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

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

Three rookies debuted in “City of Winds” yesterday (Sat., June 21, 2025) at UFC Baku, which took place inside Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. UFC’s latest batch of newbies went 1-2.

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

Rizvan Kuniev

Russia’s Rizvan Kuniev suffered a “Razor”-thin split decision loss to Curtis Blaydes in UFC Baku’s “Featured Fight,” narrowly missing the opportunity to claim Blaydes’ No. 5 ranking in the Heavyweight division.

Kuniev struggled in the opening round, where Blaydes dominated with his superior wrestling and suffocating clinch work, effectively neutralizing Kuniev’s offense. However, Kuniev found his rhythm in the second and third rounds, showcasing his resilience and striking ability. He managed to land significant shots, visibly marking up the former Heavyweight title challenger and making the fight intensely competitive down the stretch.

In retrospect, losing the chance to break into the Top 5 may be a blessing in disguise for Kuniev. The elite Heavyweight talent atop the division, with their blend of power, technique and experience, would likely run over Kuniev.

Regardless, despite the loss, Kuniev proved he belongs in UFC’s Heavyweight division (which is compromised) and is a welcome addition. His performance demonstrated that he can be a formidable contender against fighters in the lower-half of the rankings, bringing much-needed excitement and potential to the division.

For his next fight, a matchup against Thomas Petersen would be an intriguing test.

Final grade: B

Tofiq Musayev

Former Bellator fighters continue to falter in their Octagon debuts, as Tofiq Musayev’s eagerly-awaited promotional debut was derailed by unranked Lightweight standout, Myktybek Orolbai, who secured a first round finish with a kimura submission (watch highlights).

The fight was mainly one-way traffic with Orolbai relentlessly taking down Musayev before locking in the fight-ending submission.

Musayev’s lackluster debut stemmed from questionable fight IQ and deficient grappling skills. Known for his devastating kicks, the Azerbaijani repeatedly targeted Orolbai’s body, leaving himself vulnerable to takedowns. Rather than working to stand, he chased improbable submissions, which only extended Orolbai’s dominance.

At 35, this was likely Musayev’s sole shot at a UFC title run, though he insists age is merely a number.

With the right matchmaking — pairing him with strikers like Drew Dober rather than grapplers like Orolbai — Musayev could still deliver thrilling UFC bouts.

Final grade: F

Seok Hyeon Ko

The lone rookie winner was Korea’s Seok Hyeon Ko, who upset Oban Elliott — the biggest betting favorite on the card — to win a dominant unanimous decision.

Coming into UFC Baku, Ko was known for his striking and knockout power, but that went out the window for his debut as he implemented wrestling and did it well.

He out-struck Eliott in round one and then out-grappled Eliott in the final two rounds, dominating him.

I must admit, I wasn’t too high on Ko getting a contract on Contender Series because it wasn’t an outstanding performance, but he showed up in his debut and showed he is much more than a knockout artist.

Who knows how his UFC career will go, but I’d be interested in a matchup with Danny Barlow.