Analysis: How Yakhyaev performed in his two toughest fights to date

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev's two most competitive bouts came against Najmudin Yusupov in ACA Young Eagles in June 2022, where he won by triangle choke in the second round, and against Nikolai Kovalenko — an MSMK-level judoka — in a five-round bout in January 2023, which he won by unanimous decision. Against Yusupov, Yakhyaev trailed through much of the fight before securing a slick triangle with a precise arm-clearing movement. Against Kovalenko, he weathered a second-round knockdown before regrouping and securing three rounds of dominant ground control to take the decision. Both performances highlighted Yakhyaev's takedown ability, positional control, and composure under pressure.