Alexander Keshtov
Record: 9-0
Age: 32
Weight class: Bantamweight
Height: 5’8″
Birthplace: Russia
Next Fight: Feb. 1 vs. Herbeth Sousa (14-1) at CFFC 81 in Bensalem, Penn. (UFC Fight Pass)
Background: What’s the problem with being a beastly Russian fighter in the U.S? Well, no one wants to fight you. [autotag]Alexander Keshtov[/autotag] has experienced it. The bantamweight fighter eats, sleeps and breathes fighting. Training in kudo (a Japanese hybrid martial art) from a young age, martial arts have been a way of life for Keshtov. He’s compiled an impressive undefeated record and picked up the Ring Of Combat and CFFC titles along the way. Despite averaging only a fight a year (due to lack of willing combatants, visa issues, and military responsibilities), Keshtov always finds a way to stay active. He often competes in amateur fights in his native country (as many as 5-6 in the same day) to fulfill his requirements as a Russian lieutenant.
The Skinny: Keshtov has been UFC or Bellator caliber for a while, but he hasn’t been able to show it as much as he’d like. With his kudo background, striking is deeply ingrained in him – but his grappling is fantastic, too. Training under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s ex-coach, Murat Keshtov, the 32-year-old fighter has formulated a smooth, well rounded game. With another win under the CFFC banner and being against his toughest opponent to date, Keshtov should be inked on the spot.
In his own words: “I am very, very relaxed and put no extra pressure on myself inside or outside the cage. I don’t stress about fights. I’m comfortable in there. I have so much hand-to-hand combat fighting experience. Sometimes I’ve done five or six fights a day with five-minute rounds. The rules are different, of course, but the adrenaline and pressure is kind of the same. Even though I only have nine fights (on my record), I’m experienced in combat sports and fighting.”
“… I’m part of a team in Russia that represents a region in hand-to-hand combat. It’s kind of like professional fighting, but in amateur terms. I’m a lieutenant in the Russian military, and I have to fight. It’s my job. I have to go and compete in hand-to-hand combat.”
“… It’s been tough to get opponents. If we had the right opponents, we would be able to fight. We’ve waited for legit opponents – someone with a good record and experience. Every time we accept, they back out for various reasons. Someone goes to a different promotion. Someone gets injured. We always get stuck with 2-2 and 3-2, and it’s not really worth doing a camp. It’s not all that work. It hasn’t been easy.”
“… I really hope after my fight I go to the UFC. I’m ready and very, very hopeful. Hopefully, I beat my opponent with a 14-1 record. After that, I’m not sure what else I’ll need to do to get to the UFC.”