Jefferson Toddynho during weight cutting. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
The first Brazilian to step into the world's most famous octagon this Saturday morning (27), Jefferson 'Toddynho' Nascimento started well, but ended up being controversially knocked out by Tahir Abdullayev in a duel valid for the welterweight category (up to 77,1 kg). The duel marked the debut of the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg) of LFA in the biggest MMA event in the world and his first defeat as a professional, in a situation similar to that of the home fighter, who also competed in the Ultimate for the first time.
Jefferson Toddynho moved well.
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The Brazilian started the fight moving around a lot, with a high guard and trying to induce his opponent into making mistakes with feints. Abullayev opted to dominate the center of the octagon and gradually close the distance, attacking with low kicks and trying to corner Toddynho against the cage. Patiently, the Rio native landed some jabs to the body and overhands with his right hand, but adopted a mostly defensive posture in the first round. Despite showing irritation with the Brazilian's posture, the Azerbaijani had difficulty inflicting real damage, imposing a more intense pace only in the final seconds of the round.
Toddynho landed a powerful kick to his opponent's lead leg early in the second round, but then adopted a more defensive stance. He had his best moment in the fight when he countered Abullyaev with a right cross, taking advantage of his opponent's impatience. Increasingly aggressive, the Azerbaijani also began to telegraph his attacks and became more vulnerable to counter-attacks. The Rio native landed two good combinations of crosses in the final part of the round, causing Abullayev to complain to the referee several times. In the last exchange of blows of the round, a clearly frustrated Tahir landed a punch after the bell rang.
With no time to lose, Abullayev went on the offensive in the third round and landed strong blows after securing a takedown, but Toddynho got back to his feet and began punishing his rival with crosses and front kicks to the midsection. The two went into the clinch, with Tahir connecting with a strong elbow and taking the fight to the ground again a few seconds later. On top, he landed traumatic blows and used his greater weight to control his opponent. Despite trying to use half-guard to affect his opponent's balance and even attempting a kimura at one point, he was unable to break free from his opponent's pressure game.
In the final seconds, Tahir hurt the Brazilian with a strong left hook, landing several more in quick succession while Toddynho was still trying to defend himself, leading the referee to controversially stop the fight at four minutes and 28 seconds of the last round.
A debut win at home 🇦🇿
Tahir Abdullayev earns the RD3 TKO victory!
[ #UFCBaku | LIVE NOW on @ParamountMore ] pic.twitter.com/Y71GogGzMy
- UFC (@ufc) June 27, 2026
Victim of Mairon Santos defeats Colombian without difficulty.
Kaan Ofli in victory at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
In the featherweight division (up to 65,7 kg), Kaan Ofli made short work of Javier Reyes, winning by submission in the first round during the fourth fight of the series. UFC BakuThis was the Australian's third consecutive victory since his defeat to Mairon Santos in the TUF 33 final and the setback against Muhammad Naimov, between August 2024 and February 2025. On the other hand, the Colombian had his two-fight winning streak broken and lost for the first time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
With his guard high and moving around a lot, Ofli successfully countered Reyes with good left hooks early in the fight, managing to neutralize the reach disadvantage in the first moments. Confident, he scored a beautiful knockdown by landing a perfect straight right to the Colombian's chin.
Once he found his opponent on the ground, he moved to the mount, transitioned to the katagatame, and forced Javier to tap out at four minutes and 16 seconds of the first round. In the interview with Michael Bisping Inside the octagon, he made a point of claiming one of the Performance of the Night awards.
TUF champion ruins rookie's night.
Daniil Donchenko He was the champion of TUF 33. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @donchen.ko.daniil
In the third fight of the night, Daniil Donchenko He put on a show and defeated newcomer Theodor Berggren with a beautiful knockout in a welterweight bout (up to 77,1 kg). With this result, the champion of the 33rd season of The Ultimate Fighter extended his winning streak to nine consecutive victories, three of which are in the world's largest MMA organization.
Experts in striking and fighting from alternating stances, the two athletes spent the first few minutes at close range connecting powerful kicks and quick combinations that alternated between strikes to the legs, waistline, and head. Although both were successful with this approach, Donchenko clearly benefited more.
Still in the first round, Berggren risked being knocked out after being hit by some good front kicks to the midsection. At that moment, he was able to withstand the pressure and stay in the fight, but that changed in the following round. After building an intense rhythm of attacks to the legs and midsection, the Ukrainian stunned his opponent with a head kick, forcing Herb Dean to stop the fight when the clock showed one minute and 35 seconds.
Read More about: Jefferson Toddynho, Welterweight, Tahir Abdullayev, UFC Baku
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