UFC Baku video: Referee calls for bizarre stoppage in opening bout

Tahir Abdullayev is a winner after his debut at UFC Baku, but not without controversy.

class="wp-block-paragraph">The opening welterweight bout of Saturday’s show in Azerbaijan was already shaping up to be a forgettable debacle, with Abdullayev and opponent Jefferson Nascimento showing little aggression through the first two rounds and Nascimento receiving a strange warning from referee Jim Perdios for inactivity.

class="wp-block-paragraph">But Perdios saved his most questionable call for last as he called for a technical knockout stoppage late in Round 3 during a sequence where Abdullayev was throwing strikes from top position but did not appear to have Nascimento in serious danger.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Watch the clip below and judge for yourself.

Agree with the stoppage here at #UFCBaku? pic.twitter.com/hUg4Gk5MQj

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 27, 2026Afterwards, there was some protest from Nascimento, but the official result announcement was otherwise made without incident.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Based on Abdullayev’s work in Round 3, he likely would have won a decision as the official scores had the fighters tied on all three judges’ cards. The official time of the stoppage was 4:28 into Round 3.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Abdullayev and Nascimento were both competing in the UFC for the first time. The win improves Abdullayev’s pro record to 20-3, while Nascimento loses his undefeated record after going 13-0 to begin his pro career.