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Tag: Azamat Murzakanov

  • “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    “He Finds A Way” – Paulo Costa Hands Azamat Murzakanov First Loss

    The undefeated record of Azamat Murzakanov is no more, as Paulo Costa’s move up to light heavyweight produces a strong start. Costa knocked out Murzakanov in the third round of the UFC 327 co-main event.

    Despite Murzakanov’s pressure and stalking attempts, Costa’s kicking helped to get him off to an early start, landing kicks to the body and legs of Murzakanov that did damage. A body kick in the closing minute of the first round, in fact, dropped and troubled Murzakanov.

    As the fight went on, however, it appeared that Costa’s gas tank was giving him an issue. Murzakanov fought back with his own body shots, and his power came more to fruition, which bothered Costa.

    Costa was refreshed in round three, and a kick that landed on one of Murzakanov’s arms appeared to damage it badly. Costa later followed it up with a head kick that resulted in Murzakanov crumbling to the mat to give Costa the win.

    Paulo Costa Takes The 0 Of Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Costa is now 3-2 in his last five fights. This was his second fight at light heavyweight, previously fighting Marvin Vettori at 205 in 2021. Costa entered this fight off a victory over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318.

    Murzakanov now falls to 16-1. He entered this fight off a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 321.

  • Paulo Costa Making Light Heavyweight Debut Against Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Paulo Costa Making Light Heavyweight Debut Against Azamat Murzakanov At UFC 327

    Despite a win in his last outing, Paulo Costa will be taking on a new challenge — a new weight class — in his next bout.

    Per a report from Laerte Viana, the former UFC middleweight title challenger will be moving up to light heavyweight.

    Costa’s first fight at the weight class will be quite the test, taking on the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 327.

    Costa had been scheduled to compete at UFC 326 against Brunno Ferriera. He’s since been replaced in the bout by Gregory “Robocop” Rodrigues.

    Paulo Costa vs. Azamat Murzanakov Booked For UFC 327

    Costa has gone 2-4 in the UFC, with a number of withdrawals and re-bookings, since unsuccessfully challenging Israel Adesanya for the UFC middleweight title at UFC 253.

    After missing all of 2023, Costa dropped decisions to Robert Whittaker and Sean Strickland in 2024. He, however, successfully returned at UFC 318 with a decision win over Roman Kopylov.

    Murzakanov is 16-0 in the sport, including a 6-0 UFC record since arriving from Dana White’s Contender Series. Murzakanov scored the biggest win of his career at UFC 321 in October, knocking out Aleksandar Rakic.

    UFC 327 takes place on April 11 in Miami.

  • “Maybe The Most Slept On Fighter In UFC History” – Fighters & Fans React To Azamat Murzakanov Starching Aleksandar Rakic With Jab At UFC 321 To Enter Title Conversation

    “Maybe The Most Slept On Fighter In UFC History” – Fighters & Fans React To Azamat Murzakanov Starching Aleksandar Rakic With Jab At UFC 321 To Enter Title Conversation

    If you didn’t believe in Azamat Murzakanov, he cannot be denied now after he scored a first-round finish of Aleksandar Rakic to open the pay-per-view main card of UFC 321.

    Rakic looked to pressure Murzakanov with his striking early on in the fight. He then looked for a pair of takedowns, but Murzakanov was able to fend off those attempts.

    Murzakanov, however, was able to put things away in sudden fashion with one right jab that dropped Rakic in the center of the Octagon.

    Azamat Murzakanov Stops Aleksandar Rakic At UFC 321

    Murzakanov is now a perfect 15-0, including a perfect 5-0 in the Octagon.

    Rakic has now lost four straight, which includes losses to former champions Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and Magomed Ankalaev.

  • ‘Murzakanov Is A Hammer’ – Fans & Fighters React To Azamat Murzakanov Starching Brendson Ribiero In Another Strong Finish At UFC 316

    ‘Murzakanov Is A Hammer’ – Fans & Fighters React To Azamat Murzakanov Starching Brendson Ribiero In Another Strong Finish At UFC 316

    Azamat Murzakanov can add another impressive knockout to his performance, needing just over three minutes to put away Brendson Ribiero during the preliminary card of UFC 316.

    Murzakanov looked to take control right from the start with his power. He landed a couple of noteworthy left hooks early, one of which appeared to really hurt Ribiero. Another left hook managed to drop Ribiero. Murzakanov managed to get into mount, raining down ground-and-pound. Ribiero looked to get away but gave up his back, and Murzakanov continued to rain down blows until Ribiero submitted to strikes.

    Azamat Murzakanov Scores Yet Another Finish At UFC 316

    Murzakanov is now 5-0 in the Octagon since coming into the UFC off Dana White’s Contender Series. His was his first fight since his performance bonus-earning knockout of Alonzo Menifield at ABC Abu Dhabi last August.

    Ribiero is now just 2-3 in the UFC since coming into the promotion off his own DWCS appearance.

  • Undefeated UFC Contender Handed 6-Month Suspension For Second Failed Drug Test

    Undefeated UFC Contender Handed 6-Month Suspension For Second Failed Drug Test

    Azamat Murzakanov will be spending the first few months of 2025 on the side lines after it was announced on Monday that he has been serving a six-month suspension. The UFC’s anti-doping partner, Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD) stated that the undefeated light heavyweight had tested positive for LGD-4033.

    CSAD also revealed that they believe the result from the out-of-competition test that was taken on October 8 was due to a “purported dietary supplement” which Murzakanov had submitted to them. They found traces of LGD-4033 in the supplement but the #12-ranked contender at 205-pounds was still suspended because, as CSAD states, the supplement was not “third-party tested and certified”.

    He will be eligible to return to the Octagon on May 1 due to his suspension time rising from 90 to 180 days due this being his second violation. Murzakanov was previously suspended by USADA for two years ahead of his UFC debut back in 2017.

    After winning the BRAVE CF openweight tournament in 2019, he was given the opportunity to compete on the 2021 series of Dana White’s Contender Series where he earned his contract. Since then, he has produced four consecutive wins and three finishes to find himself ranked in the top 15 at light heavyweight, beating the likes of Alonzo Menifield, Dustin Jacoby and Devin Clark.

    He was expected to face the #8-ranked Nikita Krylov at UFC 309 last month in New York until he withdrew from the fight with the reason now being revealed.

  • VIDEO: Azamat Murzakanov Flattens Alonzo Menifield To Stay Undefeated At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    VIDEO: Azamat Murzakanov Flattens Alonzo Menifield To Stay Undefeated At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    The UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi featured preliminary bout saw a battle between two light heavyweights looking to climb their way up the ranks, and the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov did that and then some.

    The Russian laid out Alonzo Menifield in a second-round finish to stay unbeaten.

    Murzakanov received praise for his first-round performance as he seemed to land at will, pressuring his American counterpart. Menifield, however, appeared to turn the tide in round two, landing some damaging shots that tired and hurt Murazakanov.

    Unbeaten Murzakanov Lands Vicious Shots To Stop Menifield At UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi

    Murzakanov, however, answered right back with a stunning pair of left hands before dropping and finishing “Atomic” in brutal fashion.

    Since a first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series that earned him a UFC contract, Murzakanov has won four straight. That run includes three finishes, defeating Tafon Nchukwi, Devin Clark and Dustin Jacoby, in addition to Saturday’s win.

    Menifield, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back fights after a five-fight unbeaten streak.

  • Song Yadong, Khalil Rountree Among Four UFC Vegas 50 Bonus Winners

    UFC bantamweight prospect Song Yadong and light heavyweight Khalil Rountree earned $50k for their performances at UFC Vegas 50.

    Yadong seized his moment in the UFC Vegas 50 co-headliner against former title challenger Marlon Moraes, knocking him out with a vicious uppercut in the first round. He has now won three straight and appears to be on the verge of a top 10 spot.

    Check out Yadong’s violent knockout below.

    Yadong is a protege of MMA legend Urijah Faber down at Team Alpha Male.

    Yadong wasn’t the only one who shut the lights out on his opponent. Rountree overcame a slow start against Karl Roberson to blitz him with a barrage of strikes in Round 2.

    Rountree landed a stiff body kick along with a series of hooks that sent Roberson collapsing to the canvas.

    Rountree has now won back-to-back fights.

    In one of the most miraculous in-fight comebacks in recent memory, UFC middleweight Cody Brundage survived a near TKO finish from Dalcha Lungiambula to choke him out with a guillotine. He sunk in the choke by allowing Lungiambula into his guard off of a takedown attempt.

    The UFC Vegas 50 prelims began with a wild flying knee knockout by the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov against Tafon Nchukwi in his UFC debut.

    Murzakanov is a former Dana White’s Contender Series standout and could be a light heavyweight to watch in 2022.

    Yadong, Rountree, Brundage, and Murzakanov all cashed in a $50k post-fight bonus check and will look to continue their positive momentum later in 2022.

    Who do you want to see Song Yadong fight next?