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Tag: Yousri Belgaroui

  • VIDEO: Yousri Belgaroui, Alex Pereira’s Training Partner And Former Glory Kickboxing Rival, Earns Solid TKO Of Azamat Bekoev In UFC Debut At UFC Vancouver

    VIDEO: Yousri Belgaroui, Alex Pereira’s Training Partner And Former Glory Kickboxing Rival, Earns Solid TKO Of Azamat Bekoev In UFC Debut At UFC Vancouver

    The UFC debut of former GLORY Kickboxing title challenger Yousri Belgaroui ends in major success, as he scored an upset of Azamat Bekoev during the UFC Vancouver prelims.

    Bekoev constantly tried to push the pace and pressure Belgaroui, but he paid the price for it. Belgaroui’s kickboxing experience was on full display as he delivered with his striking, which helped to open up a cut on the Russian’s head. Belgaroui dictated the pace in the first two rounds through his usage of his strikes, playing into the significant reach advantage he had.

    Belgaroui then needed less than a minute in the third round to pour on one more barrage of damaging strikes on an already drained Bekoev, earning the early third-round TKO victory in his UFC debut.

    Yousri Belgaroui Stops Azamat Bekoev In Octagon Debut At UFC Vancouver

    Belgaroui went 27-7 in kickboxing, unsuccessfully challenging for the GLORY middleweight title on three occasions, two of which have come against current UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Belgaroui also fell short in a GLORY Middleweight Tournament appearance, losing to former UFC middleweight king Israel Adesanya.

    Belgaroui competed in UAE Warriors and Levels Fight League, along with two appearances on Dana White’s Contender Series, before making his Octagon debut tonight.

    Bekoev, the former LFA middleweight champion, had won eight straight and nine of 10 entering tonight’s bout. Bekoev had won both his appearance in the UFC so far, knocking out Zachary Reese at UFC 311 and finishing Ryan Loder at UFC Des Moines in May.

  • Another UFC Vegas 108 Matchup Scrapped As Azamat Bekoev Announces Fight With Yousri Belgaroui Is Postponed

    Another UFC Vegas 108 Matchup Scrapped As Azamat Bekoev Announces Fight With Yousri Belgaroui Is Postponed

    After already losing its main event with just six days to go, UFC Vegas 108 has now suffered another fight lost mere hours later.

    A planned bout between Azamat Bekoev and promotional newcomer Yousri Belagroui has been postponed, according to an announcement from Bekoev on X (fka Twitter).

    Bekoev stated that Belgaroui was unable to get a visa in time and that both fighters are off the card. He also stated, however, that while he is staying ready for any short-notice opportunity, the UFC “likes this matchup and wants us to fight in October.”

    The UFC currently has three events planned for October: UFC 320 on October 4 in Las Vegas, UFC Vancouver on October 18, and UFC 321 on October 25 in Abu Dhabi.

    Azamat Bekoev vs. Yousri Belgaroui Off UFC Vegas 108

    Bekoev was originally slated to fight Torrez Finney at UFC Vegas 108; however, Finney withdrew from the fight. Just last week it was announced that Bekoev would instead fight Belgaroui.

    Belgaroui was a professional kickboxer who went 27-7 in the sport and challenged for the GLORY middleweight championship on three occasions — twice facing Alex Pereira.

    Though he competed in both MMA and kickboxing in 2021, Belgaroui switched to MMA full time in 2022, competing for UAE Warriors before a pair of appearances in both Levels Fight League and Dana White’s Contender Series. He lost his initial 2023 DWCS appearance against Marco Silva but returned last year and defeated Taiga Iwasaki.

    Bekoev, the former LFA middleweight champion, has scored two first-round finishes this year thus far, his first in the Octagon. He knocked out Zachary Reese at UFC 311 and finished Ryan Loder at UFC Des Moines.

    Earlier today, July 27, it was reported that UFC Vegas 108’s originally scheduled flyweight main event between Amir Albazi and Tatsuro Taira has been pulled. A completely new main event, still to be announced, is expected.