UFC Baku Prelims Deliver 6 Finishes in 7 Bouts as Hasanov Caps Card With 30-27 Win
Updated
Updated · UFC · Jun 27
UFC Baku Prelims Deliver 6 Finishes in 7 Bouts as Hasanov Caps Card With 30-27 Win
3 articles · Updated · UFC · Jun 27
Summary
Six of the first seven preliminary fights in Baku ended inside the distance, turning a slow start into a finish-heavy undercard at the National Gymnastics Arena.
0:08 into Round 1, Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev knocked out Julius Walker with his first punch for the card’s quickest result and the year’s fastest UFC finish, also the second-fastest light heavyweight stoppage in promotion history.
Farman Hasanov closed the prelims by sweeping Eric Nolan 30-27 on all three cards in his UFC debut, piling up a record 9 takedowns in one round and giving the host nation wins at both ends of the slate.
Other standout stoppages came from Nursulton Ruziboev’s first-round rear-naked choke, Kaan Ofli’s first-round arm-triangle, and Daniil Donchenko’s second-round TKO, while Jean Matsumoto beat Bekzat Almakhan by unanimous decision.
The prelim surge set the tone for UFC’s second straight event in Azerbaijan, where local fighters featured prominently before the Fiziev vs. Torres main card.