Fighters from around the globe dream of the day they’ll step into the UFC octagon for the first time. For six athletes, Saturday’s UFC on ESPN+ 7 event marked that special moment in their career.
Check out this week’s rookie report to see what kind of first impression those fighters made on the sport’s biggest stage from Yubileyniy Arena in St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Rafael Fiziev
Result: Magomed Mustafaev def. Rafael Fiziev via TKO (spinning back kick, punches) – Round 1, 1:26
Record: (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: Incomplete
A former muay Thai stylist, Rafael Fiziev came to the UFC with an undefeated record. Unfortunately for him, the Kyrgyzstan native and Phuket Top Team competitor never really got going against Magomed Mustafaev.
Returning from more than two years on the sidelines, Mustafaev came out like a man possessed for the first fight of the night, spamming spinning techniques like he was a video game character. While Fiziev kept his guard high, Mustafaev still managed to land a spinning back kick with enough force to send his opponent to the mat, jumping on top with punches that earned Mustafaev an 86-second victory and a “Performance of the Night” bonus.
A disappointing debut for Fiziev for certain, but “Ataman” still would seem to have more to show the lightweight division.
Alex da Silva
Result: Alexander Yakovlev def. Alex da Silva via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 3:10
Record: (20-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C
Alex Da Silva came to the UFC with a gaudy record, but one that had seen him compete just once in the past 19 months – and never against a truly significant foe.
With Alexander Yakovlev dropping down from welterweight for the clash, da Silva was stuck facing a significantly taller foe, and the Brazilian lightweight did his best to stick and move in the early going, throwing out kicks that seemed to keep his opponent from establishing a rhythm. But Yakovlev began to seize control in the second round, utilizing what seemed to be a strength advantage in the grappling game and landing a few strikes in tight before latching in a modified choke that appeared to be the start of an anaconda to end the fight via tapout.
While he certainly didn’t look completely out of his element, da Silva didn’t quite seem the seasoned veteran his record might suggest, especially as he seemed to fade a bit in the second and found himself stuck in a sprawl that ultimately led to his demise. Perhaps less time away between bookings will allow him to show his true skill level next time out.
Movsar Evloev and Seungwoo Choi
Result: Movsar Evloev def. Seungwoo Choi via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26)
Record: Movsar Evloev (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Grade: B+
Record: Seungwoo Choi (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: C+
A pair of impressive newcomers met in the night’s featured prelim, with undefeated Russian prospect Movsar Evloev taking on South Korea’s Seungwoo Choi in a featherweight affair. While Evloev walked away with a convincing decision win, both fighters showed glimpses of what may be to come.
A highly respected up-and-comer and former M-1 Global bantamweight champion, Evloev made the unique decision to move up a weight class for his UFC debut, rather than the more traditional path of cutting additional weight when reaching the sport’s highest level. After the fight, he explained that by competing at 145 pounds, he expects to be able to recover quicker between contests and get booked for subsequent fights in rapid fashion. With absolute relentless pressure from start to finish of the 15-minute affair, it seems Evloev could very well make an immediate impact in the division.
In fact, the only thing keeping Evloev from walking away with an A in this debut is his boneheaded decision to deliver an illegal knee to a kneeling opponent despite what seemed to be a clear warning issued in his native language moments before by referee Vjacheslav Kiselev. Otherwise, it’s difficult to find fault in this performance, and the 25-year-old Evoev looks like a name to remember.
Meanwhile Choi found it tough going on the night, struggling to find room to work against an opponent that stayed in his face from start to finish. Still, at 5-foot-11, Choi’s lengthy frame and 74.5-inch reach makes him an interesting prospect, and he refused to wilt in the face of relentless aggression. Better days surely lie ahead for the 26-year-old striker.
Alen Amedovski
Result: Krzysztof Jotko def. Alen Amedovski via unanimous decision (30-25, 30-26, 30-26)
Record: (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: F
A native of Macedonia, Alen Amedovski came to the UFC on the strength of back-to-back knockout wins under the Bellator banner. In fact, all eight of the previously undefeated prospect’s victories had come by way of knockout, including six in the opening round.
Against Krzysztof Jotko, Amedovski simply couldn’t get anything going.
Amedovski looked tense on the feet, seemingly hoping to uncork a power shot that would end the fight. Instead, he was simply unable to track down a relaxed Jotko, who dictated range well and took the contest down nearly at will. Once on his back, Amedovski showed no real ability to escape back to standup, and Jotko simply teed off with punches, elbows and forearms while enjoying more than nine minutes of control time.
Not much went right for Amedovski, and he’ll need to make a complete turnaround in his sophomore effort if he hopes for an extended run on the UFC roster.
Arman Tsarukyan
Result: Islam Makhachev def. Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Record: (13-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Grade: A
Arman Tsarukyan came to the promotion as a little-known Armenian lightweight prospect with an impressive record that lacked a signature victory. Sure, wins over UFC veterans Felipe Olivieri, Junior Assuncao and Takenori Sato gave some indication of Tsarukyan’s potential, but no one could have predicted the type of success he’d have in the most difficult of situations.
The 22-year-old was forced to travel to hostile territory for his UFC debut, facing highly respected Russian Islam Makhachev, training partner of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, in his backyard. Adding to the pressure of the moment, the bout served as the night’s co-main event. Tsarukyan responded to the challenge in fine fashion, becoming the first man to score a takedown of Makhachev in UFC competition, and constantly pressuring and scrambling in what proved to be a thrilling battle of high-level wrestlers.
In the end, Tsarukyan faded ever so slightly in the final minutes of the fight, allowing Makhachev to clinch a hard-fought decision win. MMA Junkie scored the fight 29-28, as did one judge, while the other two awarded Makhachev the contest 30-27, though those scores hardly indicate the highly competitive nature of the contest, as witnessed by the bout being awarded the evening’s “Fight of the Night” bonus.
Makhachev extended his UFC win streak to five fights, but Tsarukyan announced himself in spectacular fashion and looks capable of giving anyone in the division a difficult fight.
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