# Askar Askarov
**Askar Askarov** (born 1992) is a Russian mixed martial artist from the Republic of Dagestan who competes at flyweight, nicknamed "Bullet", and is a former Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) flyweight champion who went 3-1-1 in the UFC between 2019 and 2022.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1992, Republic of Dagestan, Russia[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/) |
| Division | Flyweight; 5'6" (167 cm) height, 67" reach[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
| Professional record | 15-1-1 (W-L-D) after his November 2023 return; 14-1-1 at the time of his UFC departure[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Askar-Askarov-149255/) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
| UFC record | 3-1-1; debut September 21, 2019, a split draw with Brandon Moreno[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/) • [1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
| Titles | ACB flyweight champion of the world[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
| Finish methods | 4 wins by KO/TKO, 7 by submission (3 rear-naked chokes, armbar, anaconda choke, twister, guillotine), 2 first-round finishes[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
| Amateur background | Deaflympics wrestling champion, two-time Russian wrestling champion, Dagestan combat sambo, MMA, and grappling champion[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) |
## Background
Askarov grew up in a small village in Dagestan with a single wrestling gym, which he joined because his friends trained there.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) His amateur credentials are unusually broad: he won a [Deaflympics](https://www.edgepedia.org/deaflympics) wrestling title, twice won the Russian wrestling championship, and held Dagestan titles in combat sambo, MMA, and grappling.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) He also earned a degree in physical education and worked in construction with his father before fighting full time.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov)
He turned professional on July 7, 2013, fighting under the Fighting Eagle team out of Khasavyurt.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/) • [3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Askar-Askarov-149255/)
## ACB career
Askarov built his reputation in Absolute Championship Berkut, a promotion based in the Caucasus region. Between 2015 and 2018 he compiled wins over Marcin Lasota, Jose Maria Tome, Anthony Leone, and Rasul Albaskhanov, finishing most of them: an anaconda choke over Tome in 2016, a twister over Leone in 2017, and a guillotine choke over Albaskhanov in 2018.[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Askar-Askarov-149255/) He won the ACB flyweight championship and, by his own account in his UFC questionnaire, was ranked #11 at flyweight in the world before joining the UFC.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov)
## UFC career
Askarov debuted in the UFC on September 21, 2019, against [Brandon Moreno](https://www.edgepedia.org/brandon-moreno) and fought him to a three-round split draw, with scores of 28-28, 29-28 for Askarov, and 30-27 for Moreno.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Rivalries-Brandon-Moreno-187513) The draw remained the only blemish on his record for more than two years.
**A three-fight winning streak.** Askarov then took unanimous decisions over [Tim Elliott](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-elliott) at [UFC 246](https://www.edgepedia.org/ufc-246) on January 18, 2020, [Alexandre Pantoja](https://www.edgepedia.org/alexandre-pantoja) on July 18, 2020, and Joseph Benavidez at UFC 259 on March 6, 2021, extending his unbeaten record to 14-0-1.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) • [5](https://www.ufc.com/news/kai-kara-france-putting-it-all-together) The Benavidez win, a dominant three-round performance against a former two-time title challenger, marked him as a top contender in the division.[5](https://www.ufc.com/news/kai-kara-france-putting-it-all-together)
**The Kara-France loss.** On March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33 in [Columbus, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/columbus-ohio), Askarov lost a three-round unanimous decision to [Kai Kara-France](https://www.edgepedia.org/kai-kara-france), his first professional defeat.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) • [6](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/624246-ufc-fight-night-askar-bullet-askarov-vs-kai-don-t-blink-kara-france) Askarov entered as a heavy favorite at -450, but Kara-France defended 12 of Askarov's 14 takedown attempts, doubled his striking output, and neutralized the 5:14 of control time Askarov managed.[6](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/624246-ufc-fight-night-askar-bullet-askarov-vs-kai-don-t-blink-kara-france) • [7](https://theniche-cache.com/misc/2022/7/29/kai-kara-france-vs-brandon-moreno-ii-preview) Brandon Moreno, who had drawn with Askarov, said the loss showed how dangerous Kara-France had become and noted that Askarov grows frustrated when he cannot establish his takedown rhythm.[8](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/7/26/23156995/brandon-moreno-kai-kara-france-definitely-improved-since-first-fight-but-hes-ready-to-beat-him-again)
## Fighting style and statistics
Askarov's game is built on freestyle wrestling and grappling, though he describes his other skills as not far behind.[9](https://fightersonly.com/article/ext/6526/Askar%2BAskarov/1) His UFC statistics reflect a control-first style: 3.05 significant strikes landed per minute against 2.80 absorbed, a 58% significant strike defense, and a 67% takedown defense, with an average fight time of 15:00, meaning every one of his UFC bouts went the full three rounds.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) His striking accuracy was 229 of 424 attempted significant strikes (about 54%), and he landed only 4 of 53 takedown attempts in UFC competition, a low conversion rate offset by the control time he generated once fights reached the mat.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov) Half of his career wins overall came by submission.[1](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov)
## Later career
He returned to competition on November 24, 2023, at ACA 166, winning a three-round unanimous decision over Alan Gomes de Castro, which brought his professional record to 15-1-1.[3](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Askar-Askarov-149255/) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/) FightMatrix ranked him as high as #3 at flyweight in its quarterly ratings in January 2022 and places him #14 on its all-time flyweight list.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/)
## References
1. [Askar Askarov, UFC athlete profile](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/askar-askarov)
2. [Askar Askarov, FightMatrix fighter profile](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Askar%20Askarov/122916/)
3. [Askar "Bullet" Askarov, Sherdog fighter profile](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Askar-Askarov-149255/)
4. [Rivalries: Brandon Moreno, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/Rivalries-Brandon-Moreno-187513)
5. [Kai Kara-France Is Putting It All Together, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/kai-kara-france-putting-it-all-together)
6. [Askar Askarov vs. Kai Kara-France, Tapology bout page](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/624246-ufc-fight-night-askar-bullet-askarov-vs-kai-don-t-blink-kara-france)
7. [Kai Kara-France vs Brandon Moreno II Preview, The Niche Cache](https://theniche-cache.com/misc/2022/7/29/kai-kara-france-vs-brandon-moreno-ii-preview)
8. [Brandon Moreno: Kai Kara-France has 'definitely' improved since first fight, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/7/26/23156995/brandon-moreno-kai-kara-france-definitely-improved-since-first-fight-but-hes-ready-to-beat-him-again)
9. [On The Radar: Askar Askarov, Fighters Only](https://fightersonly.com/article/ext/6526/Askar%2BAskarov/1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Flyweight and strawweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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