Luis Gurule upsets heavily favored Bilal Hasan by split decision at UFC 334

Luis Gurule defeated Bilal Hasan by split decision at UFC 334 on Saturday, overturning expectations against a heavily favored prospect at Madison Square Garden. Hasan entered the contest with considerable backing from bettors, but Gurule's takedowns helped him turn a difficult opening into the biggest upset on the card.

The matchup had also prompted an unusual prediction during the event's press conference. Hasan asked artificial intelligence to identify the likely winner, and it chose him. That answer aligned with the betting market, where Hasan became a -1000 favorite. Gurule made clear after the fight that he had taken notice of the expectations surrounding his opponent.

Hasan's position on the main card was another indication of the promotion's confidence in him. This was only his second UFC appearance, and many regarded him as the most promising signing from the current season of Dana White's Contender Series. The prominent placement gave him an opportunity to reinforce that reputation against Gurule.

For much of the opening round, Hasan appeared to be meeting those expectations. Fighting under the nickname IndoNinja, he connected with sharp strikes and moved away before Gurule could respond. His movement and striking output established an early advantage, although Gurule produced a significant response in the closing seconds of the round.

An overhand right from Gurule knocked Hasan into a seated position. Hasan immediately returned to his feet and appeared unhurt. Despite that late setback, most online observers considered Hasan's greater volume sufficient to give him the round, leaving Gurule with work to do after the opening exchanges.

Gurule then found success through his wrestling. An NCAA Division II All-American, he had previously recorded no more than one takedown in any UFC fight. He secured takedowns in each of the remaining two rounds, bringing a different element to a contest that Hasan had initially controlled on the feet.

Hasan generated little offense once the action moved to the mat, though he did open a substantial cut on Gurule's eyebrow during a takedown attempt. Gurule's work ultimately earned the split decision. Afterward, he said only his training partners had believed in him and described his confidence in testing Hasan: "I knew I could drag him into deep waters. I knew he couldn't swim."