Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev energized by massive favorite status at UFC Vegas 115
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev is a -2000 betting favorite and growing going into UFC Vegas 115, but he doesn't feel the pressure.
LAS VEGAS – Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev looks to have big potential as a light heavyweight prospect and will attempt to build on his hype vs. Brendson Ribeiro at UFC Fight Night 272 . Yakhyaev (8-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) has needed just a combined 63 seconds to record his first two octagon wins – one by TKO and the other by submission.
He takes on Ribeiro (17-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in the featured bout on Saturday at the Meta APEX ( Paramount+ ), and said he's planning another short night at the office. "If Brendson will run, then maybe fight will be a little bit more, and I can show more skills," Yakhyaev told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday's UFC Fight Night 272 media day. "I think this fight will be like the last two fights.
Striking, wrestling, and maybe I can knock him out. " With seven of his eight career wins by stoppage, including six in the first round, Yakhyaev is getting attention from fans and oddsmakers. He's as high as a -2000 favorite on FanDuel, meaning the 25-year-old from Turkey will have extremely high expectations around his performance.
Yakhyaev is not rattled by the odds, though, and if anything, he said it will make him sharper. "No (it doesn't add pressure)," Yakhyaev said. "It gives me energy.