A closer look at Abdul-Rahman Yakhyaev's two toughest career fights

Prospect Abdul-Rahman Yakhyaev showed resilience in two of his more competitive early bouts, submitting Nazhmudin Yusupov with a triangle choke in round two and defeating Nikolai Kovalenko by unanimous decision over five rounds. Against Kovalenko, who entered the fight 7-0, Yakhyaev was dropped in the second round but recovered, clinched, and controlled the remainder of the fight on the ground. The performances highlight a well-rounded skill set including takedowns, ground control, and finishing ability.