LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Mansur Abdul-Malik[/autotag] beat Dusko Todorovic with a first-round TKO Saturday to open up the main card at UFC Fight Night 247 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Abdul-Malik, who picked up a brutal finish in his official UFC debut, along with a $50,000 bonus.
Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Dusko Todorovic
Result: Mansur Abdul-Malik def. Dusko Todorovic via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:44
Updated records: Abdul-Malik (7-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Todorovic (12-5 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Key stats: Abdul-Malik was all over Todorovic from the beginning and outstruck him 31-3.
Abdul-Malik on the fight’s key moment
“It did 100 percent (go as I expected) – especially when it comes to damage, when it comes to hurting him, when it comes to putting him out and getting him out of there in a quick way. But that’s a that’s a game opponent right there. All due respect to Dusko. That’s a Russian warrior right there. That’s a good man, and we went out there, we did battle, and it is what it is. I’m happy.”
The POWER in Mansur Abdul-Malik's strikes 🫣
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— UFC (@ufc) November 10, 2024
Abdul-Malik on his business-like approach
“It feels familiar. This is my second time being in this seat, and I’m happy to be here. Not only does it feel familiar, but it feels good. I’m elated. I’m grateful right now and I’m so happy. Honestly, I don’t even think it will feel any different (if I fight in a big venue). It might feel less than the big moment. The big experience was walking through those doors the first time on the Contender Series, and even that wasn’t too significant in my mind. I feel like those moments are over, not in a sad way or in a bad way, but this is business. I’m a grown man. I’m an adult. I’m a man inside the UFC contracted to fight these other men. So all the happy, super, oh-my-God amazing experiences – those are not really there for me. I’m here for business. I love this business. It makes me happy. I’m so grateful to be here, but I don’t make it more than it is.”
Abdul-Malik on what he wants next
“I’ll fight here. I’ll fight outside in the parking lot right now in the back. I don’t really see the venue of something super amazing and different. Of course I want to travel. Of course I want to be on the road with this business. I want to go to different places and experience that lifestyle and that environment. But at the end of the day, I’m in here to get inside of a cage and to fight other men. I can’t even think about if the sun is down right now, if the sun is up. I’m in here to fight, so wherever I am doesn’t matter. I want to go other places but, I’m here and I’m happy.”
To hear more from Abdul-Malik, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 247.
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