UFC Baku Rookies Get Mixed Marks in Debut Report Card

Four rookies entered the Octagon at UFC Baku on Saturday night, and none of them left much of an impression despite splitting the results down the middle.

Farman Hasanov took a unanimous decision over Eric Nolan after setting a new record for takedowns in a single round with nine, according to MMA Mania. The 30-year-old from Azerbaijan eventually racked up 17 takedowns across three rounds, but he did almost nothing with them. No sustained ground strikes, no submission threats, just endless mat returns while his gas tank evaporated. By the third round Hasanov was visibly exhausted yet somehow kept dragging Nolan back to the canvas. The performance earned him a C-minus grade from MMA Mania's Alexander Behunin, who wrote that when Hasanov meets someone with real takedown defense, he will struggle badly.

Berggren Falls Short in Violent Finish

Sweden's Theodor Berggren came in on short notice despite entering just 2-2 in his last four fights and paid for it. Daniil Donchenko battered him with leg kicks and body shots in the first round, then dropped him with a high kick in the second before forcing a stoppage along the fence. Berggren showed toughness and landed clean counters when Donchenko slowed, but his takedown defense looked suspect throughout. MMA Mania gave him a D and suggested matching him against strikers like Khaos Williams going forward.

The card opener between Tahir Abdullayev and Jefferson Nascimento was headed toward worst-fight-of-the-year territory until Abdullayev opened up in the final round and hurt Nascimento with a diving punch. The referee jumped in with under a minute left, handing Abdullayev a controversial stoppage win in front of his hometown crowd. Through two rounds Abdullayev had landed just 11 significant strikes total. Both fighters received D grades, with Nascimento taking the loss despite appearing to be ahead on the cards when the referee intervened.

UFC returns to Salt Lake City in early October for a numbered event.

Original reporting:

• mmamania.com — Rookie Report Card: Grading UFC Baku Newcomers | MMA Mania