Canadian flyweight Gordon loses via submission at UFC 280

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Muhammad (the Punisher) Mokaev submitted Canadian flyweight Malcolm (X) Gordon with 34 seconds remaining in the third round on the UFC 280 undercard Saturday.

The unbeaten Mokaev, who was born in Russia but fights out of Manchester, England, was a minus-1200 favourite to win. And while he dominated on the ground, he failed to do much damage from top position.

Gordon (14-6-0) proved to be a prickly opponent with a sound defence off his back. He resisted Mokaev until the dying seconds when the two fighters tangled at the fence. Mokaev (9-0-0 with one no-contest) locked in an armbar, forcing Gordon to tap.

"To be honest I underestimated this guy," said the 22-year-old Mokaev, an accomplished wrestler. "I can't do this any more when there's 10 years (age) difference.

"But I know I'm comfortable on the ground everywhere. This guys's a black belt (in Brazilian jiu-jitsu). I just got my purple belt. I don't give a (expletive) what belt he has."

Mokaev was credited with 10 minutes 18 seconds of control time, compared to 2:49 for Gordon.

The main event at Etihad Arena featured Brazil's Charles (do Bronx) Oliveira against Russia's Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title that became vacant when Oliveira failed to make weight last time against American Justin (The Highlight) Gaethje at UFC 274 in May. Oliveira won that bout but lost his championship belt after weighing a half-pound over the 155-pound championship limit.

Saturday's co-main event pitted bantamweight champion Aljamain (Funk Master) Sterling against fellow American T.J. Dillashaw, a former title-holder ranked second among 135-pound contenders.

The 32-year-old Gordon, a native of Calgary who now calls Toronto home, came out swinging