There were some awesome debuts \u2014 and some absolute stinkers.<\/p>\n
Now that the dust has settled, let\u2019s grade<\/a> their respective performances below:<\/p>\n DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: Luke Riley of England reacts after a TKO victory against Bogdan Grad of Romania in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n Luke Riley\u2019s Octagon debut was one of the most anticipated of the year. The unbeaten Liverpool standout \u2014 one of the brightest prospects on the U.K. regional scene \u2014 lived up to the hype, knocking out Bogdan Grad in the second round (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t flawless. Riley\u2019s biggest weakness, his takedown defense, was exposed early as he spent most of the first round controlled on the mat. But after dropping Round 1, he erased it instantly with a picture-perfect counter left hand that switched Grad\u2019s lights off.<\/p>\n Now 12-0, Riley is a massive addition to the ever-growing Featherweight division. If he continues improving his defensive wrestling, his ceiling is sky-high.<\/p>\n A matchup with fellow striker Steven Nguyen makes perfect sense next.<\/p>\n DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: (R-L) Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev of Russia takes down Rafael Cerquiera of Brazil in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n The biggest betting favorite on UFC Qatar (-1600) looked every bit the part. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev steamrolled Rafael Cerqueira in just 33 seconds, becoming the first fighter to submit the Brazilian.<\/p>\n In that half-minute, Yakhyaev showcased flashy stand-up \u2014 partially landing a spinning wheel kick, firing a crisp three-piece, and blasting a high kick that dropped Cerqueira. He followed with ground-and-pound, slammed Cerqueira when he tried to escape, then secured a tight rear-naked choke for the finish (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n This was a pure showcase squash match, and Yakhyaev maximized it.<\/p>\n At 9-0 with an 88 percent finish rate and seven first-round wins, the 24-year-old is absolutely one to watch in 2026. Even if the matchup was soft, Light Heavyweight always needs new blood, and he\u2019s got the tools to rise quickly.<\/p>\n Billy Elekana is the right next step.<\/p>\n DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 21: Saygid Izagakhmaev poses on the scale during the UFC Fight Night ceremonial weigh-in at ABHA Arena on November 21, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n One of the strangest UFC signings of the year, Saygid Izagakhmaev hadn\u2019t fought in three years \u2014 but being Islam Makhachev\u2019s longtime training partner clearly helped open the door.<\/p>\n His UFC Qatar debut ended in heartbreak. Izagakhmaev spent long stretches stuck against the fence by Nicolas Dalby, unable to unleash the suffocating wrestling he\u2019s known for. He showed flashes \u2014 taking Dalby\u2019s back in the second round and hunting submissions \u2014 but two judges still sided with Dalby via split decision, leaving a devastated Izagakhmaev needing Makhachev to help him off the canvas.<\/p>\n The fight was forgettable, slow-paced, and lacked urgency. His output was low, and the long layoff clearly played a role. Still, losing to a 41-year-old, even one as tough as Dalby, isn\u2019t ideal.<\/p>\n Bassil Hafez feels like the right bounce-back matchup.<\/p>\n DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: Shem Rock of England prepares to face Nurullo Aliev of Tajikistan in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC)<\/p>\n Shem Rock entered with hype thanks to his big personality and being the training partner to Riley and Paddy Pimblett, but his debut left plenty to be desired.<\/p>\n To his credit, Rock showed tremendous heart. Even while getting dominated by Nurullo Aliev, he never quit \u2014 and some even scored the third round for him. But when you let a grappler like Aliev outstrike you, that\u2019s a major red flag.<\/p>\n Rock\u2019s regional resume was always shaky, and this debut didn\u2019t resolve those concerns. The truth is he was simply outmatched. Aliev might be very good \u2014 though he fights once every decade \u2014 but Rock must make dramatic improvements if he doesn\u2019t want to go 0-3 and get cut. That starts with better striking (both offense and defense), smarter energy management, and earlier use of his grappling.<\/p>\n Gabe Green would be a suitable next opponent.<\/p>\n![\"DOHA,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/gettyimages-2247954839.jpg\"\/)
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