 record and was one of several Japanese prospects the promotion appeared to be high on. Gafurov, meanwhile, was a ONE Championship alum who was 1-2 inside the octagon to date.

Nakamura’s size and explosive wrestling was something to watch for coming in, but Gafurov proved unpredictable early, taking a wild overhand swing to start the fight. About a minute in, Nakamura went to the body with a leg kick; the pair engaged in a little exchange after that. It was Gafurov who then landed a head kick, but it was grazing and he slipped off of it, leaving Nakamura unharmed but with something to think about. Tajikistan’s Gafurov continued to take big swings near the midway mark of the round, and to that point, Nakamura’s wrestling had been silent.

Shortly after, a spinning back fist attempt from Gafurov was blocked, but an overhand moments later wasn’t; Nakamura backpedaled but wound up going down. Gafurov, getting on top, had some time to work in his opponent’s guard. That’s just about where the round finished off.

Rinya Nakamura found a home for his left hand early in round two, but like Gafurov, he was throwing power strikes, thoughts of combinations or his bread and butter, wrestling, apparently out the window. Gafurov, meanwhile, backed him up to the fence, landing at least once, connecting with a knee. An overhand right was launched by Gafurov once again moments later. He added a spinning back kick to the body. With just over 90 seconds on the clock, another big right hand connected for Muin Gafurov! Nakamura fell back, the fence somewhat saving him, but he wound up eating a knee in a front headlock. More knees would follow, with Gafurov handing on to the Japanese fighter.

Round three opened with one certainty: Nakamura needed a finish to pull off the win. And given how the fight had played out, that was going to be no easy feat. Gafurov had proven crafty, as a side kick to the body just over a minute in that dropped Nakamura on his backside proved. Still, the Japanese bantamweight had some fight in him, and finally got to the ground, on top of Gafurov, with about three minutes remaining. In half guard, almost side control, Nakamura had some time, and just a little bit of space, to work. One arm went under the neck, setting up a guillotine, but Gafurov gave the thumbs up. Nakamura squeezed as best he could, but didn’t have the submission, and Gafurov escaped back to his feet moments later. They’d fight to the final horn, and it was no surprise to see Muin Gafurov come away with the victory, taking Rinya Nakamura’s perfect record away from him along with it.

Nakamura’s unblemished record was the second to fall on the night, as Clayton Carpenter saw his 0 go as well in the card opener.

Official Result: Muin Gafurov def. Rinya Nakamura by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)