Azamat Murzakanov defeated Aleksandar Rakić via first-round TKO at UFC 321.
Fight Breakdown
- Opening Minute: Fighting from a left-handed stance, Azamat Murzakanov held the center of the cage while Aleksandar Rakić stayed active early, establishing range using sharp inside leg kicks and heavy body kicks.
- Grappling Exchanges: Rakić mixed up his attack with a level change, shooting for a single-leg takedown and pinning Murzakanov against the fence. Murzakanov defended calmly, forced a brief scramble, and broke away to return to the center of the octagon.
- The Finish: As Rakić advanced, Murzakanov lunged forward with a perfectly timed, heavy short right hand (often described as a step-in jab). Rakić walked directly into the strike with full momentum. The punch instantly floored Rakić, snapping his head back.
- Stoppage: Murzakanov pounced with brief ground-and-pound strikes, forcing referee Rich Mitchell to officially wave off the bout at 3:11 of Round 1.
Post-Fight Aftermath
The victory kept Murzakanov completely undefeated at 16-0 and pushed him into the Light Heavyweight top 10. During his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier, Murzakanov stated, “You all doubted me, I told you not to doubt me… I want to fight for the No. 1 contender.” Meanwhile, the defeat marked a four-fight losing streak for Rakić.