Abdulrakhman Yakhyaev
Hunter
Turkey
Comes through as massive favorite
Yakhyaev defeated Raffael Cerqueira via submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:33 of Round 1 at UFC Qatar on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
It's rare to see betting favorites far north of (-1000) at this level, but that was the case here, and Yakhyaev looked the part. While the end result will go in the books as a submission win, it was Yakhyaev's striking that set the stage for the finish. He opened things up with a spinning wheel kick that got through his opponent's guard and proceeded to walk him down. A head kick sent Cerqueira to the canvas, and when his ground-and-pound didn't finish the job, Yakhyaev transitioned to his opponent's back and did just that. Considering he didn't absorb a single significant strike in this one, he should be poised for a quick turnaround.
It's rare to see betting favorites far north of (-1000) at this level, but that was the case here, and Yakhyaev looked the part. While the end result will go in the books as a submission win, it was Yakhyaev's striking that set the stage for the finish. He opened things up with a spinning wheel kick that got through his opponent's guard and proceeded to walk him down. A head kick sent Cerqueira to the canvas, and when his ground-and-pound didn't finish the job, Yakhyaev transitioned to his opponent's back and did just that. Considering he didn't absorb a single significant strike in this one, he should be poised for a quick turnaround.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Debut scheduled quickly
Yakhyaev will take on Raffael Cerqueira in a light heavyweight matchup at UFC Qatar on Nov. 23, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Yakhyaev stormed onto the scene with a 30-second knockout on Dana White's Contender Series back on Aug. 26, and UFC brass will waste no time scheduling the Chechnyan fighter for a match nearby in Qatar. He likely enters as the favorite, too, given that Cerqueira is 0-3 in the UFC, with two of those losses being first-round finishes. On paper, Yakhyaev will give up an inch in height, but has a two-inch reach advantage.
Yakhyaev stormed onto the scene with a 30-second knockout on Dana White's Contender Series back on Aug. 26, and UFC brass will waste no time scheduling the Chechnyan fighter for a match nearby in Qatar. He likely enters as the favorite, too, given that Cerqueira is 0-3 in the UFC, with two of those losses being first-round finishes. On paper, Yakhyaev will give up an inch in height, but has a two-inch reach advantage.
30-second finish earns contract
Yakhyaev defeated Alik Lorenz via TKO (punches) at 0:30 of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. After the show, he was one of fight fighters to be awarded an official UFC contract.
ANALYSIS
Yakhyaev looked every bit the part of a (-1200) betting favorite in this one, as he opened with an overhand right that knocked his opponent back. He proceeded to follow him to the cage, and it wasn't long before Lorenz was crumbling to his knees and referee Mark Smith was jumping in. Yakhyaev only absorbed one significant strike in this one, so the possibility for a quick turnaround is in play. At just 24 years old, Yakyaev is the latest in a long line of Chechnyan-born fighters to join the UFC roster.
Yakhyaev looked every bit the part of a (-1200) betting favorite in this one, as he opened with an overhand right that knocked his opponent back. He proceeded to follow him to the cage, and it wasn't long before Lorenz was crumbling to his knees and referee Mark Smith was jumping in. Yakhyaev only absorbed one significant strike in this one, so the possibility for a quick turnaround is in play. At just 24 years old, Yakyaev is the latest in a long line of Chechnyan-born fighters to join the UFC roster.