Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev
Career Averages
Win Methods (2)
Fight History
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Yakhyaev (-550); Walker (+425)
Round 1
The heaviest bout at UFC Baku features unbeaten 205-pound prospect Yakhyaev against fellow up-and-comer Walker. The referee is Jim Perdios. They touch gloves and Yakhyaev absolutely levels Walker with his very first punch, a tight right hook to the jaw. He pounces, drops a couple hammerfists and Perdios is there for the save. One of the 10 fastest finishes in UFC history, an animated gif of a fight, is over.
The Official Result
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Julius Walker R1 0:08 via KO (Punches)
Expert Picks (16)
AJ DeVito is confident that Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev will defeat Julius Walker, calling it a setup fight. He notes Yakhyaev's well-rounded skills, nasty grappling, and knockout power, and expects a finish, leaning towards submission. He mentions Yakhyaev's quick win over Raphael Circada and Walker's struggles.
AJ is very confident Yakhyaev wins, calling it a setup fight. He believes Yakhyaev has superior boxing, power, and grappling, and will likely win by submission. He sees Walker as a can't-win fight and expects Yakhyaev to hurt him on the feet before securing a submission.
AJ sees this as a squash match for Yakhyaev, who is a better striker and grappler. He thinks Yakhyaev can knock out or submit Walker, who is stiff and awkward. AJ expects a finish within 15 minutes and notes the under 1.5 rounds line.
AJ expects Yakhyaev to finish Walker, likely in the first round, due to his knockout power and submission threat. Walker has defensive flaws and was recently knocked out. Yakhyaev's aggression and well-rounded game should overwhelm Walker.
Angelo picks Yakhyaev, stating he is better everywhere and that Walker is too early in his career. He notes that Walker has holes in his game and was just knocked out. He believes Yakhyaev will dominate and is worth the price despite being a heavy favorite.
Angelo thinks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev dominates the fight and earns his price tag, expecting a finish in under 1.5 rounds. He considers Julius Walker the worst fighter on the card, with only 3 years of professional experience.
Angelo picks Yakhyaev easily, noting that Julius Walker is too green with only 3 years of professional experience. He believes Yakhyaev is the better grappler and will likely win by finish. He expects the odds to move significantly.
Big Brady picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev to win by first-round knockout. He describes Yakhyaev as a beast with eight first-round wins, either knocking opponents out or submitting them early. Walker is a grappler with poor striking who has been hurt by lesser fighters. Brady sees a bad matchup for Walker, expecting Yakhyaev to finish him quickly.
Cody picks Yakhyaev, calling him a future title contender. He notes Yakhyaev's grappling and physicality, and believes he will dominate Walker. He parlayed Yakhyaev with Donchenko early in the week.
Daniel Levi considers this a lock, stating he bet Yakhyaev at -400 and would cap him at -1500. He dismisses Julius Walker's competition, particularly his life-and-death fight with Raphael Cera, and believes Yakhyaev can win by any method: head kick, punches, takedowns, submission, or grind. He expects a quick finish, possibly under a minute.
Jacob picks Yakhyaev to win by KO or submission, predicting a dominant performance. He thinks Walker has no path to victory and that Yakhyaev will finish him early, possibly earning a performance bonus. He got Yakhyaev at a good price before the line moved.
Lucrative James is very confident in Yakhyaev, calling him a legit prospect with explosive wrestling, submissions, and power. He notes that Yakhyaev finishes fights early and has shown cardio in a five-round decision. He believes Julius Walker is outskilled everywhere and predicts a first-round knockout, as Yakhyaev is due for a KO after two submission wins.
Yakhyaev is far superior in almost every aspect, with a nasty jiu-jitsu game and decent striking. Walker is athletic but lacks technical skills and has mediocre cardio. Yakhyaev will dominate positions and get a quick first-round finish, likely by knockout.
The host is stunned that Yakubov is not at minus 1000, believing he is far superior to Walker in every aspect. He thinks Yakubov may lean on his striking to find the chin of Walker and predicts a first-round knockout win.
Paul picks Yakhyaev confidently, calling him a top prospect. He notes Yakhyaev's grappling and physical strength, and believes he will overwhelm Walker. He prefers the over 1.5 rounds at plus money, expecting Walker's durability to carry him past the first round but Yakhyaev to win.
The Guru picks Yakhyaev via knockout, citing his dynamic striking, evasiveness, and well-rounded grappling. He believes Walker is too linear and stiff, and will get caught coming in. He expects Yakhyaev to land a single strike or finish on the ground.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 23 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Brendson Ribeiro | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 23 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 | 0 | 1:56 |
| Brendson Ribeiro | 0 | 8 of 17 | 47% | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 7 of 15 | 46% | 6 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Brendson Ribeiro | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 7 of 15 | 46% | 6 of 14 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 4 |
| Brendson Ribeiro | 8 of 17 | 47% | 5 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 17 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Yakhyaev (-2000); Ribeiro (+1000)
Round 1
At just eight fights into his professional career, Russian Yakhyaev (8-0, 1-0 UFC) by way of Turkey is about to close as one of the biggest betting favorites in company history. He ranges anywhere from -1200 to -2000 depending on the sportsbook, which all-but dismisses the heavy-handed Brazilian Ribeiro (17-9, 1 NC; 2-4 UFC). Odds don’t say the whole picture, so the light heavyweights will handle their business as referee Mike Beltran stands vigilant. There is a glove touch before the fists fly.
Ribeiro starts first after about 12 seconds of measuring with a low kick, and Yakhyaev beans him with a right hand behind the ear. Ribeiro stumbles, resets and cracks Yakhyaev back. Yakhyaev shoots in for a takedown, surprised that he has taken some shots early, and the Brazilian bounces away. Ribeiro kicks Yakhyaev in the head through the guard and has his kick caught, with Yakhyaev taking him down to the floor. Ribeiro grabs hold of a two-on-one wrist lock to threaten with a kimura off his back in hopes of turning the fighter repping Turkey over. Yakhyaev responds with 12-to-6 elbows to the side, and Ribeiro wrenches his way back up but is under fire all the way up. Yakhyaev presses his weight down to keep Ribeiro on his knees, smothering him from behind while trying to slip a hook in. When Ribeiro stands, Yakhyaev easily mat returns him and establishes control of the back momentarily. Yakhyaev flirts with a rear-naked choke, but finds his right hand having to deal with a kimura sweep effort.
Yakhyaev pulls his arm out of it and looks to set up a choke, but he settles for punches to the sides of the dome instead.
Yakhyaev allows Ribeiro to sit up so he can ratchet on a rear-naked choke, and it is not going anywhere. Ribeiro is caught in a web, and “welcome to my parlor” says the spider to the fly. Yakhyaev cranks the neck with full power, and Ribeiro taps out lest he go out.
“The Hunter” releases the grip upon Beltran’s intervention, and he signals to someone in the crowd as if he knew he was going to get the submission the whole time. That makes it 9-0 with eight finishes for light heavyweight prospect Yakhyaev, who will not get many more opponents like this before taking a hefty step up in competition.
The Official Result
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Brendson Ribeiro R1 2:52 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (10)
Angelo is extremely confident in Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, calling it the easiest pick on the card. He notes Yakhyaev is a good prospect with wrestling, striking, and power, while Brendson Ribeiro is hitable and has a quit button. However, he strongly advises against betting at -1400 odds, calling it not worth the risk.
Big Brady is extremely confident Yakhyaev will win, calling it 'dumb matchmaking.' He expects Yakhyaev to knock out Ribeiro within the first minute, as he has done in recent fights. He notes Ribeiro has no chin and that Yakhyaev finishes fights quickly.
Cody is confident Yakhyaev wins by first-round knockout, given Ribeiro's history of first-round KO losses. He notes Yakhyaev's well-rounded skills and the mismatch, but warns about the prohibitive moneyline.
Connor agrees, calling it a squash match. He notes that Ribeiro is extremely hittable and has poor defense under pressure. Connor points out that Yakhyaev throws big single strikes and marches through opponents, which should be more than enough to finish Ribeiro.
James is extremely confident in Yakhyaev, calling it a 'murder scene.' He highlights Yakhyaev's explosiveness, wrestling, and finishing ability, while noting Ribeiro's lack of durability and short-notice camp. He predicts a round one KO, stating Yakhyaev is a legitimate prospect who will run through Ribeiro. He mentions the odds are too high to bet but is certain of the outcome.
James is very high on Yakhyaev, calling him one of the greatest fighters in the division and predicting he will steamroll Ribeiro and become a champion. He compares his confidence to his previous correct call on Loena Cavana.
The host is extremely confident in Yakhyaev, citing his insane ceiling, dangerous grappling and striking, and a horrible stylistic matchup for Ribeiro. He expects a first-round finish and advises against parlaying the heavy chalk, instead looking for props. He notes Ribeiro's recent losses and lack of success against similar competition.
Paul is confident Yakhyaev wins, likely by submission or KO in the first round. He notes the price is prohibitive but suggests playing the round one prop or parlay.
The MMA Guru confidently picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev, citing his undefeated record, fast starts, and nasty finishes. He notes that Brendson Ribeiro has been finished multiple times early in fights and expects Yakhyaev to secure a first-round TKO.
Zane sees this as a walkover for Yakhyaev, noting that Ribeiro crumbles under pressure and has been finished in almost all his losses. He describes Ribeiro as a fighter who folds when going backwards, covering up and falling into the cage. Zane believes Yakhyaev's aggressive style will overwhelm Ribeiro quickly.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 1 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 11 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Raffael Cerqueira | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 1 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 11 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Raffael Cerqueira | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 6 of 10 | 60% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 |
| Raffael Cerqueira | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev | 6 of 10 | 60% | 6 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 6 |
| Raffael Cerqueira | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Yakhyaev (-1000); Cerqueira (+650)
Round 1
The under is circled on many betting sheets for this match, as prognosticators expect these two light heavyweight sluggers will bust one another up. The debuting Yakhyaev (7-0, 0-0 UFC) is the highest betting favorite of the card, with odds around -1000 (or higher) in his favor against the hapless Brazilian striker Cerqueira (11-3, 0-3 UFC). Referee Rich Mitchell dons his proverbial hard hat to protect himself from errant swings, and he steps back to allow the 205ers to clap hands.
Yakhyaev introduces himself with, of all things, a spinning wheel kick, and he proceeds to blast Cerqueira in the face with it through his guard. Cerqueira wobbles back, stung but not wrecked from the surprise kick, and Yakhyaev walks him down and busts him in the chops with an overhand left. He chases after “The Lion” and catches him with two more punches that set up a cruise missile of a head kick that sends Cerqueira crashing to his seat. Cerqueira is still with it, his eyes wide open as Yakhyaev pounces. Yakhyaev tries to finish the job with big punches, but Cerqueira works his way to his feet with the fence as his only ally in the building right now.
The Turkish fighter wraps up Cerqueira and dumps him to the ground, where he proceeds to snatch up a rear-naked choke without even bothering to get in any hooks. The choke is tight as a drum already, as Cerqueira offers little defense as he may still be dazed. Cerqueira tries to roll over to his side, but this allows Yakhyaev to slip a body triangle around his waist and complete the choke.
The Brazilian does not take more than a second or two to surrender, and just like that, Yakhyaev has successfully blown through his opponent in his promotional debut. It took a little more than 30 seconds for “The Hunter” to slay “The Lion,” and Yakhyaev remains in the ranks of the unbeaten, having justified the massive betting line in his favor.
The Official Result
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev def. Raffael Cerqueira R1 0:33 via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
Expert Picks (8)
Angelo picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev over Raffael Cerqueira, calling him a solid prospect with great takedowns and power. Cerqueira is athletic but cannot defend takedowns, as seen in his loss to Julius Walker. Yakhyaev can knock him out or take him down repeatedly. The odds are wide, but Angelo is confident.
Big Brady confidently picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev by first-round knockout, describing him as a legit prospect with tons of power and vicious grappling. He expects a quick finish, possibly within the first minute, and notes Cerqueira's poor UFC record.
Cody picks Yakhyaev confidently, calling him an uber prospect. He notes Yakhyaev's well-rounded skills, power, and wrestling. Cody believes Yakhyaev will finish Cerqueira early, likely by knockout or submission. He suggests betting on a first-round finish.
Connor agrees, picking Yakhyaev. He notes that Yakhyaev is messy with his wrestling due to reckless aggression but is a good natural scrambler. He embraces chaos and doesn't shy away from resistance. He thinks Cerqueira should never have been signed and shouldn't have been kept after getting melted by Aslan.
Yakhyaev is a beast in light heavyweight and should run through Cerqueira quickly. Cerqueira has a glass chin and doesn't deserve a UFC spot. Expect a finish within two minutes.
Paul picks Yakhyaev confidently, noting his impressive resume and skills. He believes Yakhyaev will knock out Cerqueira, who is 0-3 in the UFC. Paul suggests betting on a knockout or inside the distance.
The MMA Guru picks Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev over Raffael Cerqueira, dismissing Cerqueira's UFC performances as disastrous. He notes Cerqueira gets KO'd in the first round and covers up. He believes Yakhyaev, an undefeated prospect with reach, will finish Cerqueira by TKO in the first or second round.
Zane picks Yakhyaev confidently, noting that Cerqueira is not good and has a paper-thin regional record. He says Cerqueira crushes cans but collapses against anyone who can fight, as shown by his loss to Ibo Aslan. Yakhyaev is undercooked but confident, aggressive, and has a wrestling game. He thinks Yakhyaev will roll through Cerqueira.
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