Abdul Razak Alhassan's clash with Cody Brundage at UFC Denver on Sunday ended in disappointment as the fight was declared a no-contest due to illegal blows, just moments into the opening round.

The confrontation took an unexpected turn when Brundage rushed forward in search of an early takedown. In response, Alhassan unleashed a barrage of elbow strikes and hammer fists. Referee Dan Miragliotta quickly intervened, issuing a warning to Alhassan for landing blows to the back of Brundage's head in the rapid-fire sequence.

Although Brundage adjusted and managed to grab onto a leg, Alhassan continued to unleash elbow strikes, with a couple inadvertently landing on the back of Brundage's head. Consequently, Miragliotta paused the fight once again and issued another warning for the illegal blows. However, Brundage was left in a dazed state from the strikes, and after several minutes of attempting to recover, he was unable to continue, resulting in the fight being waved off.

Miragliotta ultimately declared the fight a no-contest due to the "accidental" blows to the back of the head. However, Alhassan expressed skepticism, claiming that Brundage could have continued but chose not to. In an Instagram Story, he apologized to his fans and voiced his disappointment over the missed opportunity to secure a win.

Known for his aggressive fighting style, Alhassan wasted no time in unleashing a flurry of strikes against Brundage. However, due to Brundage's positioning during the takedown attempt, Alhassan found it difficult to land strikes accurately without hitting the back of his opponent's head. Miragliotta had no choice but to intervene when multiple illegal blows were landed.

Following Brundage's inability to continue, Miragliotta consulted with other referees and officials present at cageside before ultimately declaring the fight a no-contest. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with Alhassan expressing frustration over the missed opportunity and questioning Brundage's will to fight.

The disappointing outcome leaves both fighters seeking resolution and perhaps a chance for a rematch in the future. Meanwhile, UFC officials will review the fight and evaluate the legality of the blows delivered by Alhassan in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

As fans and pundits debate the controversial ending to this anticipated bout, all eyes now turn to the next UFC event, eagerly awaiting the thrilling matchups and hoping for a fair and decisive outcome in the Octagon.