Tag: Askar Askar

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC or Bellator with August wins

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 – one for the second time – 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.

This month:

  • A fighter who was rostered by the UFC and whose opportunity fell through due to circumstances outside of his control continues his mission back toward the promotion.
  • One of the best pound-for-pound fighters in Texas thinks a win over another hungry up-and-comer will earn him a Fury FC title shot – or a UFC call.
  • A bulky welterweight nicknamed “The Muscle Hampster” is ready to continue his success and remain undefeated so the celebratory ice cream tastes even sweeter.
  • A seasoned Florida flyweight fighting for a deep meaning is flying under the radar – and he hopes to change that.
  • A CFFC alum and B2 Fighting Series standout is keeping active in hopes the UFC will take notice.

LFA 118 results: Strawweight title fight canceled, Askar Askar wins split decision in new main event

After a late cancellation to the main event title fight, Askar Askar won a close split decision over Leandro Gomes.

Legacy Fighting Alliance returned to action Friday evening for LFA 118 but met some fight night scheduling issues.

The event was scheduled to feature a championship main event in the women’s strawweight division as [autotag]Jacquelina Amorim[/autotag] (4-0) was set to face [autotag]Loveth Young[/autotag] (3-1-1) for the vacant title. However, the fight would not happen.

The event took place at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Convention Center in Burbank, Calif.

As the main card broadcast began on UFC Fight Pass, commentator Ron Kruck announced the fight was scratched due to the bout “not meeting the sanctioning requirements from the California State Athletic Commission.”

LFA matchmakers hope to reschedule the bout as soon as possible.

The original co-main bout was elevated and bantamweights [autotag]Askar Askar[/autotag] (12-2) and [autotag]Leandro Gomes[/autotag] (6-2) took center stage.

Askar, who was set to make his UFC debut in February but was released after he could not get medically cleared, looked to rebound from a loss to Justin Wetzell LFA 109. Gomes entered Friday’s bout on a four-fight win streak that included two first-round stoppages.

Over three rounds, Askar’s pressure convinced two of the judges he was the better fighter in the contest, despite Gomes having a solid performance of his own.

After a closely-contested fight, Askar was on the right side of a split decision, earning two 29-28 scores. The dissenting judge turned in a score of 29-28 in favor of Gomes.

After the win, Askar made it known he wants to claim the LFA bantamweight title before moving on to the UFC.

The official results of LFA 118 include:

MAIN CARD

  • Askar Askar def. Leandro Gomes via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Javier Garcia def. Ryan Fillingame via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 30-27)
  • Jena Bishop def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Ricky Furar def. Christian Avalos via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 1:30
  • Sidney Trillo def. Alandria Brown via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 2:49
  • Taylor Mauldin def. Nadine Mandiau via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Joe Dorado def. Corvan Allen via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 3, 3:17

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UFC releases Askar Askar after pre-fight medical abnormalities surface

Askar Askar was pulled from his UFC debut this past Saturday hours before the event’s start time.

[autotag]Askar Askar[/autotag] is no longer on the UFC roster.

Originally scheduled to fight Cody Stamann at UFC Fight Night 184 this past Saturday, Askar (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was removed from the fight hours before the event due to abnormalities discovered during his pre-fight medical testing.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed his release to MMA Junkie on Tuesday, noting the abnormalities weren’t related to COVID-19 or drug testing. Askar will seek medical clearance this week with the hopes of re-signing with the UFC soon. TSN was the first to report Askar’s departure.

Askar took the fight against Stamann, replacing Andre Ewell on less than one week’s notice. The fight against Stamann was to be his first with the UFC.

Askar, 26, most recently competed in the LFA 92 main event in October. He defeated Kevin Wirth by unanimous decision.

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UFC Fight Night 184 loses Cody Stamann vs. Askar Askar hours before event

Tonight’s UFC Fight Night 184 main card has lost a fight.

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Askar Askar[/autotag] has been removed from UFC Fight Night 184.

The UFC has announced the featherweight fight, which was scheduled for tonight’s main card, has been canceled after Askar (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was forced to withdraw after he was not medically cleared to compete.

The cancellation marks the third opponent who withdrew from a UFC Fight Night 184 booking against Stamann (19-3-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC). Merab Dvalishvili was originally scheduled for the fight but withdrew after catching COVID-19; Stamann was later paired up with Andre Ewell.

Like Dvalishvili, Ewell also withdrew due to a positive COVID-19 test. On less than one week’s notice, Askar stepped in to replace Ewell in what would’ve been his promotional debut.

With the removal the UFC Fight Night 184 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen
  • Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson
  • Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez
  • Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa
  • Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
  • Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev
  • Ode Osbourne vs. Jerome Rivera

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Askar Askar replaces Andre Ewell, fights Cody Stamann at UFC Fight Night 184

UFC newcomer Askar Askar (not to be confused with UFC flyweight Askar Askarov) will make his debut Saturday.

[autotag]Cody Stamann[/autotag] has a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 184.

Originally scheduled to fight [autotag]Andre Ewell[/autotag] on Saturday’s card, Stamann (17-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) will now fight promotional newcomer [autotag]Askar Askar[/autotag] instead in a featherweight bout. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Ewell was pulled from the fight following a positive COVID-19 test, according to his management, Dodge Sports. Ewell has tested negative twice since the positive test but was removed from the matchup for precautionary reasons. He is asymptomatic and quarantining in Las Vegas.

MMA DNA was the first to report Ewell’s withdrawal.

Two people with knowledge of the new matchup confirmed the new booking to MMA Junkie on Tuesday but asked to remain anonymous as the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Fighter Path was first to report Askar’s rol.

Stamann, 31, enters the fight coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jimmie Rivera in July. Prior to being paired up with Ewell, Stamann was supposed to face Merab Dvalishvili. The matchup was canceled after Dvalishvili was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Askar (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is an alumnus of numerous notable regional promotions including LFA, Island Fights, Titan FC, and Victory FC. In 11 pro wins, Askar has six finishes including four knockouts/TKOs and two submissions. Born in Palestine, Askar grew up in Illinois, where he continues to reside and train to this day.

With the change, the UFC Fight Night 184 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov
  • Frankie Edgar vs. Cory Sandhagen
  • Macy Chiasson vs. Marion Reneau
  • Manel Kape vs. Alexandre Pantoja
  • Askar Askar vs. Cody Stamann
  • Beneil Dariush vs. Diego Ferreira

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5 p.m. ET)

  • Clay Guida vs. Michael Johnson
  • Danilo Marques vs. Mike Rodriguez
  • Martin Day vs. Timur Valiev
  • Justin Jaynes vs. Devonte Smith
  • Joselyne Edwards vs. Karol Rosa
  • Molly McCann vs. Lara Procopio
  • Seungwoo Choi vs. Youssef Zalal
  • Denys Bondar vs. Ode Osbourne

LFA 92 results: Askar Askar beats Kevin Wirth in one-sided main event

Askar Askar successfully rebounded from his first career loss with a dominant performance against Kevin Wirth in the LFA 92 main event.

[autotag]Askar Askar[/autotag] successfully rebounded from his first career loss with a dominant performance against [autotag]Kevin Wirth[/autotag] in Friday’s LFA 92 main event.

Askar (11-1) used a mixed arsenal of offense to overwhelm Wirth (8-2) over the course of three rounds in the bantamweight headliner, which took place at Hartman Arena in Park City, Kan. The final scores from the judges were 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Askar shot for an early takedown that was unsuccessful. After that, he quickly found his range and began to pick Wirth apart. He landed a number of clean punches before a right hand dropped worth to his butt. Askar jumped on top and started to chip away at his opponent on the mat. He couldn’t get the finish, and eventually Wirth recovered enough to get back to his feet.

The pressure continued from Askar on his feet until he overcommitted on a punch that led him into a takedown from Wirth. Askar immediately attacked with an armbar, though, that he used to scramble back up to his feet. Wirth did his best to work behind the jab , but he wasn’t able to land anything to sway an obvious first round away from Askar.

The pressure continued from Askar to begin the second frame. He landed good striking combinations before completing a takedown roughly 30 seconds in. Askar burned a few minutes off the clock working from inside the guard, but then Wirth got himself upright. A cut opened up around Wirth’s left eye, but he reacted well and landed his best punch of the fight with a counter left hand. He couldn’t get Askar off his rhythm, though, and it was another clear round.

With the edge on the scorecards, Askar came to close the fight out strong. He stuck to his game plan of walking forward and mixing up his punches and kicks, while Wirth looked to find an opening to turn the tide of the contest. Askar put an exclamation point on it with just over three minutes remaining, though, picking his opponent up and slamming him to the canvas then riding out the clock to seal the fight in his favor.

“I need more time in the cage,” Askar said in his post-fight interview with Pat Miletich. “Obviously with this COVID thing it’s been putting everyone’s career on hold, so I hope I can get back in the cage soon. Obviously being in the gym is great, but you need to be in that cage.”

Full LFA 92 results included:

  • Askar Askar def. Kevin Wirth via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • [autotag]Antonio dos Santos Jr[/autotag]. def. Andre Fialho via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
  • [autotag]Dakota Bush[/autotag] def. [autotag]Brian Del Rosario[/autotag] via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:38
  • [autotag]Ricky Furar[/autotag] def. [autotag]Jacob Thrall[/autotag] via TKO (knee injury) – Round 3, 1:08
  • [autotag]Rodney Kealohi[/autotag] def. [autotag]Mefi Monterroso[/autotag] via TKO (knee, punches) – Round 1, 0:30
  • [autotag]Viecheslav Borshchev[/autotag] def. [autotag]Ali Zebian[/autotag] via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
  • [autotag]Christian Natividad[/autotag] def. [autotag]Jose Holguin[/autotag] via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:29

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make MMA big leagues with February wins

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 starts long before they strap on UFC or Bellator gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, but few will succeed.

This November, five fighters on the verge of achieving major-promotion notoriety return to the cage for what could be their stepping stone fights. There are dozens of fighters inches away from making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

This month:

  • A Russian fighter looks to continue terrorizing the Northeast MMA scene and punch his ticket to the big show by defending his CFFC belt.
  • A quietly rising bantamweight prospect continues his undefeated streak. Perhaps, No. 11 will be his lucky number.
  • Focused on improvement, a 24-year-old light heavyweight is taking Dana White’s advice in stride as he continues moving closer toward a major promotional contract.
  • A 205-pound Wisconsite has picked up five victories in five fights. If he picks up No. 6 in his first LFA headliner, he could be looking at the big leagues.
  • A North Carolina State University wrestling standout with slick submission skills thinks he’s ready right now. A win in his Titan FC debut will only bolster that belief.

Scroll through the following pages to see the five fighters who this month find themselves on the doorstep:

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