Now that the dust has settled, let\u2019s grade their respective performances below:<\/p>\n
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 24: Magomed Zaynukov throws a kick against Damian Rzepecki in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena July 24, 2026 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Magomed Zaynukov vs. Damian Rzepecki<\/p>\n There was a ton of hype surrounding Magomed Zaynukov\u2019s UFC debut \u2014 a.k.a. \u201cJohn Pork\u201d<\/a> \u2014 and while it was not a picture-perfect performance, it was still a very solid first impression.<\/p>\n Zaynukov collided with fellow rookie, Damian Rzepecki, in a battle of undefeated prospects, and it was ultimately Zaynukov who handed \u201cThe Butcher\u201d the first professional loss of his career with a dominant unanimous decision.<\/p>\n Rzepecki relentlessly marched forward throughout the fight, but Zaynukov consistently beat him to the punch with sharp counters, front kicks and a vicious assortment of elbows.<\/p>\n Those elbows became the story of the fight in round two as Zaynukov rocked the former FEN champion, opening a nasty cut above his right eye. Rzepecki continued advancing despite his increasingly bloodied face, but Zaynukov repeatedly punished him with elbows and front kicks, while shutting down most of his takedown attempts.<\/p>\n Rzepecki\u2019s toughness carried him to the final bell, but Zaynukov\u2019s accuracy, poise and damaging offense earned him a lopsided debut victory.<\/p>\n Look, Zaynukov probably is not going to become a UFC champion, but that does not mean he cannot be useful. He might crack the Top 15<\/a> at some point, and even if he does not, he should be fun to watch because of his offensive style.<\/p>\n For his second UFC outing, I would like to see \u201cJohn Pork\u201d take on Jai Herbert \u2014 hopefully when UFC returns to Abu Dhabi in October.<\/p>\n As for Damian Rzepecki, it was a rough debut, but not a hopeless one.<\/p>\n Yes, he got shut down. Yes, he was bloodied up. And yes, he clearly struggled to deal with Zaynukov\u2019s sharp counters and elbows.<\/p>\n But, Rzepecki also showed the reason(s) he had hype coming into UFC. He is tough, aggressive and willing to walk through fire to make a fight ugly. That style can win fans, even if it did not win him this fight.<\/p>\n The big concern is that his pressure did not come with enough defensive responsibility. Zaynukov was able to time him over and over, and against better UFC competition, that could get ugly fast.<\/p>\n Still, Rzepecki is exciting, durable and should have a fun UFC career if matched properly.<\/p>\n For his second outing, give me Rzepecki versus Dom Mar Fan.<\/p>\n ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 24: Saygid Izagakhmaev grapples with Abubakar Vagaev in their welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena July 24, 2026 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Abubakar Vagaev got the call to UFC largely because he is teammates with Khamzat Chimaev.<\/p>\n And honestly, I still do not really understand why.<\/p>\n Vagaev grinded out a competitive unanimous decision over Saygid Izagakhmaev in his UFC debut, earning three identical 29-28 scorecards. The former ACA champion immediately imposed his wrestling, repeatedly driving Izagakhmaev into the fence and controlling him on the canvas throughout the opening round.<\/p>\n Izagakhmaev found more success as the fight progressed, landing the cleaner strikes in round two and threatening multiple submissions after taking Vagaev\u2019s back and mounting him late in the third. However, Vagaev\u2019s persistent takedowns, clinch control and physical pressure were enough to sway all three judges.<\/p>\n But, if UFC is all about exciting fights nowadays, why in the hell would it sign someone with 20 decision wins in 25 career fights?<\/p>\n Vagaev feels like he is going to be another boring Russian wrestler who floats around UFC\u2019s roster, beats a few prospects, frustrates everyone and eventually gets released because nobody wants to watch him fight.<\/p>\n That might sound harsh, but this debut did very little to change that perception.<\/p>\n I guess he could fight Seok Hyeon Ko, who just lost at UFC Oklahoma City<\/a>.<\/p>\n ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 24: Muhammad Saidov celebrates after fighting against Dustin Jacoby in their light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena July 24, 2026 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n One of the biggest bright spots among UFC Abu Dhabi\u2019s rookies was Muhammad Saidov, who delivered a sensational debut by overwhelming long-time veteran, Dustin Jacoby, en route to a second round technical knockout (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n And he did not fight scared at all.<\/p>\n The undefeated Russian showed zero fear of Jacoby\u2019s decorated kickboxing background, staggering him with a right hand in the opening round while mixing in creative spinning attacks and powerful kicks.<\/p>\n Saidov turned up the pressure in the second stanza, opening a cut near Jacoby\u2019s left eye before hurting him with a body kick and dropping him with a perfectly-placed head kick. Jacoby managed to return to his feet, but Saidov swarmed him with a relentless combination of punches and another head kick until the referee stepped in.<\/p>\n Saidov improved to 10-0 with nine finishes, including seven knockouts, and in an absolutely dire Light Heavyweight division, he is a refreshing addition.<\/p>\n He is powerful. He is crisp. He is dangerous. And, most important, he is actually fun.<\/p>\n There is obviously still plenty to learn about him, especially defensively and in extended grappling exchanges, but as far as UFC debuts go, this was excellent.<\/p>\n For his second UFC outing, give me Saidov versus Rodolfo Bellato.<\/p>\n Magomed Tuchalov was the second-biggest favorite on the card, and he sure did not look like it.<\/p>\n In fact, he lost the first round to Brendson Ribeiro, an opponent he was supposed to squash.<\/p>\n Tuchalov\u2019s UFC debut got off to a painfully slow start, offering little beyond low kicks before Ribeiro dropped him with a right hand late in the opening round. That is not exactly what you want from a highly touted undefeated prospect against someone who has basically become a UFC jobber at this point.<\/p>\n To his credit, Tuchalov did wake up.<\/p>\n The undefeated Russian found his rhythm in round two, badly hurting Ribeiro with a right hand before mixing in multiple takedowns. Tuchalov then leaned heavily on his wrestling in the final frame, repeatedly planting Ribeiro on the canvas, controlling him from dominant positions, and briefly threatening an arm-triangle choke in the closing seconds.<\/p>\n So, he won, but I am not sold.<\/p>\n Maybe UFC jitters got to him. Maybe the debut moment was bigger than expected. Maybe he needed a round to settle in. Fine.<\/p>\n I am still not buying it yet.<\/p>\n Tuchalov was supposed to torch Ribeiro, and he did not. He showed toughness by recovering from the knockdown and found a path to victory, but nothing about this debut screamed future contender.<\/p>\n Time will tell how he pans out, but I do not have a lot of faith after this one.<\/p>\n For his second outing, give me Tuchalov versus Julius Walker.<\/p>\n ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – JULY 24: Abdul Hussein throws a punch against Cody Gibson in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena July 24, 2026 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges\/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Abdul Hussein was the second fighter from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 34<\/a> to compete inside the Octagon despite being cut during the team selection process.<\/p>\n Poor Rodrigo Vera also got cut, then got signed and won his UFC debut<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hussein, meanwhile, entered UFC Abu Dhabi as one of the top prospects on the regional scene, so his debut had some real hype attached to it.<\/p>\n And for the most part, he delivered.<\/p>\n Hussein came out aggressive, walking down veteran, Cody Gibson, early. But, Gibson gave him an immediate \u201cWelcome to UFC\u201d moment, taking him down and locking up a tight guillotine before transitioning into a D\u2019Arce choke.<\/p>\n Hussein eventually escaped, but it was a dangerous start.<\/p>\n Hussein had a much better second round, hurting Gibson several times and nearly submitting the UFC veteran with a front choke and an anaconda choke. Gibson was so drained from the exchanges that he told his coaches going into the third round that he had \u201cnothing left.\u201d<\/p>\n Hussein eventually submitted Gibson with an arm-triangle choke to win his UFC debut (watch highlights<\/a>).<\/p>\n Of all the rookies who competed at UFC Abu Dhabi, Hussein is the one I am highest on. He is the most well-rounded, has a ton of experience, and showed he can deal with adversity against a veteran who knows exactly how to survive and make fights tricky.<\/p>\n I will say Hussein looked tiny compared to Gibson, but that may just be because Gibson is 5-foot-10 for a Bantamweight. It is also worth noting that Hussein has competed at Flyweight before.<\/p>\n Still, Hussein is very good.<\/p>\n He survived danger, adjusted, hurt a veteran and found a finish.<\/p>\n That is a strong debut, and I think he has the best UFC future of this rookie class.<\/p>\n Give me Hussein versus Juan Diaz next.<\/p>\n![\"ABU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2286947287.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"ABU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2286942159.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"ABU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2286937633.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"ABU](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gettyimages-2286933378.jpg\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n