Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev used strong grappling to finish Brendson Ribeiro early at UFC Vegas 115, earning a first-round rear-naked choke and moving to 9-0 as a professional.
Fight recap
Yakhyaev was the heaviest favorite on the UFC Vegas 115 card at -1600. Early in the fight, Brendson Ribeiro appeared to land a solid shot, but Yakhyaev quickly closed the distance and took control on the ground.
Ribeiro tried to secure a kimura to change the position, but Yakhyaev escaped cleanly and worked to Ribeiro’s back. From there he locked up a rear-naked choke and forced the tap in the first round.
Yakhyaev’s rise
The victory keeps Yakhyaev unbeaten at 9-0. He is 2-0 in the UFC, and both wins under the promotion have come by first-round finishes since he earned a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series.
In his UFC debut, Yakhyaev finished Raffael Cerqueira in just 33 seconds. His quick finishes and secure grappling have marked him as a fast-rising prospect in his division.
Ribeiro’s recent form
Brendson Ribeiro has now lost three fights in a row and five of his last seven. He showed moments of offense early in this match, but he could not maintain position once the fight hit the mat.
Ribeiro will likely need to regroup and adjust his game plan after this streak of losses if he wants to return to form.
Quick facts
Event: UFC Vegas 115
Method: Rear-naked choke, 1st round
Notable: Yakhyaev remains unbeaten and continues to finish fights early; Ribeiro extends a rough stretch of results.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev | First-round submission (now 9-0) |
| Brendson Ribeiro | Loss (third straight; five of last seven) |
