Abdoul Abdouraguimov will get to compete at home once again.
[autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] will get to compete at home once again.
Abdouraguimov (18-1) takes on [autotag]Laureano Staropoli[/autotag] (13-6) in a welterweight bout, which headlines 2024 PFL Europe 4 Dec. 14 at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, promotion officials announced Monday morning.
The event will also feature the 2024 PFL Europe finale fights, where four fighters will be crowned PFL Europe champion, with a chance to win $100,000.
BREAKING: The PFL Europe Championships in Lyon are headlined by Abdoul Abdouraguimov taking on Laureano Staropoli on Saturday 14th December!@LazyKingMMA is one of the most exciting and polarising characters in the sport,โฆ pic.twitter.com/quCzaATnGC
Winner of eight straight, Abdouraguimov is coming off a split decision win over Jack Grant at 2024 PFL Europe 1 in March. Prior to that, “Lazy King” finished seven straight opponents.
After winning four straight fights, including a finish of ex-UFC fighter Mickael Lebout, Staropoli sufferedย a submission loss to Murad Ramazanov in April.
The current 2024 PFL Europe 4 includes:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov vs. Laureano Staropoli
Daniele Miceli vs. Florim Zendeli โ for PFL Europe welterweight championship
Connor Hughes vs. Jakub Kaszuba โ for PFL Europe lightweight championship
Alexander Luster vs. Lewis McGrillen โ for PFL Europe bantamweight championship
Shanelle Dyer vs. Paulina Wisniewska โ for PFL Europe women’s flyweight championship
Watch the main card of 2024 PFL Europe 1, which features Cedric Doumbe vs. Baissangour Chamsoudinov at Accor Arena in Paris.
2024 PFL Europe 1 takes place Thursday and you can watch a live stream of the event right here on MMA Junkie.
The event taking place at Accor Arena in Paris, France features a welterweight showdown between undefeated welterweights [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] and [autotag]Baysangur Chamsoudinov[/autotag].
The self-proclaimed face of MMA in France, Doumbe (5-0) will aim to showcase his high-level striking skills under the PFL Europe banner for the second time. His first appearance last September was a lightning-fast nine-second finish of Jordan Zebo. Chamsoudinov (7-0), who will be making his PFL Europe debut, has slightly more experience in MMA competition and is also capable of finishing fights early.
Also in action in the co-feature will be France’s “Lazy King” [autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] (17-1), who meets England’s Jack Grant (19-7).
Watch the full main card in the video above (U.S.-based viewers only).
Abdoul Abdouraguimov will look to dazzle his home fans once again at PFL Europe 1.
[autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] will look to dazzle his home fans once again.
France’s Abdouraguimov (17-1) meets [autotag]Jack Grant[/autotag] (19-7) on March 7 at PFL Europe 1 from Accor Arena in Paris, promotion officials announced Thursday morning.
“The Lazy King” impressed in his PFL debut. A former two-division ARES FC champion, Abdouraguimov made quick work ofย Brad Wheeler when he submitted him in Round 1 of the of PFL Europe 3 co-main event this past September. After the fight, Abdouraguimov stated his intentions of dropping down to lightweight for his next fight, but he appears to be sticking to 170 pounds for now.
England’s Grant has won three of his past four bouts. A Cage Warriors and Bellator alum, Grant returned from a more than two-year layoff to submit Ahmad Labban at BRAVE FC 80 in December. His most recent loss came to rising UFC welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry in June 2021.
After he couldn’t come to terms with the UFC, “The Lazy King” Abdoul Abdouraguimov has officially arrived in PFL in style.
[autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] has officially arrived in PFL.
Saturday, Abdouraguimov (17-1) made quick work of [autotag]Brad Wheeler[/autotag] (18-14) when took the fight to the ground and won by rear-naked choke at 2:43 of Round 1. The 180-pound fight was the co-main event of PFL Europe 3 at Zenith Paris La Villette in Paris.
Wheeler proved to be game on the feet, though his opportunity there was short lived. After a few punches landed on Abdouraguimov, “The Lazy King” shot for a takedown. He quickly sliced through Wheeler’s grappling defense, took the back, locked in the choke, and got the tap.
๐๐ Abdoul Abdouraguimov gets the tap!!#PFLParis ๐ซ๐ท EN EXCLUSIVITE sur RMC Sport ๐ช๐บ INTERNATIONALLY LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/36XX2SKlgo
After weeks of angling for a UFC opportunity, “The Lazy King” ultimately signed with PFL in August. Since his signing came during the 2023 PFL Playoffs, Abdouraguimov won’t enter the promotion’s season format until 2024.
Following the win, Abdouraguimov voiced excitement to compete in the United States next and announced in the cage he will drop to lightweight.
Abdoul Abdouraguimov is legit! We will see him on the Global Roster in 2024 ๐ซก#PFLParis ๐ซ๐ท EN EXCLUSIVITE sur RMC Sport ๐ช๐บ INTERNATIONALLY LIVE on DAZN pic.twitter.com/qwLvXHHQX2
Abdouraguimov, 28, has won seven fights in a row. He has 12 submissions and two knockouts in 17 professional victories. Prior to his signing, Abdouraguimov was the ARES FC champion at both welterweight and middleweight.
One of the top free agents in MMA, Abdoul Abdouraguimov has signed with PFL after months of campaigning for a UFC shot.
“The Lazy King” finally is taking a step up to the big leagues.
After months of calling for a shot in a major promotion, [autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] has his, as Thursday it was announced Abdouraguimov (16-1) signed with PFL. The announcement was made by the promotion, Abdouraguimov, and his former promotion, ARES FC.
Abdouraguimov (16-1) is 27, holds two ARES FC titles (at welterweight and middleweight), has a massive online fanbase, and speaks four languages fluently. With 13 finishes and a slew of notable regional wins, he was considered by many as one of the best unsigned prospects in MMA.
In recent weeks, he advocated heavily for a slot on the upcoming UFC Fight Night event Sept. 2 in Paris, but instead will make his debut Sept. 30 in Paris vs. Quemuel Ottoni (12-3) at PFL Europe 3.
๐ซ๐ท 5 French Athletes on the card โ๏ธ Headlined by @CedricDoumbe vs @Jordan_Zebo ๐ @LazyKingMMA PFL debut ๐ @PFLEurope Playoffs semifinals ๐ 12 European Nations represented ๐ New limited wave of tickets released!!!
Abdouraguimov, 28, is expected to enter the 2024 PFL welterweight playoffs following his upcoming fight. He enters the bout on a six-fight winning streak including wins over UFC alum Godofredo Pepey and Bellator alum Karl Amoussou.
โRight now after Ciryl Gane in France โฆ itโs โLazy King,'” Abdouraguimov told MMA Junkie in July. “โLazy Kingโ is the real deal. โฆ I am a showman. I can make some show. Iโm not only a fighter. Also, I can talk. I can show, and I can talk about science also. We can do everything.โ
Joaquin Buckley would be happy to welcome Abdoul Abdouraguimov to the UFC but warns him of the callout.
[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] would be happy to welcome [autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] to the UFC but warns him of the callout.
Buckley (16-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC)ย issued a callout to all welterweights, offering $25,000 to anyone who can knock him out. Ares FC double champion Abdouraguimov (16-1) responded to his challengeย and even proposed a counter offer.
Buckley’s social media was swarmed by Abdouraguimov’s fans, and Buckley appreciates “The Lazy King” for his willingness to step up.
“All of France have been on here talking about, ‘Fight our boy Lazy King.’ I’m like, who the hell is this?” Buckley told MMA Junkie. “But hey, I don’t mind. If dude wants to get down with the get-down, I appreciate him because at the end of the day, I don’t want to be on the sidelines.
“I don’t want to be sitting on the bench. I’ve been trying to call out a lot of good, big names. They said they don’t want to see me. This kid said he wanted to see me. Let’s rock then. Let’s do it. At the end of the day, that’s how we get paid.”
Buckley was under the impression that Abdouraguimov is already a UFC fighter. Upon finding out that he’s yet to be signed, Buckley said he feels like he got catfished but is still willing to go to Paris to fight him if the UFC offers him the matchup.
“I’m mad to be honest. I’m pissed now,” Buckley said. “I thought this fool was in the UFC. I straight got tricked, but if the UFC set it up, I don’t care. Let this be his meal ticket, but he definitely got the right one. So we’re going to have some fun.”
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdouraguimov continued his campaign to make his UFC debut at the Paris event on Sept. 2. Abdouraguimov has one loss in his career and is on a five-fight winning streak.
In his return to welterweight, Buckleyย knocked out Andre Fialho with a head kick this past May. Twelve of his 16 professional wins have come by knockout, and Buckley thinks Abdouraguimov is in for a rude awakening if he underestimates him.
“Everybody telling me he’s a dog and all that, but at the end of the day, you’re f*cking with somebody who’s been in here for a minute now,” Buckley said. “I’m not getting my feet wet. I’m used to it. I’m experienced under the UFC lights. So it doesn’t matter where you’re coming from, what your belts looking like, what your so-called world titles are. Bro, you’re running into the right one. I’ll tell you that.”
Buckley was trying to step in on short notice and face Jack Della Maddalena this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN 49, but Della Maddalena ended up facing newcomer Bassil Hafez instead. Buckley also called out Ian Machado Garry, who’s currently booked to face Geoff Neal at UFC 292.
“New Mansa” hasn’t been able to land the fights he’s called for but hopes his efforts eventually pay off.
“A little frustrating,” Buckley said of trying to get a fight. “So, hopefully with all the promoting I’ve been doing on Instagram and stuff like that, my other social media sites, the UFC can see that people are willing and wanting to see me fight.”
Hey, UFC, “The Lazy King” is just a phone call away and waiting for a contract so he can set his plan into motion.
World domination teeters on a phone call, if you ask the “Lazy King.”
[autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] is one of the most hyped MMA fighters on the rise in the world today, but he’s still yet to latch on to a major promotion for reasons unknown, according to him.
“I’m trying to be positive,” Abdouraguimov recently told MMA Junkie. “In this moment, I’m learning a lot of stuff, phycological stuff. I’m looking at the books. I’m learning a lot of stuff, and it helps me to stay in a good mind, have a championship mind, a winner’s mind. I try to throw away all the negative thoughts into the trash bin and make only positive thoughts. That’s why I don’t know what’s going to happen. I can’t control the outside, but I cannot control the inside. I can control me, my actions, my thoughts, and everything good will come automatically. It’s the Law of Attraction, you know?”
Abdouraguimov (16-1) is 27, holds two ARES FC titles (at welterweight and middleweight), has a massive online fanbase, and speaks four languages fluently. Seemingly a layup for any major promotion, Abdouraguimov said there’s been dialogue between his manager, Fernand Lopez, and major promotions โ but none have pulled the trigger on signing him.
According to Abdouraguimov, the UFC previously indicated to Lopez he’d be signed following a Hail Mary submission title win against Rafal Haratyk. However, no paperwork has come through, and it’s a bit unclear where things stand.
If there’s ever been a time for the UFC to onboard him, Abdouraguimov wonders why not now? In September, the promotion returns to Paris, the capital city of the country in which Abdoruaguimov resides. Abdouraguimov maintains the mindset he’ll be fighting on that card.
“There’s been a little bit of progress, yes,” Abdouraguimov said. “My manager, Fernand Lopez, since the beginning of my (time) with ARES he was talking to the UFC. Little by little it was progressing. After the last fight, it was like a promise, ‘Yes, we will put him on the card in Paris.’ For the moment, we’re waiting for the contract to come to sign and to fight.
“We already started the preparation to fight in September, so training camp has started. In our mind, we will fight no matter what in September. I want to fight because I’m a warrior. I want to fight. I need to evolve. I want to fight. I want always to advance, and that’s it because it’s time for the ‘Lazy King’ to conquer the world, ladies and gentleman. It’s time. The conquest of the world will start in September 2023.”
[lawrence-related id=2611012,2608820]
While his longtime dream has been the UFC, the Dagestan-born Abdouraguimov revealed he recently engaged in talks with the PFL, as was rumored on French social media channels. Ultimately, Abdouraguimov decided to pass on the offer since the PFL season overlaps with Ramadan.
“I wanted to concentrate 100 percent to my months of Ramadan, you know?” Abdouraguimov said. “That’s why I was saying no at that moment. Because in the future, who knows? Each year the Ramadan goes down 10 days. It changes dates. It could be possible for me to fight there also if there’s a good opportunity. Right now my focus is on the UFC. I want to do the UFC. But if they don’t want me, that’s no problem. We will find other good options.”
If a time comes where the PFL season and Ramadan no longer cross, Abdouraguimov indicated he’ll reconsider. However, Abdouraguimov hopes to never be faced with that choice and sign with the UFC in the coming weeks instead.
At the UFC’s show in Paris in September 2022, Abdouraguimov said he was approached by hundreds of fans wanting pictures and autographs throughout the night. While home country stars Ciryl Gane and Manon Fiorot are already on the card, Abdouraguimov said should matchmaker Sean Shelby want to turn up the energy in Accor Arena a bit Sept. 2, he can do so with a single phone call.
“There are a lot of people who recognize me now, especially in Paris, especially in my hometown of Nantes,” Abdouraguimov said. “Even when I’m outside walking like that, some people come to me taking pictures. I’m very thankful for that, and it’s a pleasure for me. A lot of people want to see me fight in Paris. Of course there are a lot of other fighters who are well known, who also have their own fan base. But I can bring a very good crowd.
“Right now after Ciryl Gane in France … it’s ‘Lazy King.’ ‘Lazy King’ is the real deal, Sean Shelby. … I am a showman. I can make some show. I’m not only a fighter. Also, I can talk. I can show, and I can talk about science also. We can do everything.”
Check out MMA Junkie’s full interview with “Lazy King” below.
At ARES 11, “The Lazy King” Abdoul Abdouraguimov was outmuscled for much of five rounds. Then, he hit the most improbable of finishes.
Things looked grim for โThe Lazy Kingโ [autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] as the clock ticked down to less than one minute remaining in his ARES 11 main event title challenge at middleweight.
For the majority of five rounds, Abdouraguimov (16-1), typically a welterweight, struggled with the strength of the much larger [autotag]Rafal Haratyk[/autotag] (16-5-1) โ until an absolute kneebar attempt from the bottom ended the bout at 4:35 of Round 5.
The finish sent the Dome de Paris into a frenzy, as spectators tried to wrap their heads around what had just occurred. Abdouraguimov is now a double champion for the leading French mixed martial arts promotion.
Already the ARES welterweight champion, Abdouraguimov was deemed by many as UFC-ready after a successful June title defense. But when the UFC call still didn’t come, Abdouraguimov decided to elevate to middleweight.
The decision looked miscalculated for much of the bout, as Haratyk muscled his way out of many of Abdouraguimov’s unusual tricks and traps. Mounted on multiple occasions, Abdouraguimov appeared tired in the championship rounds. However, he found a second wind in Round 5, with multiple submission attempts.
A fifth-round guillotine choke appeared to be his final (and best, up until that moment) chance of the fight. But after Haratyk popped his head out and eventually landed on top, Abdouraguimov’s chances to win seemed slim.
As Haratyk leaned against the cage, Abdouraguimov pulled for a leg submission, an attack he tried multiple times in the fight. This time was different, however. This time, he got what he sought.
La folle victoire d'Abdoul dans les derniรจres secondes ๐
The win Friday certainly lived up to Abdouraguimov’s pre-fight prediction in an interview with MMA Junkie.
โEven in my fights, I donโt know how itโs going to be finished,” Abdouraguimov said. “I, myself, in one of my last fights, was surprised I hit an inverted triangle choke. I had never done it in my life. Iโm very creative and you can expect the unexpected. Iโll put on a โLazy Kingโ show.โ
Abdouraguimov, 27, extends his winning streak to six with victories over notable veterans Godofredo Pepy and Karl Amoussou among others.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves.
Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.
For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator, or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.
This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety โ one for the second time โ return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.
A former football standout started his MMA career a little later, but is making up for lost time and could be one fight away from the UFC.
An LFA bantamweight who can walk the walk and talk the talk hopes to prove both worthy of UFC notoriety in his first LFA headliner.
A two-time IBJJF world champion has shown much brilliance in his MMA career and just needs a little consistency to push him to the ranks of the UFC.
Arguably the top regional prospect in the world seems to be the full package and a 16th win would just be a cherry on top of an already eye-catching resume.
An under-the-radar Brazilian featherweight hopes his first LFA headliner will be his ticket to the big show.
One of the most interesting figures in MMA, Abdoul Abdouraguimov says there’s nothing stopping the UFC from signing him โ so why hasn’t it?
The “Lazy King” is ready to put on a “lazy show” for “lazy people.”
With a record of 15-1, [autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] is viewed by many as potentially MMA’s best prospect outside of a major promotion, if someone with 16 professional fights can be even considered a prospect.
Born in Dagestan, Abdouraguimov has made it a priority to become fluent in English, cut promos, put on exciting fights, finish opponents, and display his quirky personality. So why isn’t he the UFC?
“This is the real question,” Abdouraguimov recently told MMA Junkie. “Myself, even everyone around me, we donโt know. UFC is a private company. They do what they want. Honestly, I donโt know why. Today, itโs a business. You have to know some good people in the world to get past. Today, I donโt have this kind of connection, those strong connections. Thatโs why with waiting. Iโm a guy, I want to stay positive. Iโll do my job and weโll see if the opportunities are going to come to us after each fight. Itโs always something new that comes, so weโll see. Weโre very positive. Letโs see what happens.”
๐ซ๐ทRecap #02: Le jeudi 3 fรฉvrier 2022 avait lieu #ARES3: ๐ซ๐ทAbdoul Abdouraguimov -๐ง๐ทGodofredo Pepey Le combat pour le titre ร 77kg a tenu ses (courtes) promesses. โ Victoire par soumission ร 2:54min de la fin du premier round. Bravo @LazyKingMMA qui passe ร (14-1) pic.twitter.com/6NT2M4KNJ7
In a day and age where the “new breed” of mixed martial artists, fighters who started practicing at a young age, is spotlighted, Abdouraguimov is a rare exception. While he wrestled since 16, he began his MMA fighter path at 21. Within two weeks, he was a blue belt. He turned pro without any amateur bouts.
Abdouraguimov credits much of his swift success to an unusual fighter attribute that earned him his nickname: laziness. Don’t get it twisted, Abdouraguimov puts in the work, but only when he feels like it, when it’s necessary.
“I have a lazy character,” Abdouraguimov said. “Itโs lazy but smart. Iโm ready to work. Iโm ready to work hard and all this stuff, but if it isnโt efficient, I donโt want it. For me, it must be efficient and optimized. Iโm smart-lazy. … To be lazy, youโre going to get less injured. Too much work is never good. Too much of anything is never good. I see some amateur fighters. They train more than me. They train four or five times a day.”
From Dagestan to Germany to France, Abdouraguimov has been around the world. That’s why he doesn’t like to single out one specific region, location, or group of people he represents. But he does understand the value in connecting with fans through language and personality.
Just check out the time he stole the show โ from the crowd โ during a fight in which it was believed the winner would be his next opponent.
Multilingual, Abdouraguimov is currently pushed as the face of ARES, a France-based promotion. Already a star among fans in the region, Abdouraguimov seemed to many to be a shoo-in for the UFC’s debut in Paris this past September.
Despite a “Submission of the Year” candidate triangle against UFC alum Godofredo Pepey, and a one-sided mauling of Bellator alum Karl Ammosou that led to a doctor stoppage,ย the call from the UFC never came. Abdouraguimov attended the event as a fan instead โ all swagged out, of course.
As he walked the streets of Paris in the hours prior to the event, Abdouraguimov had a chance encounter with a very important player in the grand scheme of things, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard.
“I went to talk with him a little bit and he said, โYes, I know you,’ but he doesnโt have the power to make (those) decisions,” Abdouraguimov said.
Maynard is in charge of the UFC women’s divisions, as well as men’s flyweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. Sean Shelby heads the welterweight division’s matchmaking and is the one Abdouraguimov would’ve preferred to run into.
Vous connaissez tous ma propagande acharnรฉe pour Abdoul , vous pensez vraiment que jโallais laisser Mick Maynard ๐บ๐ธ (recruteur ufc) . Ce baladรฉ tranquillement dans la capitale ? ๐
Until the UFC opportunity comes, however, Abdouraguimov plans to keep doing what he’s good at: winning. Meanwhile, his supporters will continue their campaign of decorating the UFC’s comment sections with crown and koala emojis, an ode to Abdouraguimov’s impromptu upside-down victory celebration.
With 12 finishes in 15 pro appearances, Abdouraguimov has already captured one title and will go for a second division’s strap Jan. 20 at ARES FC 11 vs. Rafal Haratyk (16-4-2). If the call comes thereafter, Abdouraguimov will still be ready.
“Itโs obvious Iโll bring the lazy show to the American people,” Abdouraguimov said. “Iโm the โLazy Kingโ and Iโm making the lazy show. There are not many fighters who can make a fight and who can make a show. I can make both. I can talk in English. Show me a lot of fighters who came from Dagestan, Russia who can talk English and who are not shy to talk. Iโm not shy to talk. Iโm not shy to make a show, a performance. Iโm not shy to fight, also.
“Even in my fights, I donโt know how itโs going to be finished. I, myself, in one of my last fights, was surprised I hit an inverted triangle choke. I had never done it in my life. Iโm very creative and you can expect the unexpected. Iโll put on a โLazy King’ show.”
Check out MMA Junkie’s full interview with “The Lazy King” below:
