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Prospect To Watch | Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev
Undefeated Light Heavyweight Returns To The Octagon To Face Brendson Ribeiro At UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan On April 4, 2026
Sometimes a fighter will announce themselves on Dana White’s Contender Series not just as a young prospect, but as someone ready to jump right into the thick of UFC-level competition.
That was the case for 25-year-old Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, who showed he was more than ready for the big leagues with a rapid finish of Alik Lorenz this past August.
“The Hunter” did exactly what his nickname suggests, wasting no time unleashing strikes with fight-ending intentions. Just 20 seconds into the first round, Yakhyaev uncorked an overhand right that landed flush on his opponent, sending Lorenz retreating to the side of the Octagon. Yakhyaev chased him down with a flurry of heavy punches and knees before Lorenz crumbled to the mat, forcing the early stoppage.
The performance left UFC CEO Dana White speechless in his chair, eyes wide as he watched the finish unfold. When it came time to announce the contract winners at the end of the show, Yakhyaev was an easy choice.
“The oddsmakers nailed this one,” White said. “7-0, 11-1 favorite, seven-fight win streak, five first-round finishes. I cannot wait to see you in the UFC.”
Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev Submits Rafael Cerqueira In Round 1 | UFC Qatar
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Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev Submits Rafael Cerqueira In Round 1 | UFC Qatar
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Yakhyaev made his UFC debut three months later against Brazilian knockout artist Rafael Cerqueira. After seeing how polished his standup game looked on the Contender Series, this matchup was shaping up to be a striker’s delight. Not only did he prove his striking was elite, but Yakhyaev also showcased a wide array of skills that make him a dangerous proposition no matter where the fight goes.
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Five seconds into the opening round, Yakhyaev threw a spinning wheel kick that partially landed through Cerqueira’s guard. He quickly followed it up with an overhand left, right hook, and finally a left high kick that floored his Brazilian counterpart.
Cerqueira made his way back to his feet while trying to shake off a flurry of ground-and-pound, but was immediately tossed back to the mat and locked into a rear-naked choke. Cerqueira tried to survive, but the grip was too tight, and he was forced to tap.
“That was the plan the entire time,” Yakhyaev told UFC commentator Michael Bisping after the fight. “It was a huge moment for me to come out here and show myself in my UFC debut. The plan was to do it right away.”
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Between his DWCS appearance and UFC debut, Yakhyaev has spent just one minute and three seconds inside the Octagon, but he has already put the light heavyweight division on notice.
Yakhyaev is now 8-0 with three knockouts, four submissions, and six first-round finishes, three of those coming in under a minute. He returns to the Octagon this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan, where he’ll make his sophomore appearance against Brendson Ribeiro. Since also earning his contract on DWCS, Ribeiro has competed six times in the UFC, earning wins over Caio Machado and Diyar Nurgozhay.
UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs Duncan took place live from Meta APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 4, 2026. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
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