Akbar Abdullaev will face Brazil's Ednilson Santos at DWCS 92 on September 15 after original opponent Anthony Figueroa withdrew for undisclosed reasons. Santos (14-7-1) steps in on one week's notice, having most recently earned a unanimous decision over Shaheen Santana in May. Abdullaev (13-0), the highly touted Kyrgyzstan lightweight who split from ONE Championship in the spring, carries a 100 percent finishing rate including 12 knockouts. The lightweight bout takes place at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
A late change has shaken up the lightweight card at Dana White's Contender Series 92, with Ednilson Santos stepping in on short notice to face unbeaten prospect Akbar Abdullaev on September 15 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Original opponent Anthony Figueroa withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons, and Santos agreed to take the fight with just one week to prepare.
Abdullaev arrives as one of the more hyped prospects on this year's Contender Series slate. The Kyrgyzstan-born lightweight carries a perfect 13-0 record and a finishing rate of one hundred percent, with twelve of those victories coming by way of knockout. He departed ONE Championship earlier this year and is now looking to earn a UFC contract on the sport's most prominent developmental stage.
Santos enters on short notice but is no stranger to the professional ranks. The Brazilian holds a 14-7-1 record and most recently went the distance against Shaheen Santana in May, earning a unanimous decision victory. That performance demonstrated he can manage a full fight's workload, a relevant detail given the compressed preparation window he faces here.
Figueroa, who had been slated to take the Abdullaev bout, holds an 11-8-1 record and trains out of American Kickboxing Academy. The reason for his withdrawal has not been disclosed.
Why it matters
- Abdullaev's undefeated record and knockout-heavy finishing rate make him a high-profile name on the DWCS 92 card, and a dominant performance could fast-track a UFC deal.
- Santos's late substitution creates a significant preparation imbalance, though his recent decision win shows he has the conditioning to compete at a competitive level.
- The lightweight division remains one of the UFC's deepest, making a strong DWCS showing especially valuable for prospects seeking to break through.
