Featherweights Mohammad Yahya and Steven Nguyen were the second fight in on Saturday’s UFC Abu Dhabi preliminary card.
Yahya was making his debut in the weight class, after losing his first two fights under the UFC banner at lightweight.
Yahya vs. Nguyen had a wild start to it, as Nguyen came out and caught Yahya as he was charging in. Yahya hit the canvas, but Nguyen nearly connected with a grossly illegal knee. Luckily, he didn’t land it, and the action would continue. Very lucky, because Nguyen would go on to put on a dominant first round, knocking down Mohammad Yahya five times, with both left and rights. Each time, a tough-as-nails Yahya returned to his feet, but if there was ever an argument for a 10-8 round, this was it.
Round two opened with Yahya rocking Nguyen! But immediately, Nguyen returned fire, dropping Yahya a sixth time! That set a new UFC record for knockdowns. and the fight wasn’t even half over. Still, the pair settled down from there, or at least Yahya managed to stop getting knocked down. Late in the round he’d even shoot for a takedown, though a massive amount of swelling had formed on the left side of his face, under his eye. Nguyen, meanwhile, knocked Yahya down one more time before round’s end. Seven total to that point.
With the swelling on Mohammad Yahya’s face continuing to grow and perhaps signaling a broken orbital, cageside officials took a look — and waved the fight off prior to the third round. And for good reason, given the lopsided beating and the obvious damage and resulting vision issues Yahya was facing. A record-setting, stunning performance by Nguyen regardless. After three appearances on the Contender Series he now has his first victory in the UFC proper.
Official Result: Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya by TKO (referee stoppage), Round 2, 5:00
