Controversial stoppage hands Abdullayev TKO win over unbeaten Nascimento at UFC Baku

Tahir Abdullayev opened UFC Baku with a TKO victory over Jefferson Nascimento on Saturday in Azerbaijan, but the result was immediately overshadowed by a widely criticised stoppage from referee Jim Perdios with 32 seconds remaining in Round 3.

Perdios intervened while Abdullayev was landing strikes from top position, yet Nascimento did not appear to be in serious danger at the time. The official time was recorded as 4:28 of the third round. Nascimento protested the call, though the result stood without further incident.

The controversy capped a bout that had already been difficult to watch. Both fighters showed little aggression through the first two rounds, and Perdios had already issued Nascimento an unusual warning for inactivity before the fight reached its contentious conclusion.

Despite the disputed finish, the scoring suggested Abdullayev was on course for the win regardless — all three judges had the fighters level on their cards heading into the final round, meaning Abdullayev’s third-round dominance would likely have secured a decision victory.

Both men were making their UFC debuts. The win moves Abdullayev’s professional record to 20-3, while Nascimento suffers the first defeat of his career, having entered the bout unbeaten in 13 fights.