Magomed Zaynukov Wins Unanimous Decision in UFC Abu Dhabi Debut
A unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi that positions a Team Nurmagomedov prospect for bigger fights despite an early eye poke, a bloody second-round and an apparent leg issue.
Overview
- Zaynukov defeated Damian Rzepecki by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27, preserving his undefeated record.
- The bout, which took place on Saturday, July 25, 2026, was interrupted by a deep eye poke in round one that earned Zaynukov only a warning from referee Marc Goddard.
- Zaynukov opened up Rzepecki in round two with elbows that cut and bloodied the Pole, and he visibly slowed in round three with what appeared to be a leg problem.
- He made the Octagon debut while traveling with a reduced coaching group because Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov were completing camps in the United States.
- A former Dana White’s Contender Series signee and a longtime Team Nurmagomedov trainee, Zaynukov combines a viral public profile with pointed pre-fight taunts at top lightweights and now looks likely to be slotted into higher-profile matchups in the deep 155-pound division.