Cole ‘Full Send’ Young claims middleweight crown at Power Slap 17 in Riyadh

RIYADH: American striker Cole “Full Send” Young delivered a career-defining performance on Friday night at Mohammed Abdu Arena, capturing the world middleweight championship at Power Slap 17 — part of the Riyadh Season.

The event, organized under the leadership of UFC President Dana White and Riyadh Season, drew an electric crowd as fans witnessed a night packed with explosive knockouts, global talent and intense competition across multiple divisions.

In the main event, Young dethroned defending champion Anthony “Babyface” Blackburn by decision after five hard-fought rounds. The American challenger displayed calculated composure early before taking command with sharp precision and endurance to secure the title.

Young said after his victory: “Just keep focusing. That’s all I can do. Try not to react when it hits you — he hit me pretty hard, obviously. But focus on what you do.” Holding his newly earned belt, he added: “I’ll slap anybody, it don’t matter to me. I got the belt now. Who’s next?”

The night’s action also featured standout performances across the card. Nigeria’s Kabiru “The Nigerian Hulk” Adediran earned a dominant first-round TKO victory over Kazakhstan’s Daniyar “Patap” Shakharov in a heavyweight showdown, while American Brian “The Predator” Ellis defeated Mexico’s Ro Montana by unanimous decision after three competitive rounds.

In the light heavyweight division, Kazakhstan’s Mukhammed “Asadullah” Amantayev secured a dramatic third-round knockout against China’s Honggang Zhao in an all-Asian matchup showcasing blistering power and precision. Britain’s Louis “Razor” Robinson also impressed, stopping American James “The Iron Chin” Siekman with a clinical third-round TKO in another heavyweight bout.

Earli