Abdul-Rahman Yakhyaev's two career bouts that went beyond the first round highlight the depth of his game. Against Nazhmudin Yusupov at ACA Young Eagles on June 25, 2022, the then-21-year-old recovered from a difficult opening round to win by triangle choke in round two. Against Nikolai Kovalenko — an accomplished judoka who entered 7-0 — in a five-round contest for Khan Fight on January 7, 2023, Yakhyaev survived a knockdown in round two before grinding out a unanimous decision with dominant grappling control across the final three rounds.
Two performances from Abdul-Rahman Yakhyaev's unbeaten career stand out as evidence of his ability to compete through adversity and adapt mid-fight.
The first came on June 25, 2022, at ACA Young Eagles, when a then-21-year-old Yakhyaev faced Nazhmudin Yusupov in a contest that did not go smoothly from the start. Yakhyaev struggled through a difficult opening round before turning the fight around in round two, finishing Yusupov with a triangle choke to claim the victory.
The second, and arguably more revealing, performance arrived on January 7, 2023, under the Khan Fight banner against Nikolai Kovalenko, a polished judoka who entered the fight carrying a perfect 7-0 record. Scheduled for five rounds, the bout tested Yakhyaev in a way few opponents had managed. A knockdown in round two put him in genuine danger, but he regrouped and imposed himself on the contest over the final three rounds, controlling Kovalenko on the ground and earning a unanimous decision.
Why it matters
- Both fights show Yakhyaev can recover from early setbacks rather than fold under pressure
- The Kovalenko win is particularly significant given the opponent's unbeaten record and grappling credentials in judo
- His ability to finish with a triangle choke in one fight and grind out a five-round decision in another points to range within his grappling game
- At just 21 years old during these bouts, the performances suggest a level of composure that typically takes fighters years to develop
