27-06-26
Tahir Abdullayev’s UFC debut ended in controversy, as he stopped Jefferson Nascimento by third-round TKO in an opening welterweight bout at UFC Baku in Azerbaijan.
Referee Jim Perdios halted the contest at 4:28 of Round 3 while Abdullayev was striking from top position, prompting an immediate protest from Nascimento over the stoppage.
All three judges had the fight scored even heading into the final round, with both Abdullayev and Nascimento making their first appearances in the UFC.
Earlier in the bout, Perdios had issued Nascimento a warning for inactivity. With the result, Abdullayev improves to 20-3, while Nascimento’s first professional loss ends his 13-0 start.
