UFC Baku: Abus Magomedov chokes Michal Oleksiejczuk unconscious, calls out Israel Adesanya

Abus Magomedov made a statement at UFC Baku with a devastating first-round finish of Michal Oleksiejczuk, highlighting his emergence as a middleweight contender and prompting an immediate callout of two-time champion Israel Adesanya. The Russian-German fighter cracked Oleksiejczuk with a hard elbow before securing a guillotine choke that rendered his opponent unconscious at 3:25 of Round 1. Post-fight, Magomedov (29-7-1) declared himself ready for elite-level competition. "I want to fight against Israel Adesanya," he said. "Now we are almost on same level and I hope I'm going to get the fight after this performance."

The timing of Magomedov's statement is notable. The 32-year-old has won four of his past five fights, rebounding from an October submission loss to Joe Pyfer. Adesanya, meanwhile, is navigating a difficult stretch: the former champion is on a four-fight losing streak dating back to 2023, presenting a window for an ascendant challenger. Magomedov's dominant display, coupled with his willingness to call out a marquee name, signals that matchmakers will be paying close attention to his trajectory in the division.