Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Nicolae Negumereanu — Fight recap

Nicolae Negumereanu defeated Kennedy Nzechukwu by split decision in Round 3 at 5:00. Nzechukwu was the more active and accurate striker, landing 95 of 190 significant strikes compared with Negumereanu’s 64 of 160, but the Romanian offset that deficit with pressure, positional work, and a more varied attack.

Negumereanu completed one of five takedown attempts and accumulated 3:28 of control time, while Nzechukwu recorded no takedowns or control. The tactical pattern centered on Nzechukwu working as a head-hunting striker at range and Negumereanu forcing exchanges closer to the fence, where he could dictate positioning and mix in grappling.

Nzechukwu landed 84 significant strikes to the head, yet Negumereanu’s 21 of 24 leg strikes gave him another consistent scoring weapon and disrupted his opponent’s base. Neither fighter scored a knockdown or attempted a submission, leaving the judges to weigh Nzechukwu’s higher striking volume against Negumereanu’s cage control, takedown, and broader target selection.

The result strengthened Negumereanu’s position in the light heavyweight division.