Saffiedine leg kicks his way to victory at UFC Singapore

Tarec Saffiedine gets his first Octagon win Former Strikeforce welterweight champion Tarec Saffiedine finally made his UFC debut, chopping down an upset minded Hyun Gyu Lim with a string of powerful leg kicks at UFC: Singapore. Image via Josh Hedges/Getty Images

Just a week after Anderson Silva was sprawled across the Octagon canvas, writhing in pain after he threw a leg kick at Chris Weidman which resulted in the former UFC middleweight ruler breaking his leg, similar images were on our television screen.

Lim did not break a bone during the 25 minute battle with Saffiedine, but his leg was bruised, battered and beaten after their main event clash inside Singapore's Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.

The South Korean welterweight had a huge size and power advantage over Saffiedine, and displayed that in the opening minutes of the fight, moving forward and connecting with 19 significant strikes during the first frame

Saffiedine didn't have a huge output in the early shades of the fight, as he circled away from the former middleweight's power shots and connected with those leg kicks that paid dividends down the stretch.

The former Strikeforce king showed that he wasn't concerned to get into a fire fight with Lim either, trading blow-for-blow with the Korean Top Team product, even rocking him with his combinations, although he was never able to take him off his feet with punches.

Lim's leg became purple from the kicks, and he practically had a giant bull's eye placed on his upper thigh, as Saffiedine targeted his legs, connecting with thunderous blows over and over again.

The third round concluded with Lim struggling to get up to walk to his stool, as Jon Anik and Brian Stann in the commentary booth questioned whether or not he was capable of fighting into the championship rounds.

Bravely, Lim continued to fight, but as soon as he would gather momentum, and began landing his power punches, the vastly more experienced Saffiedine would halt any momentum by kicking his multi-coloured thighs.

Saffiedine was clearly in the drivers seat as we entered the fifth and final round, and let his guard down, as the 28 year old Lim charged forward, looking for a knockout blow, and almost found it.

A knee, followed by punches wobbled Saffiedine in the dying second of the contest, but we never got the chance to find out if Lim could capitalise on the dazed title contender and get the inspirational come-from-behind win, as the final buzzer sounded.

Following the fight, Saffiedine admitted that he was hurt by the streaking welterweight prospect:

'I was pretty hurt,' Saffiedine said 'He got me with a good punch there (at the end).'

According to UFC's Megan Olivi Lim was being carried by his cornermen, as he was unable to walk without assistance backstage, but when his opponent hunted him down moments later, he was happy to pose for a picture.

Round one:

Full report from our live blog:

Round two:

Tentative opening seconds as Saffiedine circles away from Lim early, and throws his low kick. Saffiedine hits a low kick, and Lim returns the favour with a powerful middle kick. Lim has a huge size advantage, it will be really interesting to see if he can go a full five rounds with that size. Saffiedine slips, and falls to the floor, but Saffiedine rushes to his feet. Low kick from Saffiedine hits, as he continues to circle away. Lim connects with a middle kick, followed by a body shot. Lim hits a big right-hand, followed by another, some serious power from the South Korean native. Saffiedine hits a jab, as he gets insid but backs away, throwing a low kick on the exit, 10-9 Lim.

Round three:

Saffiedine hits a low kick, as Lim moves forward with uppercuts. Front kick from Saffiedine makes Lim back away, as the former Strikeforce champ moves away, very quick on his toes. Lim is chasing Saffiedine down, and recklessly moves forward which allows Saffiedine to put together combinations that rocks his head back. Saffiedine continues to attack, with another nice combination. Saffiedine hits a nasty low kick, his game plan is clearly to chop away at him to slow him down and so far, so good. Lim hits with a two-piece combo, but eats a big overhand-right, and shrugs it off. Body-head combination from Saffiedine, his strategy is really beginning to unfold here. Big right hand from Saffiedine, followed by a low kick. Lim charges, but eats a right hand for his efforts. Saffiedine stuns Lim with a hook, as the South Korean fighter recklessly throws a spinning-back-fist to no avail as the round concludes, 10-9 Saffiedine.

Round four:

Saffiedine hits a low kick again, as Lim attempts to throw one in return. Lim follows up with another leg kick, as Saffiedine hits a huge right-hand that drops Lim, who quickly springs to his feet. Head kick from Saffiedine connects, as he charges through with a takedown. Lim works for a leg lock immediately, but the Belgian escapes quickly, and they return to the feet. Low kick froom Saffiedine hurts Lim, as the kick drops him to the floor. Saffiedine throws a trio of kicks to the leg of the downed Lim, who returns fire with an up-kick, before Saffiedine joins him on the mat. From half-guard, Saffiedine hits short punches and elbows. Ref Leon Roberts warns them to work, as Saffiedine finds a home for his elbow, but neither are being overly active. Roberts stands them up, as Saffiedine hits another leg kick, with Lim hobbling around. Saffiedine hits another low kick that sends Lim crashing to the floor, and prematurely celebrates, assuming Roberts will stop the fight, 10-9 Saffiedine.

Round five:

An overhand right stuns a charging Lim, as Saffiedine continues to throw kicks at that leg. A big knee from Lim is blocked, as Saffiedine nails him with a right hand. Front kick to the torso hits the spot on Lim, followed by a knee to the body that clearly hurts Lim. Saffiedine hits another kick, followed by a flying knee, as Lim falls to the canvas. Saffiedine scrambles on the floor, and almost takes a rear naked choke, but winds up taking mount position instead. Saffiedine looks to line up an arm-triangle choke on an exhausted Lim, before anandoning the position, and moving to side control. Lim attempts to stand up, but Saffiedine has a waist lock, and begins throwing punches to the turtled Lim. Moving back to half-guard, Saffiedine hits elbows to the torso to conclude the round, 10-9 Saffiedine.

Rating: 2 stars

Lim puts together a combination, but again, his leg is the problem here as Saffiedine chops away. Two piece combo from Lim hits the spot, but Saffiedine backs away. Lim hits with a combination to the body. Just as Lim begins to get some momentum, Saffiedine throws the low kick, halting the hype train.Saffiedine gets hit with a knee, before Saffiedine circles away, it appears that he is just coasting at this point. Double jab from Saffiedine, before he goes back to circling, this time finishing with a leg kick that sends Lim crumbling to the floor. Saffiedine walks away and forces the stand-up. The former Strikeforce champ hits a jab, as Lim screams and charges forward. Saffiedine hits a middle kick, and begins to cirlce away again, as Lim connects with a left hand. Saffiedine gets rocked with a huge knee from Lim, as Saffiedine ties up the fight in the dying seconds to keep the victory, 10-9 Lim (48-47 Saffiedine)

Tarec Saffiedine def. Hyun Gyu Lim by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)