Bellator Champions Series San Diego: Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Alexandr Shabliy: Full video highlights

Bellator MMA's lightweight champion, Usman Nurmagomedov, successfully defended his title against Alexandr Shabliy in the main event of Bellator Champions Series San Diego. The fight, which took place at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, was a closely contested affair that went the distance.

Nurmagomedov, cousin of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, entered the fight as a heavy favorite. He had been undefeated in his professional MMA career and had already successfully defended his Bellator title once. Shabliy, on the other hand, was looking to upset the champion and capture his first Bellator title.

The fight was a tactical battle throughout, with both fighters showing respect for each other's striking and grappling skills. Nurmagomedov controlled the pace of the fight, landing frequent kicks and punches. Shabliy, however, was able to land some significant strikes of his own, particularly in the later rounds.

In the end, the judges scored the fight in favor of Nurmagomedov, who retained his Bellator lightweight title. The official scorecards read 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.

Check out some of the fight highlights below:

Nurmagomedov attempted an impressive takedown in the very first round of the fight:

Nurmagomedov suffered an accidental eye poke in the fourth round:

In the fourth round, Nurmagomedov unleashed a powerful kick that left his opponent feeling a bit unsteady:

Nurmagomedov’s cornerman, Khabib Nurmagomedov, was super invested in the fight. He almost choked his brother Umar because of the intense pressure:

Usman successfully defended his title at Bellator San Diego:

Nurmagomedov joined Bellator MMA in 2021 and has since captured the Bellator Lightweight World Championship. He has also participated in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, where he has advanced to the semifinals.

Despite a recent setback due to a positive drug test, Nurmagomedov remains a top contender in the lightweight division