Uran Satybaldiev started UFC Shanghai off with a bang earlier this morning (Sat., Aug. 23, 2025) LIVE on ESPN+ from inside the Shanghai Indoor Stadium in Shanghai, China, sparking former Contender Series standout Diyar Nurgozhay with a beautiful first-round Ezekiel choke.
For those fight fans dedicated enough to set their alarm clocks for 3 a.m. ET, they got to witness one of the best submission finishes of 2025. It’s very rare that someone is able to secure a fight-ending Ezekiel choke inside the Octagon. Heavyweights like Aleksei Oleinik and Alexander Volkov have pulled it off before, but it’s not something fight fans get to see too often. That all changed Saturday morning.
Both light heavyweights had moments early into the first round until Satybaldiev scored a nice knockdown to gain top control. Satybaldiev eventually locked up a tight kimura that nearly forced Nurgozhay to tap. After Nurgozhay was able to wiggle free, Satybaldiev secured the Ezekiel choke and started to squeeze. Nurgozhay fought for a few moments, but there was nothing he could do.
Check out the video highlights below and let us know your thoughts on the first finish of the morning!
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