MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Month for July: Massive underdog lands one-hitter quitter
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Nominee: Gustavo Oliveira def. Anas Azizoun at 2025 PFL Europe 2
Gustavo Oliveira put his name on the map with PFL courtesy of a knockout for the ages.
Oliveira (11-2) created a highlight moment that will forever be replayed throughout his career. Oliveira smashed Anas Azizoun with a spinning back elbow out of nowhere at 3:25 of Round 1 of the bantamweight bout. Azizoun (5-2) went out immediately and crashed to the canvas.
Nominee: Islam Dulatov def. Adam Fugitt at UFC 318
German fighter-turned-YouTube star Islam Dulatov finally made his promotional debut and did not disappoint against Adam Fugitt.
Dulatov (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) connected with a check left hook that floored Fugitt (10-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) before he finished him off with follow-up punches. The stoppage came at the 4:06 mark of Round 1 of their welterweight bout.
Nominee: Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov at UFC on ABC 9
Bogdan Guskov continued his rise in the light heavyweight division when be blasted through divisional mainstay Nikita Krylov inside the opening round.
The opening minutes were measured as both men relied on their technique as their guide. However, a slow leg kick from Krylov (30-11 MMA, 11-9 UFC) was his undoing. Guskov (18-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) countered beautifully with a massive punch that sat Krylov down. Follow-up punches bounced Krylov's head off the canvas.
Nominee: Loai Abushaar def. Edmund Kwan at LFA 213
Loai Abushaar landed as clean a knee knockout as you'll ever see against Edmund Kwan in their lightweight bout.
Less than a minute into the opening round, Abushaar (5-1) timed the absolute perfect stepping right knee that landed clean to the chin of Kwan (4-1), instantly putting him out cold with a hard fall to the canvas.
The winner: Muslim Salikhov def. Carlos Leal at UFC on ABC 9
"41 years young!" Muslim Salikhov came up big as an underdog against Carlos Leal in their welterweight showdown.
Salikhov (22-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) landed a brutal overhand right to take out Leal (22-7 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at the 0:42 mark of Round 1.
Salikhov, who was a 5-1 underdog, has now won three fights in a row. As he planned, he used his mic time to call out Stephen Thompson.
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MMA Junkie's Knockout of the Month for July: Massive underdog wins
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