Askar Askarov
Askar Saypulaevich Askarov (Russian: Аскар Сайпулаевич Аскаров; born 9 October 1992)[1] is a Russian mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler.[3] He currently competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional mixed martial artist since 2013, Askarov previously competed in Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), where he was won the ACB Flyweight Championship and 2017 Summer Deaflympics 61 kg freestyle wrestling gold medalist. As of July 31, 2020, he is #3 in the UFC flyweight rankings.[4]
Askar Askarov | |
---|---|
Born | Askar Saypulaevich Askarov October 9, 1992 Kamysh-Kutan, Akhvakhsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russia |
Native name | Аскар Сайпулаевич Аскаров[1] |
Other names | Bullet |
Residence | Khasavyurt, Khasavyurtovsky District, Republic of Dagestan, Russia |
Nationality | Russian |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Division | Flyweight |
Reach | 67[2] in (170 cm) |
Style | Wrestling, Sambo, Grappling |
Stance | Orthodox |
Fighting out of | Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia |
Team | Fighting Eagles |
Rank | International Master of Sports of Russia in Freestyle Wrestling Master of Sports of Russia in Combat Sambo |
Years active | 2013–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 13 |
Wins | 12 |
By knockout | 3 |
By submission | 7 |
By decision | 2 |
Losses | 0 |
Draws | 1 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Men's Freestyle Wrestling | ||
Representing Russia | ||
Deaflympics
| ||
2017 Samsun | – 61 kg | |
World Deaf Championships | ||
2018 Vladimir | – 61 kg |
Personal life
Askarov was born to an Akhvakh family on 9 October 1992, in the village of Kamysh-Kutan in the Akhvakhsky District of the Dagestan, an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation.[1]
Askarov was born deaf, and though his hearing has improved, he can only hear approximately 20% of the sounds most people can, meaning he cannot hear instructions from his team during a fight.[5] Askarov has represented Russia as part of the national deaf wrestling team, including at the Summer Deaflympics in Samsun, Turkey in 2017, where he won a gold medal.[6]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Askarov made his professional MMA debut in Russia in July 2013, against a fellow debutante in Shamil Amirov. He won the fight by a rear naked choke in the second round. In his second fight, he fought another debuting fighter, Kvanzhakov Kantemir, and won by a first round TKO. Askarov extended his winning streak to four, with stoppage wins against Elvin Abbasov and Vakha Kadyrov.[7]
Absolute Championship Berkut
Following these two victories, Askarov signed with the Russian based promotion Absolute Championship Berkut. In his first fight with ACB, Askarov defeated Vyacheslav Gagiev by a second round TKO.[8] During ACB 22, Askarov fought[9] and submitted the undefeated Kirill Medvedovski.[10] He was then scheduled to fight Marcin Lasota during ACB 29.[11] Askarov won the fight by a second round TKO.[12] In his fourth with the organization, Askarov was scheduled to fight Ruslan Abiltarov during ACB 38.[13] He won the fight by rear naked choke, and was awarded a $5,000 bonus for the submission of the night.
These victories earned Askar the chance to fight José Maria Tomé for the vacant ACB Flyweight Championship.[14] He beat José Maria Tomé by submission in the fifth round to become the first ACB flyweight champion.[15] Askarov additionally earned a $5,000 bonus for the "Fight of the Night".[16]
Askarov was scheduled to have his first title defense during ACB 58, when he was fought Anthony Leone.[17] Askarov won the fight mid-way through the third round, by a body triangle neck crank.[18]
Askarov was scheduled to defend his title for the second time against Rasul Albaskhanov, during ACB 86.[19] He defeated Albaskhanov by a second round guillotine choke.[20]
Following his signature with the UFC, Askarov vacated the ACB Flyweight title.[21]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Askarov made his UFC debut against Brandon Moreno on the main card of UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens. Though Moreno was competing in front of his home fans in Mexico, they fought to a split draw after three rounds.[22]
For his second fight in the Octagon, Askarov was booked to face former UFC flyweight title challenger Tim Elliott at on January 18, 2020 at UFC 246.[23] Askarov won the bout via unanimous decision.[24]
In his third fight for the promotion, Askarov faced Alexandre Pantoja at UFC Fight Night 172 on July 19, 2020.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26]
Askarov is expected to face Joseph Benavidez on March 6, 2021 at UFC 259.[27]
Championships and accomplishments
- Absolute Championship Berkut
- ACB Flyweight Championship (One time, first)[15][18][20]
- Two successful title defenses
- ACB Flyweight Championship (One time, first)[15][18][20]
- 2017 Summer Deaflympics
- Gold medal – 61 kg[6]
- 2018 Deaf Wrestling World Championships
- Bronze medal – 61 kg[28]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
13 matches | 12 wins | 0 losses |
By knockout | 3 | 0 |
By submission | 7 | 0 |
By decision | 2 | 0 |
Draws | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 12–0–1 | Alexandre Pantoja | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 | July 19, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
Win | 11–0–1 | Tim Elliott | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 246 | January 18, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Draw | 10–0–1 | Brandon Moreno | Draw (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
Win | 10–0 | Rasul Albaskhanov | Technical submission (guillotine choke) | ACB 86 | May 5, 2018 | 2 | 1:59 | Moscow, Russia | Defended the ACB Flyweight Championship. |
Win | 9–0 | Anthony Leone | Submission (twister) | ACB 58 | April 22, 2017 | 3 | 2:41 | Khasavyurt, Russia | Defended the ACB Flyweight Championship. |
Win | 8–0 | José Maria Tomé | Submission (anaconda choke) | ACB 48 | October 22, 2016 | 5 | 1:57 | Moscow, Russia | Won the ACB Flyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
Win | 7–0 | Ruslan Abiltarov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ACB 38 | May 20, 2016 | 2 | 1:37 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | Submission of the Night. |
Win | 6–0 | Marcin Lasota | TKO (punches) | ACB 29 | May 5, 2018 | 2 | 3:35 | Warsaw, Poland | |
Win | 5–0 | Kirill Medvedovsky | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ACB 22 | September 12, 2015 | 3 | 3:56 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
Win | 4–0 | Vyacheslav Gagiev | TKO (punches) | ACB 17 | May 5, 2018 | 2 | 1:56 | Grozny, Russia | |
Win | 3–0 | Elvin Abbasov | Submission (Armbar) | GEFC: Lights of Baku 2 | May 5, 2018 | 2 | 3:45 | Baku, Azerbaijan | |
Win | 2–0 | Kvanzhakov Kantemir | TKO (punches) | Sparta Martial Arts Club: Team Sosnovy Bor vs. Team Leningrad Oblast | May 5, 2018 | 1 | 2:14 | Leningrad, Russia | |
Win | 1–0 | Shamil Amirov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Liga Kavkaz: Grand Umakhan Battle | May 5, 2018 | 2 | 2:05 | Khunzakh, Russia | Flyweight debut. |
See also
References
- Askar Askarov, Akhvakhsky District of the Republic of Dagestan. Retrieved on 22 November 2020.
- "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- "Official MMA Fighter Database Search – The Underground". MMA Underground.
- "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- Lagdon, Scott (September 21, 2019). "UFC Mexico's Askar Askarov sets eyes on flyweight top ten". Bloody Elbow.
- "MMA/Единоборства. Слабослышащий чемпион ACB Аскаров взял золото на Сурдлимпиаде". news.sportbox.ru. July 26, 2017.
- "Askar Askarov". tapology.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- "ACB 17 - Grand Prix Berkut 2015 Stage 4". aca-mma.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- "Дураев, тезка героя «Властелина колец» и другие звезды ММА на турнире АСВ 22!". news.sportbox.ru. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "ACB 22 - St. Petersburg". aca-mma.com. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- "Out of Obscurity: Legacy FC 51, ACB 29 and WSOF GC 2". combatpress.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "Askar Askarov: The grappling sensation of the flyweight division". thescrap.co. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "Out of Obscurity: ACB 38, Venator FC 3 and Akhmat Fight Show 22". combatpress.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "'ACB 48: REVENGE' Free Livestream". mmanews24.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "Бокс/MMA. Аскаров - новый чемпион ACB, Абдулвахабов сохранил пояс". news.sportbox.ru. October 23, 2016.
- "ACB 48: Revenge". tapology.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "ACA". facebook.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "Askar Askarov scores vicious body triangle neck crank against Anthony Leone at ACB 58". MMA Fury. 2017-04-22. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- "В «Олимпийском» пройдет самый массовый турнир в истории российских ММА". news.sportbox.ru. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- Carroll, Peter (2018-05-05). "ACB 86 results: Yusup Raisov unifies 145 titles with first-round finish of Marat Balaev". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- "Welcome to the UFC: Askar Askarov". cagesidepress.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- "UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens". Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- Newswire, MMA Fighting (November 30, 2019). "Tim Elliott vs. Askar Askarov set for UFC 246". MMA Fighting.
- "Askar Askarov gets first UFC win and already sets sights on flyweight title shot". January 21, 2020.
- DNA, MMA. "Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 voor vacante titel + Pantoja vs. Askarov, waarschijnlijk "Fight Island"". Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- Fuentes, Jon (2020-07-18). "UFC Fight Island 2 Results: Askar Askarov Gets Decision Win Over Alexandre Pantoja". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
- Farah Hannoun (2020-12-01). "Joseph Benavidez vs. Askar Askarov booked for UFC 259 on March 6". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
- "Чемпион ACB взял бронзу на ЧМ по вольной борьбе среди глухих".
- Sherdog.com. "Askar". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-07-19.