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

Prospect Abdul-Rahman Yakhyaev has shown the ability to grind through adversity beyond the first round, as demonstrated in his triangle choke win over Najmudin Yusupov in ACA Young Eagles in June 2022 and his unanimous decision victory over Nikolai Kovalenko — a master of sport in judo — in a five-round bout in January 2023. Against Kovalenko, Yakhyaev survived a knockdown in the second round before recovering to secure three rounds of dominant ground control and take the win. The performances highlight his well-rounded skill set, combining takedowns, positional control, and finishing ability.