Khizriev secures first-round submission over Walsh at PFL Austin
The boxer-turned-MMA fighter, grandson of Muhammad Ali, taps out at 2:32 of the first round but avoids major injury after the preliminary card bout.
Gamid Khizriev advanced his record with a first-round submission victory over Biaggio Ali Walsh at PFL Austin. The bout, contested on the preliminary card, concluded when Khizriev applied a modified twister, forcing Walsh to tap out 2 minutes and 32 seconds into the opening round.
Khizriev, described as an undefeated prospect, controlled the early exchanges by scoring takedowns with relative ease. He established positional dominance by locking in a body triangle on the ground. When Walsh attempted to turn into the hold, Khizriev used his legs to restrict movement, transitioning into the submission that ended the contest.
Walsh, a boxer-turned-MMA fighter and the grandson of Muhammad Ali, appeared to be in significant distress immediately following the tap. Initial observations suggested he was grimacing in pain and laying on Khizriev’s leg, leading to speculation that he might require assistance to leave the venue.
Despite the alarming appearance of the aftermath, Walsh eventually stood up without sustaining major injury. While early reports characterised the incident as potentially catastrophic, the fighter’s ability to rise indicates that the severity of the spinal lock’s impact was limited to the immediate post-submission period.
The result marks a decisive performance for Khizriev, who utilised precise grappling technique to neutralise Walsh’s defensive efforts. The bout highlights the physical risks inherent in mixed martial arts, particularly regarding submission holds that place pressure on the spine.
