Tahir Abdullaev scored a third-round TKO over Jefferson Nascimento in both men's UFC debuts at UFC Baku. The 29-year-old Abdullaev improved to 20-3 with his fifth consecutive victory. Nascimento dropped to 13-1, suffering the first defeat of his professional career in what was also his second fight within a month.
Azerbaijani prospect Tahir "Tank" Abdullayev announced his UFC arrival in style on June 27, 2026, stopping Brazil's Jefferson "Toddynho" Nascimento by third-round TKO in a flyweight contest that served as a UFC debut for both men at UFC Baku.
Abdullayev, 29, enters the UFC record books at 20-3 following the finish, which extended his winning streak to five consecutive bouts. The orthodox striker out of Phuket Top Team stands five-foot-eight with a 73-inch reach and competes in front of a home crowd as one of Azerbaijan's most prominent MMA exports. The victory stakes an early claim for Abdullayev as a name to watch in a competitive division.
Nascimento, 27, now sits at 13-1 after suffering the first professional loss of his career. The Brazilian, who trains out of Renovacao Fight Team, shares the same five-foot-eight height as Abdullayev but carries a slightly shorter 70-inch reach. The defeat came under particularly demanding circumstances — this was Nascimento's second fight within a single month, a punishing schedule that added context to the outcome.
Why it matters
- Abdullayev's five-fight winning streak and home-crowd momentum make him an immediate name in the flyweight conversation.
- Nascimento's 13-1 record and age suggest he retains considerable upside despite absorbing the first blemish of his career.
- The reach advantage of three inches in Abdullayev's favor may have played a role in dictating the finishing sequence across three rounds.
- Both men now have UFC experience, setting up potential divisional positioning fights as the promotion expands its Azerbaijani footprint.
