by Mixed martial arts are very popular in Kazakhstan. Youth engage in various sports such as boxing, jiu-jitsu, sambo, Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling, and then get the opportunity to showcase themselves in more lucrative MMA projects. The most prestigious promotion in mixed martial arts is the UFC. It features the best fighters in the world. Translations of UFC matches are in demand in Kazakhstan, and many fans enjoy betting on fights. The participation of Kazakh athletes in competitions has contributed to this popularity. Let’s list the most notable personalities competing in the UFC from our country. Stars of the UFC from Kazakhstan in 2024. In 2024, Kazakhs were particularly looking forward to the fight of Azat Maxum, who was rightfully considered one of the most promising lightweights. Fans of the fighter expected his confident victory over the not so stable Charles Johnson. However, there was a bitter disappointment. Azat lost by unanimous decision of the judges and instead of his 18th victory, he recorded his first defeat. On the other hand, another representative of the flyweight division, 31-year-old Asu Almabaev, pleased fans. In 2024, on March 9, June 15, and October 19, he defeated Jay Vergara, Jose Johnson, and Mateus Nicolau, respectively. Read about other famous victories of Kazakh fighters in MMA on the page. on December 8, 2024, Shavkat Rakhmonov, competing in the welterweight division, was supposed to fight for the championship belt against Belal Muhammad, but the latter withdrew due to illness. The Kazakh won the fight against his replacement, Ireland’s Ian Garry and now awaits the promised title fight, which may take place somewhere in the middle of 2025. The nearest plans of Kazakh fighters in the UFC in 2025. Interestingly, there are already several scheduled dates for 2025 when Kazakh fans will be able to root for their own. Welterweight Nikolai Veretennikov at UFC Fight Night 251 on February 16 will meet American Billy Goff Asu Almabaev as part of UFC Fight Night 253 will fight Steve Herzog on March 2; the undefeated Diyar Nurgozhay in the light heavyweight division on UFC Fight Night 254 on March 16 will face Brazilian Brendson Ribeira. All fights will take place in Las Vegas. And of course, we await the appointment of the date of Shavkat Rakhmonov’s championship fight. In the Parimatch bookmaker, the odds for UFC are detailed on various fight parameters. Fighters who have left the most prestigious promotion. When we talk about significant personalities in Kazakh MMA, we cannot forget such athletes as Damir Ismagulov and Maria Agapova. The 34-year-old lightweight representative fought his last UFC fight in 2023. The 27-year-old athlete lost his last three fights, significantly tarnishing his statistics. In January 2025, it was reported that Ismagulov and Agapova signed contracts with Global Fight League (GFL). Bets on Parimatch sports cover these competitions as well. Therefore, anyone interested can place a bet and root for their favorite mixed martial arts fighters with doubled emotions.
