Bekzat Almakhan

BIOGRAPHY

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is the premier organization in mixed martial arts. It boasts fighters from a whopping 73 countries, as of July 2023. Fighters from around the world are signed to the UFC, bringing an influx of unique styles, techniques, and skills to its varied roster. The UFC keeps accurate records of its current fighters, providing information about their country of origin, their recent additions or departures from the company, their fight schedules, their fight results, and also who presently holds the championship title in each weight category.

Unfortunately, just as new fighters are regularly added to the roster, there are those who depart from it. These departures occur when fighters are released from their UFC contracts or when they announce their retirement. In some cases, the UFC publicly announces these fighter departures. However, in instances where a departure has not officially been proclaimed, the UFC removes these fighters from their rosters, a change that keen observers often pick up on.

The UFC doesn’t just sign new fighters; it also welcomes back fighters who have previously retired or had been on a hiatus from the fight game. Some fighters make their official debut in the UFC after being signed, while others return from retirement or a break from fighting, eager to reestablish their presence in the ranks.

One concern that occasionally arises among the individual fighters involves the violation of banned substances or non-analytical incidents, along with misconduct during the fights or at event venues, leading to suspension. Certain organizations, like the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), or local commissions, are responsible for handling such non-compliance.

As of May 16, 2019, there have been a total of 76 UFC fighters who have faced sanctions by USADA since the implementation of the UFC-USADA testing program. It can be difficult to monitor compliance among fighters, but with systematic testing, the UFC ensures the integrity and safety of its sport.

The UFC also ranks its fighters according to their weight class and pound-for-pound and these rankings are updated periodically. These rankings are determined by a panel composed of MMA media members who vote based on the active fighters in the UFC. A fighter can also be ranked in multiple divisions simultaneously if they have competed in more than one. The top positions in each weight class are generally filled by the champions and interim champions, with only the champions eligible for the pound-for-pound rankings.

Furthermore, the UFC organizes fights under nine different weight classes, allowing a diverse range of fighters to compete fairly and appropriately. The champions of these weight classes as of December 16, 2023, after UFC 296 are as follows:

1. Amanda Lemos, who defeated her opponent at UFC 292 on Aug 19, 2023
1. A draw with Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night 227 on Sep 16, 2023
1. Max Holloway, who was defeated at UFC 251 on Jul 12, 2020
2. Brian Ortega, who was defeated at UFC 266 on Sep 25, 2021
3. Jung Chan-sung, who was defeated at UFC 273 on Apr 9, 2022
4. Max Holloway, who was defeated at UFC 276 on Jul 2, 2022
5. The interim champion Yair Rodriguez, who was defeated at UFC 290 on Jul 8, 2023
1. Alexander Volkanovski, who was defeated at UFC 284 on Feb 12, 2023
2. Alexander Volkanovski, who was defeated at UFC 294 on Oct 21, 2023.

These champions exemplify the varying skills, techniques, and strengths of fighters from around the globe. The altitudes of success these fighters have reached in the UFC is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and perseverance each fighter applies to their craft.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What Is Bekzat Almakhan's Record?
Bekzat Almakhan's record in UFC is 17-1-0.