Issue 162
December 2017
There are many things about Askar Askarov to be impressed by. He strikes with precision, he grapples relentlessly in pursuit of a finish and he’s 80% deaf, which means he's managed to excel in his young career without being able to hear instructions from his cornermen.
RÉSUMÉ
Born: Russia,
Division: 125lb,
Team: Fighting Eagle,
Record: 10-0-0.
When ‘Bullet’s’ manager first saw him, he debated whether it was worth taking him on as a client because few Russian promotions had a flyweight class for him to compete in. But he believed in the youngster’s ability and was captivated by his story, so he signed him up. That quickly proved to be a good move.
Not long after, Absolute Championship Berkut launched its 125lb division with a tournament and he won to become the promotion’s first champion.
He’s already defended his belt once, and now he wants to cement his position as the best Russian fighter in his weight range.
“Before I got my shot and won the belt at ACB, my main goal was to be champion,” he says.
“Now I have achieved that, all I want is the best challengers and the toughest battles for me to defend my title.
“I do not want to look too far ahead. So far, I have a contract with the ACB League, one of the world’s leading organizations. I’m happy with everything they do and how they treat me and I’m going tocontinue my career with ACB.”
Nothing seems to phase the 25-year-old, despite his youth. He’s a picture of composure in the cage, and that’s partly because he can’t be distracted by any background noise. But he’s also supremely confident in his ability.
As well as boasting the kind of offensive grappling you’d expect from a high-level Dagestani mixed martial artist, he has excellent timing, distance management and power on his feet.
“It’s no secret my strengths are my freestyle wrestling and wrestling, but my other skills are not that far behind," he says. "I always try to improve in all aspects and I look to show it off in my performances in the cage.
"I am always training: I do not wait or need them to give me an opponent to be driven to train. I constantly try to improve in all aspects of MMA, and I am always ready and in shape.”
The proof is in his results. Despite tougher and tougher assignments, Askarov has continued to finish his opponents. He’s quick to pass guard or take the back, he’s active from top position and can strike with power whether he’s going forward or countering on the back foot.
That has resulted in stoppages in 100% of his fights – including an impressive body-triangle neck crank in his last bout – which is especially eye-catching in a division that's historically been decision-heavy.
Demetrious Johnson’s reign as lord of the flies won’t last forever. When he retires, it will be a fighter like Askarov who will stake their claim as 'Mighty Mouse’s worthy heir as world number one.
3 MORE TO WATCH
MARKUS PEREZ
Born: Brazil,
Division: 185lb.
Legacy Fighting Alliance was high on Ian Heinisch. We thought he’d take the
middleweight crown and move on to the UFC, but 9-0 ‘Maluko’ came in at LFA 22 and shocked the submission specialist with a beautiful arm triangle from guard in his first fight outside of Brazil.We can’t wait to see what he does next.
CHRIS CURTIS
Born: USA,
Division: 170lb.
The fluid striking combinations of ‘The Action Man’ are a joy to behold, and he can finish quick or fight 25 minutes. It’s no surprise he's CES MMA welterweight champion. If you ignore his loss to Nah-Shon Burrell (which you should, because it was an outrageous robbery), he’s 10-1 in the last four years. Time for a step up for the Ohio native.
NATHANIEL WOOD
Born: England
Division: 135lb
We’re not sure if ‘The Prospect’ is necessarily UFC champion material, but we’re certain he’d be a fan favorite in whatever organization he finds a home in. The Cage Warriors bantamweight champion showed a granite jaw, an unbreakable will and heavy hands in his last fight with Josh Reed – all in a breathtaking 2:19 of must-watch MMA.
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