UFC Baku Prelims: Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev shreds Julius Walker in eight seconds

Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev cemented his undefeated record and delivered one of the fastest finishes in UFC light heavyweight history at UFC Fight Night 280 in Baku on Saturday. The Turkish contender dispatched Julius Walker with a devastating overhand right just eight seconds into Round 1, tying the second-fastest knockout in the division's history. Yakhyaev (10-0, 3-0 UFC) countered Walker's opening, landed a crushing blow that sent the Xtreme Couture fighter to the canvas, then followed up with additional strikes before referee Jim Perdios stopped the bout. Walker (7-3, 1-3 UFC) had no answer for the explosive entry.

The prelim showcase at the National Gymnastics Arena featured a slate of dominant finishes. American Top Team's Nursulton Ruziboev submitted Andrey Pulyaev with a rear-naked choke at 3:58 of Round 1 in a middleweight affair, with Pulyaev losing consciousness on the canvas. Ruziboev (37-9-2, 5-1 UFC), 32, now owns three consecutive victories.

Former Hex Fight Series champion Kaan Ofli caught Javier Reyes in a mounted arm-triangle choke at 4:16 of Round 1 in a featherweight bout. Ofli (14-4-1, 3-2 UFC) overcame Reyes' seven-inch reach advantage with counters and leg kicks before dropping him with a one-two and swarming with ground strikes. The 23-5 Reyes, despite entering on a three-fight winning streak, could not escape.

"The Ultimate Fighter" Season 33 winner Daniil Donchenko floored Theodor Berggren with a head kick at 1:35 of Round 2 in a welterweight matchup, following up with a barrage of punches. Donchenko (14-2, 3-0 UFC), 24, has won seven straight fights with five finishes. Berggren (8-4, 0-1 UFC), a late replacement, absorbed low kicks and brutal body work before the second-round finish.

Tahir Abdullayev stopped previously unbeaten Jefferson Nascimento at 4:28 of Round 3 in a welterweight pairing. After Nascimento's incessant footwork frustrated Abdullayev in the early rounds, the former UAE Warriors champion turned up the heat, landing takedowns and ground-and-pound that forced referee Jim Perdios to stop the fight. Abdullayev (20-3, 1-0 UFC), 29, has won five straight.

In decision victories, Farman Hasanov (5-0, 1-0 UFC) out-grappled Eric Nolan (8-5, 0-2 UFC) to a 30-27 unanimous decision in a featherweight contest. Jean Matsumoto (18-2, 4-2 UFC) overcame a nasty left-eyebrow cut to earn a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) against Bekzat Almakhan (12-4, 1-3 UFC) in a bantamweight scrap.