Featherweight prospects with identical 4-1 records closed out Week 5 as Longo and Weidman MMA product Dennis Buzukja squared off with kickboxing standout Melsik Baghdasaryan in the main event.
Baghdasaryan came out firing right away, stalking Buzukja and blasting him with heavy kicks to the body. Working in the clinch, he switched to knees to the body and elbows up top, punishing Buzukja, who had no answers against the cage. Each time he tried to get distance and space, Baghdasaryan pressed forward again, blasting him with another powerful shot, working at an insane pace early.
While his output slowed a little, Baghdasaryan’s dominance did not, as he continued to walk down Buzukja and land at will, avoiding most of what came back his way while finding a home for shot after shot after shot.
Late in the frame, however, Buzukja dragged Baghdasaryan to the canvas momentarily, controlling him around the waist against the fence through the final 45 seconds of the frame.
Baghdasaryan got right back on the offensive to start the second, continuing to land a variety of strikes against the durable, game Buzukja. Although the output was considerably less than early in the fight, Baghdasaryan continued to dominate the exchanges through the first half of the round.
But just past the midway point, Buzukja hit a nice throw that put Baghdasaryan on the ground momentarily, giving him an opportunity to close the distance and secure a waist lock, only to have Baghdasaryan shake free. Buzukja started to be the aggressor however, backing Baghdasaryan into the fence and pulling his legs out from under him once more. While Baghdasaryan got back to his feet quickly again, Buzukja remained in control through to the end of the round, making things interesting heading into the final five minutes.
Baghdasaryan started well in the third, landing single shots as Buzukja tried to get inside, using long punches and kicks to keep the Staten Island native at range. Midway through the round, Baghdasaryan dragged Buzukja to the canvas and it almost turned disastrous, as Buzukja quickly reversed position, but the kickboxer was able to break free and return to his feet.
Locked up in the clinch along the fence, Buzukja attacked an armbar, going belly-down and forcing Baghdasaryan to defend, with the Armenian breaking free and connecting with an uppercut as they backed into the fence. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Baghdasaryan continued to press forward and land the better shots as the two went toe-to-toe through to the horn.
When the scores were added up, Baghdasaryan came away with a unanimous decision win, extending his winning streak to five with a hard-fought victory.
