TUF 34: Mehemmedeli Osmanli submits Cormier's top pick in first round

Azerbaijan bantamweight prospect Mehemmedeli Osmanli submitted Artem Belakh with a rear-naked choke in the opening round of their TUF 34 quarterfinal, eliminating Daniel Cormier's No. 1 draft pick from the competition.

The finish came during the fourth episode of the Cormier-vs-Bisping coached season, which aired Tuesday on Paramount+. Belakh connected with a clean combination in the first exchange but immediately shifted to wrestling instead of pressing his striking advantage, MMA Mania reports. The LFA veteran landed a pair of takedowns but burned through his gas tank doing so. Osmanli, 21, seized control as Belakh slowed, took the back, and locked in the choke to advance to the semis.

Why Belakh's game plan backfired

Belakh entered as one of the most technical strikers in the TUF house and was viewed as a threat to win the tournament. The early combination he landed suggested that assessment was accurate. His decision to abandon the standup for grinding wrestling sequences proved costly. Whether a brutal weight cut or flawed coaching was to blame, the Cormier camp fighter faded fast and gave Osmanli the opening he needed.

Osmanli now owns a nine-fight win streak and has finished 10 of his 12 career victories — eight by submission, two by knockout. The loud Azerbaijani remains a favourite to win TUF 34. Belakh, despite the loss, trains with Merab Dvalishvili in Las Vegas and Petr Yan in Thailand and should draw interest from UFC matchmakers for a Contender Series slot or direct roster spot.

Episode five airs next Tuesday and features a Brazil-on-Brazil women's bout between former Contender Series alumni Valesca Machado and Natalia Alves.

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• MMA Mania — TUF 34 Highlights: Mehemmedeli Osmanli smokes Daniel Cormier’s No. 1 pick in under a round