Magomedov's Twister Debut Win
Murtazali Magomedov Secures Impressive Debut Victory at UFC Vegas 119 with Twister Submission
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Murtazali Magomedov made one of the most stunning UFC debuts in recent memory on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at UFC Vegas 119 inside the UFC Meta Apex in Las Vegas. The 26-year-old Dagestani featherweight submitted Melsik Baghdasaryan with a rare twister at just 1:42 of the first round — only the third time in 33-plus years of UFC history that submission has ever worked Sports Yahoo.
Dana White called Magomedov "a massive problem" for the 145-pound division. White added at the post-fight press conference: "We've seen the Twister twice in 15 years. To do it in your debut? That kid just made himself a millionaire." Magomedov also earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and improved to 14-0 overall.
Only the Third Twister Ever Landed in the UFC
The twister is a spinal submission that bends the body sideways. It is extremely hard to pull off at the elite level. Before Saturday, only two fighters had ever done it in the UFC: Chan Sung Jung against Leonard Garcia in 2011 and Bryce Mitchell against Matt Sayles in 2019. Magomedov is now the third MMA Junkie.
Magomedov's version was described as "modified." He used a short-arm lever instead of the traditional full-arm wrap. BJJ pioneer Eddie Bravo called it "art" on The Joe Rogan Experience Fight Companion, saying: "His adjustment to the truck position was flawless. He used a wrestling lockdown to transition into a spine crank that was 100% technical." Bravo created the twister submission himself.
Magomedov Enters as a 14-0 Underdog Favorite From Dagestan
Coming in at -350 on DraftKings Sportsbook, Magomedov was a clear favorite despite being unranked. He arrived in Las Vegas for the first time ever, having previously fought only in the UAE and Europe. He made weight at 145.5 lbs on June 19. His opponent, Melsik Baghdasaryan, weighed in at 146 lbs and fell to 10-4 with the loss.
Magomedov did not waste words after the fight. He told Paramount+ cameras: "I told Dana I don't come for decisions. I come for the neck, or the spine. In Dagestan, we learn these things before we learn to walk." Baghdasaryan was equally direct on social media: "I thought I was defending the back, and then my whole body felt like it was snapping in half. He's different."
Debut Breaks Paramount+ Viewership Records at the Apex
This was the first full year of the UFC's domestic rights deal with Paramount Global after leaving ESPN in late 2025. The Magomedov finish drew an estimated 4.2 million peak concurrent viewers on Paramount+, according to Nielsen Media Research. That made it the most-watched Apex debut since the platform took over the fights.
On Reddit's r/MMA, a "Finish of the Year" thread for Magomedov picked up over 40,000 upvotes in three hours. Fans quickly nicknamed him "The Chiropractor." Per Forbes Sports Money, the clip generated more viral impressions for Paramount+ in 60 minutes than any other UFC event in Q2 2026.
What Comes Next for Magomedov and the Featherweight Division
Magomedov is expected to debut in the featherweight rankings at No. 11 or No. 12 in Tuesday's update, according to TSN. The division is currently ruled by Ilia Topuria. Some analysts, including those at ESPN MMA, argue Magomedov should fight a top-five opponent by December 2026 MMA Junkie.
Not everyone is ready to crown him. Analysts at Bloody Elbow argue the finish was "opportunistic" rather than "systemic." They point out that Baghdasaryan made a basic mistake by "giving up his back in a panic scramble" — an error a veteran like Max Holloway would likely avoid. On the medical side, Baghdasaryan may face a 180-day suspension pending a check for disc herniation from the neck torque he absorbed.
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