Athletes
Under The Radar | Azamat Murzakanov
Undefeated Light Heavyweight Contender Faces Toughest Test To Date Against Top 10 Foe Aleksandar Rakić At UFC 321
Conventional wisdom leads one to thinking an undefeated Top 10 fighter with 12 finishes out of 15 professional wins would garner plenty of hype heading into a main card assignment on a numbered event.
Alas, that hasn’t necessarily been the case for Azamat Murzakanov ahead of his bout with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane.
Since earning his contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in August 2021, “The Professional” is perfect through five UFC bouts, picking up four knockouts along the way. He kicked off his Octagon account with a stunning flying knee finish in the third round of his debut against Tafon Nchukwi, promptly earning his first performance bonus. Five months later, he knocked out veteran Devin Clark, once again in the third round, and it seemed like the 205-pound ranks had an exciting new contender in the making.
His third bout could prove as the best advertisement for his budding contender status to-date. Against the crafty and skillful veteran Dustin Jacoby, Murzakanov proved he could duke it out with one of the sharper kickboxers in the division. Murzakanov rocked the Factory X representative in the first and second rounds, but Jacoby hung in tough. In the third round, the American pressured Murzakanov hard, but he was able to weather the late storm to secure the win. Despite the fight flagging some concerns about his cardio, it also proved he could gut out a win under less-than-ideal circumstances.
WATCH: UFC 321 Countdown | Tom Aspinall: Road To Undisputed | The Documentary
Knockout wins over Alonzo Mneifield and Brendson Ribeiro pushed his UFC record to 5-0, which again brings about the question of why it seems like the general consensus on Murzakanov is a little colder than one would think.
Part of it is certainly his strength-of-schedule. The 36-year-old hasn’t faced a Top 10 talent yet, although he has had a few opportunities afforded to him. On separate occasions, Murzakanov was booked to face Khalil Rountree Jr., Nikita Krylov and Johnny Walker, but Murzakanov was forced to pull out of those bouts for one reason or another.
That changes with the Rakić fight, though. “Rocket” is a well-rounded fighter with a beastly frame at 6-foot-5. For the last six years, Rakić has faced the best 205ers in the world, picking up wins over Jimi Manuwa, Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos. A knee injury against Jan Błachowicz in his first main event opportunity halted his momentum. When he returned to action in 2024, he fought admirably against Jiří Procházka and Magomed Ankalaev but ultimately lost both fights.
Order UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane
However, he remains one of the more talented fighters in the wide-open 205-pound division and represents a challenge for Murzakanov. Should “The Professional” secure his sixth straight win, a high-caliber opportunity could be next.
UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane took place live from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25, 2025. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!
Tags