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BAKU, AZERBAIJAN - JUNE 27: Tahir Abdullayev of Azerbaijan reacts after a TKO victory against Jefferson Nascimento of Brazil in a welterweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at National Gymnastics Arena on June 27, 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Over the weekend (Sat., June 27, 2026), Azerbaijani newcomer Tahir Abdullayev picked up his first UFC win in a third-round TKO stoppage over Brazil’s Jefferson Nascimento(watch highlights here) at UFC Baku.
The win was not without controversy, however. The first two rounds were largely uneventful and unimpressive, hardly looking the part of UFC-level competition. “Tank” turned up the heat in round three with a takedown and some wild ground-and-pound, resulting in a sudden referee stoppage that left fight fans scratching their head or outright crying hometown favoritism.
Now, there’s an additional layer of controversy. Multiple fans online have isolated a moment where Abdullayev allegedly bites his opponent’s ear, accusing him of a serious foul just a minute or so before the finishing flurry. Watch for yourself below:
Admittedly, the clips are inconclusive at best. Nascimento definitely grabs his ear and seems to yell in pain after some contact with Abdullayev’s face, but that could also be the result of forehead pressure into a swollen cauliflower ear. It certainly doesn’t look good, but Nascimento has yet to publicly accuse his opponent of any chomping — which feels telling.
Historically, UFC has been quick to release fighters confirmed to have bitten their opponent, as the highly talented prospect Igor Severino can attest. In fact, UFC CEO Dana White labeled biting the “worst thing you can do.”
If either athlete addresses the controversy directly, expect an immediate update here at MMAmania.com.
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