UFC News: Veteran Spoils Highly-Anticipated Debut in Abu Dhabi Prelim Fight

The prelims for UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi saw these two lightweights throw down in the Octagon.

(Zuffa LLC)

A lightweight bout on the prelims of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi saw Guram Kutateladze welcome ex-Cage Warriors Champion Jordan Vucenic to the UFC in a short-notice matchup.

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Originally scheduled to take on Dana White's Contender Series veteran Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady, Kutateladze instead welcomed Vucenic to the UFC just two weeks after "The Epidemic" scored his fourth-straight win (all via submission) at Cage Warriors 174.

Vucenic had long been tabbed as a prospect high on the UFC's radar, and in the first round he floored Kutateladze with a right hand and briefly looked like he might earn another stoppage-victory in his promotional debut.

"Man, @EpidemicVucenic looks GOOD" 😳#InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/OLP8P2sF6f

— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2024

"Georgian Viking" survived the early knockdown and found considerably more success in the second round, and in a high-paced third frame Kutateladze managed to take Vucenic's back during the final two minutes in order to earn a hard-fought unanimous decision victory.

Guram Kutateladze secures the UD at #UFCAbuDhabi 👏#InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/iT48QOoZxq

— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2024

The result snapped a two-fight skid for Kutateladze following losses to Elves Brener and Damir Ismagulov, and although Vucenic came up short in his UFC debut the 28-year-old more than proved that he deserves to be fighting in the world's leading MMA promotion.

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