For “Shara Bullet,” practice makes perfect.

Shara Magomedov didn’t just improve his UFC record to 4-0 on Saturday, he executed a never-before-seen finish when he knocked out Armen Petrosyan with back-to-back spinning backfists in the UFC 308 main card opener.

It was the biggest moment of Magomedov’s brief run with the promotion and he elaborated on the career-best performance at the evening’s post-fight press conference.

“I used to practice this technique since my career in Muay Thai,” Magomedov said via a Russian translator. “In MMA, I was unable to throw it because I know people are going to wrestle me, but this time I fought a high-level striker and it became a chess match and I was able to surprise him in this chess match.”

Magomedov’s UFC victories now include Petrosyan, Michal Oleksiejczuk, Antonio Trocoli, and Bruno Silva. Overall, he is 15-0, with 12 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

In his post-fight interview, Magomedov declared himself the best striker in the middleweight division and called for a fight with two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya. According to Magomedov, his pursuit of Adesanya dates back to their kickboxing days.

“I used to chase Israel Adesanya when he fought kickboxing in China and I was fighting kickboxing in China, too,” Magomedov said. “Now that he’s switched to MMA and now that I’m here, I’m ready to capture all the land. I’m ready to fight him and if the possibility presents itself, I’m ready to fight him in Macau, Saudi Arabia, it doesn’t matter.”

“I’m in no rush, I’m not driving in front of the train, you know?” Magomedov later added. “The only way for Israel Adesanya to avoid the fight with me is to retire.”

When the UFC updates its rankings Tuesday, there’s an outside shot the undefeated Magomedov ends up with a number next to his name. If he doesn’t, he has a few names in mind to keep climbing the list should the Adesanya bout fail to materialize.

“Of course, I would like to fight Israel Adesanya to prove that I’m the best striker in the division,” Magomedov said. “Also, I would like to fight Marvin Vettori to prove that my wrestling is good. Those two names really excite me. Besides them, guys like Kevin Holland, Michel Pereira. Our middleweight division is full of predators and sharks, but pirates, there’s only one: it’s me.”

BUKAYO SAKA was back to his best as Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

The Gunners’ ace was an injury doubt before the game, but was selected by Mikel Arteta.

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And he more than justified that choice after slamming in the opener after ten minutes.

However, Liverpool fought their way back into the game to equalise through Virgil van Dijk at a corner, before Arsenal then retook the lead with a Mikel Merino header at a set play.

Arsenal were dealt another injury headache as both Gabriel Magalhaes and Jurrien Timber had to be taken off in the second half, before Mohamed Salah netted a second equaliser.

Here’s how SunSport’s Jordan Davies rated the Arsenal players in the Sunday afternoon clash.

DAVID RAYA – 6/10

Very little he could do for Liverpool’s equaliser, forced to stay on his line from the flicked-on corner, and the same goes for Mohamed Salah’s tap in from a speedy counter.

JURRIEN TIMBER – 7

Kept Salah quiet for the majority and proved his worth with ball at feet, but starting him was clearly a risk as he hobbled off late on.

BEN WHITE –  7

He may have been at centre back but his telepathy with Saka remained, curling a peach of a ball over the top for the opener and remained solid even when those around him chopped and changed.

GABRIEL – 7

Missed his centre-back partner but did well until he worryingly limped off. No surprise that Salah and Darwin Nunez found space when he was absent.

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THOMAS PARTEY – 8

Was targeted in his unnatural position within the first 30 seconds but held his ground for the most part. One of Arsenal’s best players.

MIKEL MERINO – 8

A stray touch gifted Salah a great chance to score before getting a bang to the same shoulder that kept him out at the start of the season.

And then, after a so-so performance, he steps up with a thumping header just before the break to regain the lead.

DECLAN RICE – 8

Did the nitty-gritty very well in the middle of the pitch with some crucial interceptions and timely tackles. Carried on covering every blade of grass until the very last.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6

Drifted in and out of the game as a floating 10 and striker but got stuck in when needed and pressed like a rabid dog. Still, was quiet given his recent form.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7

Lively enough without creating too many clear-cut chances in the first half. Unlucky not to win a penalty after being hauled down by Ibrahima Konate.

BUKAYO SAKA – 9

Injury? What injury? His hamstring seemed right as rain as he cruised in behind Andy Robertson, cutting it back through the full-back’s legs and firing into the roof of the net.

Was understandably taken off in the second half with a need to protect him going into a hectic period of the season.

KAI HAVERTZ – 7

Given freedom to roam and drop deep. Missed a sitter in the box after Martinelli’s penalty shout but lacked the service via crosses to really be effective in the first half.

Remained a physical nuisance after the break but never had that one golden opportunity.

SUBS:

JAKUB KIWIOR (GABRIEL, 54) – 6

Impressive to come in out of the cold to stay firm, but again, his work with the ball at his feet left a lot to be desired.

MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (TIMBER, 76) – 6

Caught out of position for Liverpool’s late leveller but showed signs of real maturity too.

GABRIEL JESUS (SAKA, 85) – N/A

ETHAN NWANERI (MARTINELLI, 85) – N/A

England’s Liz Young won the Women’s Indian Open by one shot to claim her second Ladies European Tour title.

The 42-year-old trailed compatriot Alice Hewson and Belgium’s Manon de Roey at the DLF Golf and Country Club in Haryana before carding a final-round 72 to finish two under par overall on Sunday.

De Roey went round in 74 to finish one shot behind Young and tie for second with Singapore’s Shannon Tan, New Zealand’s Momoka Kobori and France’s Agathe Sauzon.

Hewson, meanwhile, finished 11th after a disappointing 79.

Young turned the tide with an excellent birdie on the 15th hole to overturn her deficit and gain the lead from De Roey, who could only manage a bogey at 17.

The Englishwoman, who last won the Swiss Ladies Open in 2022, found water at the 18th before recovering to make a bogey, which De Roey could not improve on.

“I’m in shock… disbelief,” said Young, who climbed to 12th in the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit.

“It’s my second win, but it’s still as important as any other win. They don’t happen very often as a professional golfer.

“It’s never easy. Manon is a great friend of mine and we were battling all day. It’s never easy to beat a friend but she had one [victory] earlier this year so it’s my turn!

“Putting was the key – me and my caddie were reading the greens great all day. It was my birthday last week and it’s my daughter’s birthday next week, so it’s a good birthday celebration.”

(ALSO SEE: Sean Shelby’s Shoes: What’s next for Max Holloway after UFC 308 title-fight loss?)

Ilia Topuria backed up all his talk prior to UFC 308 when he went into the octagon and became the first man to knock out Max Holloway.

After taking the belt from Alexander Volkanovski in February, Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) took out another all-time great featherweight in his first defense when he put down Holloway (26-8 MMA, 22-8 UFC) with punches in the third round of the headlining contest at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Topuria is still just 27, but already he has put himself on the map with a remarkable career inside the octagon, and if his words remain true going forward, this is only just the start of what could be a special run.

What’s next for Topuria in his second defense at 145 pounds? Watch the video above for thoughts and analysis on his future after UFC 308.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.