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See the full story · 1 sourcesABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JULY 24: Magomed Zaynukov is interviewed after fighting against Damian Rzepecki in their lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Etihad Arena July 24, 2026 in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
After months of anticipation, Magomed “Chanko” Zaynukov (also known as “John Pork” in America) made his official UFC debut on Saturday night in Abu Dhabi. He showed off his full range of world class Muay Thai skills, battering Damian Rzepecki with kicks and elbows en route to a 30-27×3 decision.
Following the win, Zaynukov said there was no choice but to punish Rzepecki for suggesting it was a team vs. team fight.
“I had to live up to those expectations, because a lot was said by my opponent,” he said in the cage. “He said he was from Ilia Topuria’s team. But they don’t know that we’re from Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team, from Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s school. It doesn’t matter who I fight. I’m ready for anyone!”
During the post fight press conference, someone asked who would walk out of a room between Zaynukov and Topuria.
Magomed “Chanko” Zaynukov says Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke to him immediately after his dominant UFC debut, with his first reaction being to point out the one mistake he made, saying he shouldn’t have missed a takedown. 😅 “Khabib told me it was a great, exciting fight, but said,… pic.twitter.com/lYbYqKCCSN
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) July 26, 2026
“They just don’t know the type of life that we have in Makhachkala,” Zaynukov responded. “They haven’t seen life the way the way we live it over there. I think there’s no chance, they have no chance to come out of that room because what I saw and the things that I’ve seen, there’s no question.”
“There’s no playing games there or acting for the camera or something like that. Everything is very, very much different over there. It’s just that we don’t really like to bring the trash outside the house. We don’t say things like that.”
Zaynukov also relayed how his coaches Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev reacted to his dominant win in Abu Dhabi.
“Yeah, we spoke immediately after I got out of the cage,” he replied. “Khabib said that it was a great fight, an exciting fight, but ‘You missed a takedown and that’s not okay.’ Islam also just said congratulations, that it was a fun, exciting fight. But they kind of expected that this was going to be that type of fight, a fun, exciting fight.”
It certainly was that, and here’s hoping “Chanko” gets an opportunity to fight again soon. It may have to be abroad, because he’s certainly not welcome in New York any time soon.
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