Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev announced his arrival to the UFC with a statement-making performance at UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker in Qatar on Saturday night, submitting Raffael Cerqueira with a lightning-quick rear-naked choke in only 33 seconds—a brand new record for the fastest submission in UFC Light Heavyweight history.
The undefeated Turkish prospect wasted no time imposing his dominance, hurting Cerqueira on the feet before seamlessly transitioning to the bottom to lock within the brutal submission. The finish exemplified the whole lot the UFC and fight fans have come to expect from the 24-year-old phenom since his explosive run on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he famously knocked out Alik Lorenz in 30 seconds and earned his promotional contract.
Yakhyaev entered the bout because the overwhelming betting favorite, and rightfully so. The southpaw’s combination of elite freestyle wrestling, devastating ground control, and submission expertise proved far an excessive amount of for the beleaguered Brazilian veteran. Cerqueira, already winless in his first three UFC appearances, found himself outmatched from the opening seconds.
This submission victory further cements Yakhyaev’s status as probably the most exciting emerging prospects within the stacked Light Heavyweight division. His resume now includes six finishes in seven skilled fights, with three coming via submission. The demonstration of technical grappling, timing, and fight intelligence on Saturday night showcased why the UFC brass are so high on his potential.
The 33-second finish also demonstrates why Yakhyaev is being positioned as a future title contender. Together with his superior athleticism, wrestling foundation, and submission acumen, the young prospect appears destined for significant things within the 205-pound weight class. Because the Light Heavyweight division continues to evolve, Yakhyaev’s ability to complete fights with explosive efficiency positions him as a serious force to be reckoned with in the approaching years.