The hype surrounding Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev only grew louder in Azerbaijan.

The undefeated Russian continued his meteoric rise at UFC Baku, obliterating Julius Walker with a one-punch knockout that produced the second-fastest finish in UFC light heavyweight history.

There was barely enough time for the fight to begin.

As soon as the opening bell sounded, Yakhyaev stepped forward and uncorked a thunderous right hand over Walker’s lead shoulder. The punch landed flush and instantly shut off the American’s lights, sending him crashing to the canvas before he could throw a meaningful strike.

“The Hunter” quickly followed his opponent to the ground and landed a couple of extra punches, but the outcome had already been decided. The referee rushed in just eight seconds into the opening round, bringing the contest to an emphatic end.

Walker appeared dazed as he returned to his feet, while Yakhyaev celebrated yet another devastating first-round finish.

The knockout victory keeps Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev’s perfect, improving his professional record to 10-0 while extending his streak of first-round finishes. The 25-year-old also remains unbeaten inside the Octagon at 3-0, which includes wins over Brendson Ribeiro and Raffael Cerqueira.

DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 22: Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev of Russia reacts after a submission victory against Rafael Cerquiera of Brazil in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at ABHA Arena on November 22, 2025 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)