Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev will face Julius Walker at UFC Baku on June 27, according to initial reporting from Marcel Dorff. Yakhyaev enters the bout with a 2-0 record in the UFC, while Walker holds a 1-2 promotional record. The matchup represents an opportunity for Yakhyaev to extend his undefeated UFC streak, while Walker will be looking to bounce back and improve his standing within the organization. Details about weight class and fight placement on the card were not specified in the announcement. The bout adds to the growing lineup for the UFC's event in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Abdul-Rakhman "Hunter" Yakhyaev and Julius "Juice Box" Walker have been booked to meet at UFC Baku on June 27, with the matchup first reported by Marcel Dorff. The event takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan, though the weight class and card placement for the bout have not yet been confirmed.
Yakhyaev enters the fight as one of the more compelling unbeaten prospects in the organization. The 25-year-old Orthodox fighter stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and carries a perfect 10-0-0 professional record into the contest, going 2-0 since joining the UFC. His statistical profile is striking — he lands 7.4 significant strikes per minute at a 67 percent accuracy rate, while also threatening heavily on the ground with 11.49 takedowns and 7.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Walker, known as "Juice Box," brings a 7-3-0 overall record and a 1-2 mark inside the UFC. The 26-year-old American fights out of Team Fusion in an Orthodox stance, standing six-foot-four with a 78-inch reach. He lands 3.73 significant strikes per minute at 53 percent accuracy and adds a grappling dimension of his own, averaging 4.09 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Yakhyaev's perfect record and elite activity rates make him one of the division's rising names, and a third UFC win would strengthen his promotional standing considerably.
- Walker needs a victory to move back to the .500 mark in the UFC and reverse a trajectory that has seen him go 1-2 since joining the roster.
- Both fighters share identical 78-inch reaches, setting up a closely matched physical contest, though their output and grappling volumes differ sharply on paper.
- The bout adds another layer of intrigue to the UFC's continued investment in Baku as a growing market on the international calendar.
