That was quick.
Former ONE Championship wrecking machine and blue-chip prospect Akbar Abdullaev undoubtedly punched his ticket to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) when he torched Brazil’s Ednilson Santos in just 19 seconds last night (Tues., Sept. 15, 2026) during Week 6 ofContender SeriesSeason 10 inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
And it only took one clean shot.
Abdullaev opened with two hard punches to the body, forcing Santos to lower his guard. The undefeated Kyrgyzstani then went upstairs
and detonated an overhand right from hell that sent Alex Pereira’s training partner face-first into the canvas.
No follow-up shots were necessary.
Check out the violent finish below:
Abdullaev improved to 14-0 with a perfect 100 percent finish rate, including 13 knockouts and one submission.
The 28-year-old previously went 5-0 under the ONE Championship banner, stopping all five opponents via knockout. That run included a fifth-round stoppage of former ONE Featherweight champion Tang Kai, although Abdullaev was ineligible to capture the title after missing weight.
He last competed in September 2025, stopping previously undefeated Russian prospect Ibragim Dauev in the fifth round.
Abdullaev entered Tuesday’s event as arguably the best fighter competing on Season 10 of Contender Series, and he somehow managed to exceed expectations. Assuming UFC CEO Dana White hands him a contract, Abdullaev should immediately become one of the most dangerous new additions to the Lightweight roster.
As for Santos (14-8-1), give him credit for accepting one of the most difficult matchups available on less than one week’s notice. The 34-year-old Brazilian never had an opportunity to show much, but stepping up against a destroyer like Abdullaev could earn him another Contender Series opportunity next season.
Unfortunately, he probably won’t want to watch the replay anytime soon.
For more Contender Series news and notes, be sure to hit up our comprehensive archive right here.
