Magomed Zaynukov couldn’t have asked for a better start to his Ultimate Fighting Championship career.
The unbeaten Dagestani prospect earned a unanimous decision over Damian Rzepecki in his Octagon debut at UFC Abu Dhabi, neutralizing his opponent’s grappling while showcasing the polished striking that saw him earn a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series last year.
Magomed Zaynukov breaks down his unanimous decision victory over Damian Rzepecki in his UFC debut
Following his victory over Rzepecki, Zaynukov shed light on the preparation that went into his UFC debut.
“I thought they liked me only that much in America, but they also like me in Abu Dhabi as well,” Zaynukov said in a post-fight interview. “And I really wanted to show a good performance. I know a lot of people were counting on me, a lot of people were waiting for me to debut. I worked really, really hard. I had a crazy hard camp. I had really good sparring. Good sparring partners. So, it was really important for me to show a good performance.”
Zaynukov also said in the interview that he could have found a finish, but he wanted to fight for three rounds and showcase his diverse striking arsenal. With the victory, “Wild Chanco” extended his unbeaten professional record to 9-0, establishing himself as a promising lightweight contender.
