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Akbar Abdullaev made sure Dana White could not ignore him. The undefeated Kyrgyzstan prospect needed just 19 seconds to knock out Ednilson Barros Santos at Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 6 on September 15. The spectacular finish improved Abdullaev’s professional record to 14 and 0, with every victory coming inside the distance.
More importantly, it earned him a UFC contract and drew an enormous reaction from UFC CEO Dana White.
Abdullaev was one of four fighters to receive contracts following an action packed night at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Mayton Perea, Igor Cavalcanti and Luis Hernandez also secured UFC deals, while Tyshawn Williams earned another opportunity to compete on the Contender Series.
Akbar Abdullaev Finishes Fight in 19 Seconds
Abdullaev entered the contest with a perfect 13 and 0 professional record and an impressive finishing rate. Santos accepted the fight on short notice, but the Kyrgyz fighter wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity. Abdullaev attacked the body before finding his target with a powerful right hand. Santos immediately fell to the canvas, and the referee stepped in after just 19 seconds.
The victory moved Abdullaev to 14 and 0, with 13 knockout victories and one submission on his record. Dana White was clearly impressed. Following the fight, White described Abdullaev as potentially the greatest talent to appear on the Contender Series. The UFC contract now gives Abdullaev the opportunity to test himself against the promotion’s lightweight division.
Abdullaev Brings ONE Championship Experience
The UFC signing is not Abdullaev’s first experience competing on a major international stage. Before arriving at the Contender Series, he fought five times under the ONE Championship banner and won all five contests by stoppage.
One of his biggest victories came against former ONE featherweight champion Tang Kai. Abdullaev stopped the Chinese fighter in the fifth round, although he was not eligible to win the championship because he missed weight. That experience could prove valuable as Abdullaev begins his UFC career. The 28 year old has already faced experienced opposition and has never had a professional fight reach the judges’ scorecards.
Mayton Perea Knocks Out Undefeated Zevan Hunt
The main event produced another impressive finish. Mayton Perea stopped previously undefeated Zevan Hunt in just 45 seconds of the opening round. Hunt entered the fight with a 7 and 0 record, while Perea had already built momentum with three consecutive knockout victories.
Perea overwhelmed Hunt with his offensive pressure before forcing the referee to stop the contest. He improved to 9 and 3, while Hunt suffered the first defeat of his professional career. The performance earned Perea a UFC contract alongside Abdullaev.
Igor Cavalcanti Earns His UFC Opportunity
Igor Cavalcanti also made the most of his Contender Series appearance. The Brazilian middleweight stopped Oscar Ravello by TKO at 1:38 of Round 1. Cavalcanti maintained a relentless pace throughout the contest and finished with ground and pound after taking the fight to the mat.
The victory extended his winning streak to three fights and kept his perfect finishing rate intact. Cavalcanti improved to 14 and 2, according to the latest event records, and received his UFC contract after the performance.
Luis Hernandez Survives Trouble Before Securing Submission
Luis Hernandez had to work much harder for his contract. The undefeated middleweight faced Hugo Guillon in one of the night’s most competitive fights. Hernandez landed an early takedown and pushed a fast pace, but Guillon had his own moments and landed several heavy shots.
Hernandez eventually turned the fight around and secured a rear naked choke at 1:01 of Round 2. The victory kept Hernandez undefeated at 8 and 0, with all eight wins coming by stoppage. He became the fourth fighter from Week 6 to receive a UFC contract.
Tyshawn Williams Gets Another Chance
Tyshawn Williams was the only winner who did not receive a UFC contract on the night. Williams defeated Antonio Monteiro by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the fight 29 to 28, 29 to 27 and 29 to 27.
The victory moved Williams to 9 and 0, but Dana White decided that the undefeated featherweight needed another performance before earning his UFC opportunity. Instead of sending him home without a deal, White offered Williams another fight on the Contender Series later this season. That leaves Williams in an unusual position. He remains undefeated, but he will need to return to the show and impress the UFC again.
Four Fighters Earn UFC Contracts
Week 6 brought four new names into the UFC system and continued a strong season for the Contender Series. After six episodes of Season 10, 28 fighters had earned UFC contracts, according to MMA Fighting’s coverage of the event.
For Abdullaev, however, the night could prove especially important. His undefeated record, 100 percent finishing rate, previous ONE Championship experience and extraordinary 19 second knockout have already created considerable interest around his UFC debut.The Kyrgyz fighter has now completed the hardest part of the journey. His next challenge will be proving that the hype surrounding him can translate to the UFC level.
DWCS Season 10 Week 6 Full Card and Results
Mayton Perea def. Zevan Hunt
Welterweight
KO, Round 1, 0:45
Igor Cavalcanti def. Oscar Ravello
Middleweight
TKO, Round 1, 1:38
Akbar Abdullaev def. Ednilson Barros Santos
Lightweight
KO, Round 1, 0:19
Luis Hernandez def. Hugo Guillon
Middleweight
Submission, rear naked choke, Round 2, 1:01
Tyshawn Williams def. Antonio Monteiro
Featherweight
Unanimous decision, 29 to 28, 29 to 27, 29 to 27
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