Murtazali Magomedov made history at UFC Vegas 119, submitting Melsik Baghdasaryan with a rare Scottish twister in round one to cap off a debut performance that few inside the featherweight division will forget anytime soon.
The finish came just 1:17 into the opening round. Baghdasaryan, the more experienced athlete with five UFC appearances to his name, pressed early with body kicks and landed some clean shots.
But when he got too aggressive, Magomedov secured the takedown, took his back, got both hooks in, and rolled. As Baghdasaryan tried to turn into him, Magomedov locked in the modified twister variant, and the tap came quickly.
The submission itself was a long time in the making, at least in terms of its addition to Magomedov’s already extensive finishing arsenal.
“He came here to Las Vegas recently, a month ago, and this is exactly what we were working on here,” Magomedov explained after the match.
That he pulled it off against a seasoned veteran on debut made it all the more impressive. Magomedov acknowledged that Baghdasaryan’s reputation as a striker actually factored into his confidence on the ground.
“Baghdasaryan is more famous for his striking technique, so I knew that I could do it with him.”
No athlete has ever debuted in the UFC by landing a twister submission, placing Magomedov in rare company alongside only The Korean Zombie, Bryce Mitchell, and Da’Mon Blackshear as UFC athletes to have recorded one.
For Magomedov, the debut was the latest step in a fast-moving rise. His Contender Series win last September earned him his UFC contract and placed him on the main card for his debut, a position he believes he has earned through consistent finishing performances.
“My record, obviously, is all finishes,” he said. “I think they understand that I can perform brightly. I’m already at this level.”
With 11 wins and 11 finishes on his record, Magomedov sees himself as a natural fit for the top of a featherweight division he described as wide open.
“The featherweight division is very interesting, but now we don’t have big names and I think I can be like a new highlight.”
Life has shifted significantly since the Contender Series, and Magomedov expects another level of attention to follow this latest performance.
“Even before the match there was a lot of attention. Now after this type of finish, there will be even more, and I understand that. I understand that it comes with the territory and I’m ready for it.”
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
