Rookie Report Card: Grading all Octagon newcomers UFC Qatar post-mortem

You only get one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut!

Six rookies stepped into “The Maroons” yesterday (Sat., Nov. 22, 2025) at UFC Qatar, which took place inside ABHA Arena in Doha, Qatar. UFC’s newest batch of talent went an even 3-3.

There were some awesome debuts — and some absolute stinkers.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s grade their respective performances below:

Luke Riley

Luke Riley’s Octagon debut was one of the most anticipated of the year. The unbeaten Liverpool standout — one of the brightest prospects on the U.K. regional scene — lived up to the hype, knocking out Bogdan Grad in the second round (watch highlights).

It wasn’t flawless. Riley’s biggest weakness, his takedown defense, was exposed early as he spent most of the first round controlled on the mat. But after dropping Round 1, he erased it instantly with a picture-perfect counter left hand that switched Grad’s lights off.

Now 12-0, Riley is a massive addition to the ever-growing Featherweight division. If he continues improving his defensive wrestling, his ceiling is sky-high.

A matchup with fellow striker Steven Nguyen makes perfect sense next.

Final grade: A-

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev

The biggest betting favorite on UFC Qatar (-1600) looked every bit the part. Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev steamrolled Rafael Cerqueira in just 33 seconds, becoming the first fighter to submit the Brazilian.

In that half-minute, Yakhyaev showcased flashy stand-up — partially landing a spinning wheel kick, firing a crisp three-piece, and blasting a high kick that dropped Cerqueira. He followed with ground-and-pound, slammed Cerqueira when he tried to escape, then secured a tight rear-naked choke for the finish (watch highlights).

This was a pure showcase squash match, and Yakhyaev maximized it.

At 9-0 with an 88 percent finish rate and seven first-round wins, the 24-year-old is absolutely one to watch in 2026. Even if the matchup was soft, Light Heavyweight always needs new blood, and he’s got the tools to rise quickly.

Billy Elekana is the right next step.

Final grade: A+

Saygid Izagakhmaev

One of the strangest UFC signings of the year, Saygid Izagakhmaev hadn’t fought in three years — but being Islam Makhachev’s longtime training partner clearly helped open the door.

His UFC Qatar debut ended in heartbreak. Izagakhmaev spent long stretches stuck against the fence by Nicolas Dalby, unable to unleash the suffocating wrestling he’s known for. He showed flashes — taking Dalby’s back in the second round and hunting submissions — but two judges still sided with Dalby via split decision, leaving a devastated Izagakhmaev needing Makhachev to help him off the canvas.

The fight was forgettable, slow-paced, and lacked urgency. His output was low, and the long layoff clearly played a role. Still, losing to a 41-year-old, even one as tough as Dalby, isn’t ideal.

Bassil Hafez feels like the right bounce-back matchup.

Final grade: D

Shem Rock

Shem Rock entered with hype thanks to his big personality and being the training partner to Riley and Paddy Pimblett, but his debut left plenty to be desired.

To his credit, Rock showed tremendous heart. Even while getting dominated by Nurullo Aliev, he never quit — and some even scored the third round for him. But when you let a grappler like Aliev outstrike you, that’s a major red flag.

Rock’s regional resume was always shaky, and this debut didn’t resolve those concerns. The truth is he was simply outmatched. Aliev might be very good — though he fights once every decade — but Rock must make dramatic improvements if he doesn’t want to go 0-3 and get cut. That starts with better striking (both offense and defense), smarter energy management, and earlier use of his grappling.

Gabe Green would be a suitable next opponent.

Final grade: D

Denzel Freeman & Marek Bujlo

The curtain jerker between Denzel Freeman and Mark Bujlo was absolutely awful and I’m not going to waste my time or yours trying to convince you it wasn’t.

If the Heavyweight division weren’t so thin, both men might be cut today. Instead, the show must go on — so match Bujlo with Elisha Ellison and Freeman with Austen Lane.

And if you’re wondering who won? The fans certainly didn’t, but Freeman took a unanimous decision.

Final grade: F

For complete UFC Qatar results, coverage and highlights click HERE.