UFC Fight Night 163: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- May 21
- 7 min read
Table of Contents
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 163: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar took place on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia — broadcast live on ESPN+ as ESPN+ 21. The card drew 11,305 fans. It was the third UFC event in Russia and the second in Moscow, following UFC Fight Night 136 in September 2018. The main event was a featherweight bout between Zabit Magomedsharipov and Calvin Kattar.
Magomedsharipov defeated Kattar by unanimous decision (29-28x3) in a three-round main event that produced Fight of the Night for both fighters. The card originally had a heavyweight main event: Junior dos Santos vs. Alexander Volkov was the original headliner, but dos Santos withdrew with a serious leg infection. The fight was restructured with Zabit vs. Kattar as the main event and Volkov vs. Greg Hardy as the co-main. Volkov defeated Hardy by unanimous decision (30-27x3). Magomed Ankalaev and Danny Roberts each earned Performance of the Night.
Moscow — Zabit’s Unpredictable Brilliance
CSKA Arena is the Moscow home of CSKA Moscow, holding approximately 12,000. The 11,305 fans was a strong result for the UFC’s second Moscow visit — an improvement from the 22,603 (LUZHNIKI) attendance at FN136, but CSKA Arena is smaller. The card’s late restructuring — JDS withdrawing with a disgusting leg infection days before the event — elevated Zabit vs. Kattar from a featured co-main to the main event headliner. The fight was only scheduled for three rounds as a result (main events of the ESPN+ non-championship Fight Nights at the time could be five rounds, but the rescheduling kept it at the originally contracted three).
Zabit Magomedsharipov was 17-1 entering Moscow — his only professional loss coming at 19 years old at the start of his career. His UFC career was 5-0, with wins over Mike Santiago, Kyle Bochniak, Brandon Davis, Jeremy Stephens, and Calvin Kattar (now). His combination of Muay Thai kicking, spinning techniques, wrestling, and unpredictable strike selection had made him the FW division’s most visually distinctive active competitor.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, November 9, 2019 (3rd UFC in Russia; 2nd in Moscow; ESPN+ 21; originally JDS vs. Volkov headliner; JDS withdrew with leg infection)
📍 Venue: CSKA Arena, Moscow, Russia
👥 Attendance: 11,305
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ 21 (ESPN+ streaming)
🏆 Main Event: Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar — FW (3 rounds only; Zabit 17-1, 5-0 UFC; Kattar 20-3; only 3 rounds due to late card restructuring from JDS withdrawal)
✅ Result: Magomedsharipov def. Kattar via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) (FotN $50k each; Zabit 200+ unpredictable strikes; 14-fight win streak extended; 5-0 in UFC; Kattar spent entire fight reacting)
Main Event: Zabit’s 200-Strike FW Masterclass Over Kattar
Zabit’s offensive approach against Kattar was volume through variety: 127 significant strikes thrown of 260 total attempts, against Kattar’s 96 of 213. The statistical picture understates the qualitative aspect — Zabit’s 36/36 leg kicks, his spinning heel kick attempts, flying knee threats, and combination variety forced Kattar into a reactive defensive posture throughout all three rounds. MMA media described Kattar’s tactical choice as attempting to absorb and counter — denying Zabit’s takedown attempts (0/4 converted) — but the offensive output differential produced the 29-28 margins.
The fight’s quality — described by media as wild and entertaining despite being a decision — earned both fighters Fight of the Night. Zabit’s Moscow performance was described as one of the FW division’s most technically complete and visually spectacular individual competitive displays of the 2019 season. His post-fight declaration targeted a title fight against the winner of Max Holloway vs. Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 245 in December 2019.
Volkov Dominates Hardy, Ankalaev’s Front Kick PoN & The Card
Alexander Volkov’s 30-27 unanimous decision over Greg Hardy was the Moscow card’s co-main result following the JDS withdrawal. Volkov — a 31-year-old Moscow, Russia HW who had previously stopped Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night in Hamburg — dominated Hardy with his jab and left kicks across three rounds. Hardy’s power was the only threat; Volkov’s footwork and lateral movement kept him from generating the sustained power-shot exchanges. Hardy went the distance for the first time in his UFC career, losing 30-27 on all three judges.
Magomed Ankalaev’s front kick TKO of Dalcha Lungiambula at 0:29 of round three earned Performance of the Night and continued his unbeaten UFC light heavyweight run. The front kick — delivered from the karate-stance position that Ankalaev maintained throughout — connected with Lungiambula’s advancing head and produced an immediate TKO. Danny Roberts’ second-round KO of Zelim Imadaev at 4:54 also earned Performance of the Night: a one-punch finish of a Russian WW in front of a Moscow crowd.
Full Results
Main Card (ESPN+)
Zabit Magomedsharipov def. Calvin Kattar — Unanimous Decision (29-28x3) — FW (FotN $50k each; 200+ unpredictable strikes; 14-fight win streak; 5-0 UFC; MAIN EVENT ONLY 3 ROUNDS due to JDS withdrawal forcing card restructure)
Alexander Volkov def. Greg Hardy — Unanimous Decision (30-27x3) — HW (Volkov jab + left kicks; Hardy’s FIRST UFC DECISION RESULT; Hardy’s 2nd UFC fight since FN150 TKO win; Volkov dominant 30-27 from all judges)
Danny Roberts def. Zelim Imadaev — KO (punch) — R2, 4:54 — WW (PoN $50k; one-punch KO of Russian WW in front of Moscow crowd)
Ed Herman def. Khadis Ibragimov — Unanimous Decision (30-27x2, 29-28) — LHW (Herman’s 2nd consecutive win after 3-fight losing streak)
Anthony Rocco Martin def. Ramazan Emeev — Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28x2) — WW
Shamil Gamzatov def. Klidson Abreu — Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) — LHW
Preliminary Card (ESPN2 / ESPN+)
Magomed Ankalaev def. Dalcha Lungiambula — TKO (front kick) — R3, 0:29 — LHW (PoN $50k; devastating front kick to advancing Lungiambula; Ankalaev unbeaten UFC run continuing; future LHW interim title challenger!)
Rustam Khabilov def. Sergey Khandozhko — Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28x2) — WW
Karl Roberson def. Roman Kopylov — Submission (RNC) — R3, 4:01 — MW
David Zawada def. Abubakar Nurmagomedov — Submission — R1, 2:51 — WW
Roosevelt Roberts def. Alexander Yakovlev — Unanimous Decision — LW
Pannie Kianzad def. Jessica Rose-Clark — Unanimous Decision — Women’s BW
Davey Grant def. Grigory Popov — Unanimous Decision — BW
Bonuses & Awards
🥇 Fight of the Night: Zabit Magomedsharipov + Calvin Kattar — $50,000 each (wild 3-round FW main event; 200+ Zabit strikes; entertainment despite decision)
🥇 Performance of the Night: Magomed Ankalaev + Danny Roberts — $50,000 each
Records & Milestones
• 3rd UFC in Russia; 2nd in Moscow (after FN136 Luzhniki Sept 2018 and FN149 St. Petersburg April 2019).
• Zabit’s 14-fight win streak and 5-0 UFC record after Moscow — the FW division’s longest individual unbeaten run.
• Main event only 3 rounds (not 5) due to JDS leg infection withdrawal forcing card restructure — rare for a headlining main event slot.
Legacy & Impact
Zabit’s Moscow win produced a title fight campaign that media insisted was imminent — but Zabit’s subsequent career was interrupted by injuries and a significant hiatus before his return. His Moscow performance remained one of the FW division’s most spectacular individual competitive displays of the ESPN+ era. Ankalaev’s Moscow front kick PoN was a step in the LHW career that produced wins over Paul Craig, Thiago Santos, and Ion Cutelaba before the interim LHW title fight against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 282.
Kattar’s Moscow loss was competitive — 29-28 on all three judges reflected how close the fight was despite Zabit’s volume advantage. His subsequent FW career produced wins over Jeremy Stephens, Dan Ige, and Giga Chikadze, establishing him as one of the division’s most durable and competitive top-fifteen fighters. Volkov’s Moscow win over Hardy was a co-main result that maintained his HW top-ten position after his 2018 Overeem TKO highlight.
FAQ
Why was the main event only three rounds?
Junior dos Santos had been scheduled to fight Alexander Volkov in a heavyweight main event. JDS withdrew with a severe leg infection described in UFC medical reports as a ‘disgusting’ condition requiring treatment. With a heavyweight main event no longer available, the UFC elevated Zabit Magomedsharipov vs. Calvin Kattar — originally scheduled as a featured three-round featherweight bout — to the headlining slot. The fight retained its original three-round contract rather than being renegotiated to five, which would have required both fighters’ consent and additional contract amendments.
What was Zabit’s striking style?
Zabit’s striking combined Muay Thai kickboxing, wrestling, and acrobatic techniques developed across his Dagestani training background. Against Kattar, his 36/36 leg kick accuracy — 100% of his leg kick attempts landing — reflected systematic targeting. His spinning heel kicks, flying knee feints, and switch kick combinations produced the unpredictability that Kattar had to react to continuously. Media described the combination of high-volume, high-variety striking as overwhelming for a conventional technically-sound fighter like Kattar.
What was Ankalaev’s front kick?
The front kick (also known as a push kick, teep, or mae-geri) is delivered by driving the heel or ball of the foot directly forward into the opponent’s head, chest, or midsection. Ankalaev’s application against the advancing Lungiambula at 0:29 of round three connected with Lungiambula’s head as he moved forward. The kick’s timing — Lungiambula advancing into the front kick as it extended — produced the contact force that generated the TKO. Ankalaev’s karate-based stance had been the setup for the technique throughout the fight.
What was Volkov’s performance against Hardy?
Volkov was a 31-year-old Moscow HW who had gone 29-7 professionally before Moscow, with his most notable UFC win being the TKO of Alistair Overeem at UFC Fight Night 127 in Hamburg in February 2018. His Moscow performance against Hardy was described as technically competent but not spectacular: his jab and left kick game produced 30-27 margins without finishing Hardy. Hardy’s durability across three rounds with minimal UFC octagon time was noted as a competitive positive in his development.
What was the Roberts vs. Imadaev context?
Roberts was a 31-year-old Liverpool, England WW who had gone 17-8 professionally before Moscow. Imadaev was a 26-year-old Grozny, Russia WW making his third UFC appearance with a 2-1 UFC record. Roberts’ one-punch KO of Imadaev in front of the Moscow crowd at 4:54 of round two — a late-round finish of a Russian fighter on his home country card — was the Moscow card’s most competitive individual local-crowd moment outside the headliner.
Who was Abubakar Nurmagomedov?
Abubakar Nurmagomedov was a 24-year-old Dagestan, Russia welterweight and cousin of UFC LW Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. His UFC debut at Moscow was commercially noticed due to his family connection to the UFC’s most prominent active fighter. His submission loss to David Zawada at 2:51 of round one was a competitive setback that his subsequent WW career eventually addressed with wins over Niko Price and Jake Matthews.
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