Usman Nurmagomedov is shaping up to be something special and that doesn't always equate to an exciting fight. Nurmagomedov picked apart a lively but ill-equipped Brent Primus over five rounds to retain the lightweight championship. Nurmagomedov left Bellator 300 in San Diego on Saturday without so much as a scratch on him.
Nurmagomedov made the main event look like a sparring lesson. He was the elusive matador. Primus was the raging bull, constantly pressing forward but incapable of cornering the champion. Nurmagomedov picked apart Primus with accurate and diverse strikes to all targets while mixing in his superior wrestling.
A knockout or submission isn't promised when the odds side heavily with one fighter. Sometimes, the underdog is so stripped of opportunity that they must concede to surviving. That was the case on Saturday. Primus tried to fight but lacked the tools required to accomplish much. Nurmagomedov's situational awareness was outstanding. He masterfully slipped in and out of range, moved laterally and circled away to avoid being trapped by Primus' forward pressure. The 25-year-old champion has a sky-high ceiling and it will be interesting to see how he develops further.
Nurmagomedov (18-0) made the second defense of his lightweight champion on Saturday. He will meet the winner of Patricky Pitbull vs. Alexander Shabliy -- who fight at Bellator 301 on Nov. 17 -- in the finals of the $1 million Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix. Nurmagomedov defeated Pitbull last November to become champion and has never faced Shabily.
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CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday bringing you all the results and highlights from the Bellator 300 below.
Bellator 300 card and results
- Usman Nurmagomedov (c) def. Brent Primus via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
- Cris Cyborg (c) def. Cat Zingano via first-round TKO (punches)
- Liz Carmouche (c) def. Ilima-Lei Macfarlane via fifth-round TKO (leg kick)