Yakhyaev Heavily Favored Over Ribeiro at UFC Vegas 115

The undefeated Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev faces Brendson Ribeiro in the main event on April 4th.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:38pm

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A fractured, abstract painting depicting the dynamic movements and clashing styles of two UFC light heavyweight fighters engaged in an intense battle, with their bodies and actions deconstructed into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes light heavyweight clash between rising star Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev and veteran Brendson Ribeiro at UFC Vegas 115.Las Vegas Today

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev, an undefeated 25-year-old Russian fighter, is heavily favored at -1400 over Brendson Ribeiro in the main event of UFC Vegas 115 on April 4th. Yakhyaev, nicknamed 'The Hunter', holds an 8-0 professional record and is known for his dominant grappling and high-volume striking. Ribeiro, a 29-year-old Brazilian nicknamed 'The Gorilla', enters the fight with a 17-9-1 record and will be the significant underdog.

Why it matters

This fight features a rising star in Yakhyaev against a veteran in Ribeiro, providing an intriguing stylistic matchup between Yakhyaev's wrestling-heavy approach and Ribeiro's well-rounded skill set. A win for Yakhyaev would further cement his status as a top light heavyweight prospect, while a victory for Ribeiro would be a major upset that could propel him back into title contention.

The details

Yakhyaev holds a significant statistical advantage over Ribeiro in several key areas, including significant strikes landed per minute (20.95 to 3.06), striking accuracy (78% to 42%), and takedown accuracy (85% to 42%). Ribeiro will need to find a way to negate Yakhyaev's grappling and pressure in order to pull off the upset.

  • The fight will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
  • Yakhyaev last fought on March 1, 2026, winning by first-round rear-naked choke against Rafael Cerqueira.
  • Ribeiro's most recent bout was a first-round TKO loss to Oumar Sy on February 15, 2026.

The players

Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev

An undefeated 25-year-old Russian fighter with an 8-0 professional record, known for his dominant grappling and high-volume striking.

Brendson Ribeiro

A 29-year-old Brazilian fighter with a 17-9-1 record, looking to pull off a major upset against the heavily favored Yakhyaev.

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What they’re saying

“Yakhyaev is a rising star in the light heavyweight division, and this is a great opportunity for him to showcase his skills against a veteran like Ribeiro.”

— Josh Schonwald, UFC Analyst

What’s next

The winner of this fight could potentially earn a title shot in the light heavyweight division, depending on the outcome of other upcoming matchups.

The takeaway

This main event bout at UFC Vegas 115 features a classic clash of styles, with the dominant grappling and striking of Yakhyaev against the well-rounded skill set of Ribeiro. While Yakhyaev is the heavy favorite, Ribeiro will look to pull off a major upset and revive his own title aspirations.