Poirier Says Ilimbek Uulu 'Flopped' in TUF 34 DQ Win

Dustin Poirier says Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu exaggerated his reaction to an illegal knee that handed him the win in the bantamweight final of "The Ultimate Fighter" season 34. Mehemmedali Osmanli was disqualified at 2:19 of the opening round for landing an illegal knee to a grounded Uulu during the finale at UFC Vegas 121 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, ending the fight and crowning Uulu as the season's bantamweight champion.

The stoppage itself was straightforward. Illegal knees to a downed opponent are automatic fouls under the unified rules, and referees are trained to step in fast. What has fight fans and now Poirier talking is what happened right after contact.

What did Dustin Poirier say about the finish?

Dustin Poirier broke down the sequence on "Deep Water" alongside Jorge Masvidal and Chris Weidman, and he did not hold back. Reviewing the replay, which showed Uulu reaching for Osmanli's leg before the referee stepped in, Poirier argued the champion's demeanor shifted the moment he realized the bout was being waved off. He put it bluntly: "Here, when he's about to build up on a single leg, his brain starts working and he's like, 'Oh, I just won 'The Ultimate Fighter' if I flop,' and he flopped." He doubled down with the comparison that's now defining the clip: "Yeah, come on, this is the Oscars. That's a flop."

Jorge Masvidal backed Poirier's read of the moment, while Chris Weidman stopped short of accusing Uulu of selling the foul. Osmanli himself has separately accused Uulu of exaggerating the effects of the strike, meaning the two fighters and their reactions are now the bigger storyline coming out of the finale than the disqualification rule itself.

Why this matters for Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu going forward

A TUF title is a real credential, but it comes with an asterisk when the finish is a foul rather than a finish earned in the pocket. Uulu now enters the UFC bantamweight division with a championship on his resume and a cloud of "flopper" chatter attached to it, courtesy of two respected veteran voices in Poirier and Masvidal. That narrative will follow him into his next walkout, whether he likes it or not, and how he responds, either by addressing it directly or letting his hands answer for him, will shape how quickly oddsmakers and matchmakers take him seriously as a prospect rather than a beneficiary of bad luck.

For bettors, the practical takeaway is smaller than the noise suggests. Nothing here changes the official result. Uulu is the TUF 34 bantamweight winner of record, and Osmanli's loss goes on the books as a disqualification. But perception matters in a sport where finishes and reputation drive how quickly a prospect gets moved up the card and how sportsbooks price him in his first real UFC test. A fighter tagged as someone who needs a foul or a stoppage to win is generally priced differently than one seen as a finisher, and that gap could show up the moment Uulu is booked again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Mehemmedali Osmanli disqualified at the TUF 34 Finale?

Mehemmedali Osmanli was disqualified for landing an illegal knee to a grounded Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu at 2:19 of the first round, handing Uulu the bantamweight title in the TUF 34 Finale at UFC Vegas 121.

What did Dustin Poirier say about Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu's reaction to the foul?

Dustin Poirier said on "Deep Water" that Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu exaggerated his reaction once he realized the illegal knee would end the fight in his favor, calling the reaction a 'flop.'

Did Jorge Masvidal and Chris Weidman agree with Poirier's take?

Jorge Masvidal agreed with Dustin Poirier's assessment that Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu exaggerated the foul, while Chris Weidman did not take a clear position on the matter.