# Abdul Razak Alhassan

Abdul Razak Alhassan (born August 11, 1985) is a Ghanaian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2013, he formerly fought in Bellator and Legacy Fighting Championship.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

After training and competing in judo for 22 years and earning his black belt, Alhassan transitioned to mixed martial arts. He made his professional debut in 2013, winning via TKO in just 25 seconds. Alhassan then compiled an overall record of 6–0 before being signed by the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Alhassan made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2 against Charlie Ward on November 19, 2016. He won via knockout 53 seconds into the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.
Alhassan then lost a split decision to Omari Akhmedov at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira on May 28, 2017.
Alhassan faced Sabah Homasi on December 2, 2017, at UFC 218, winning by TKO in the first round; some felt referee Herb Dean had stopped the fight prematurely.
Due to the controversial stoppage in the first fight, a rematch with Homasi was held on January 20, 2018, at UFC 220. Alhassan indisputably knocked him out in the first round. The win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus
Alhassan was expected to face Muslim Salikhov on April 14, 2018, at UFC on Fox 29. He was replaced by Ricky Rainey due to injury.
Alhassan knocked out Niko Price in 43 seconds on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228.
Alhassan faced Mounir Lazzez on July 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige. At the weigh-ins, Alhassan weighed in at 174 pounds, 3 pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. He was fined 20% of his purse which went to his opponent Lazzez and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight was named Fight of the Night bonus; however, Alhassan was disqualified for bonus due to missing weight, as a result a third Performance of the Night bonus was awarded and Lazzez took home an extra $50,000 from the fight.
Alhassan faced Khaos Williams on November 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. At the weigh-ins, Alhassan weighed in at 172.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Alhassan was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent Williams. He was defeated via first-round knockout.
Alhassan faced Jacob Malkoun in a return to middleweight on April 17, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 22. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Alhassan was scheduled to face Antônio Braga Neto on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 29. However, Neto was pulled from the event for undisclosed reasons and Alhassan was scheduled to face Alessio Di Chirico a week later instead. Alhassan won the fight via knockout seventeen seconds into round one. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Alhassan was scheduled to face Joaquin Buckley on January 15, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 32. However, the pairing was cancelled after Alhassan withdrew for undisclosed reasons and the pair was rescheduled to UFC Fight Night 201. Alhassan lost the fight via split decision.
Alhassan was scheduled to face Jamie Pickett on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39. However, Alhassan pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Denis Tiuliulin.
Alhassan faced Claudio Ribeiro on January 14, 2023, UFC Fight Night 217. He won the fight via knockout in the second round.
Alhassan was scheduled to face Brunno Ferreira on May 20, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 223 but was moved to UFC on ESPN 48 for unknown reasons. Alhassan then pulled out in late June and was replaced by Nursulton Ruziboev.
Alhassan faced Joe Pyfer on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He lost the fight via technical submission in the second round after being rendered unconscious with an arm-triangle choke.
Alhassan faced Cody Brundage on July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59. The bout ended in a no-contest early in the first round as a result of elbows to the back of the head of Brundage rendering him unable to continue.
Alhassan was scheduled to face Josh Fremd on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. Because Fremd weighed in at 189 pounds, three pounds over the middleweight non-title fight limit, and was transported to the hospital afterwards, the bout was cancelled.
Alhassan faced César Almeida on January 11, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 249. He lost the fight by a left hook knockout in the first round.

## Personal life

Alhassan and his wife have a son and a daughter.

### Rape indictments and acquittal

Alhassan was indicted on September 24, 2018, in Tarrant County, Texas, on charges related to the alleged rapes of two women in one night in March 2018. He pleaded not guilty. The trial began on March 5, 2020. Alhassan's attorney argued that the two women consented to having sex with Alhassan, and that the allegations of sexual assault were fabricated. After deliberation, the jury found Alhassan not guilty on sexual assault charges.

## Championships and awards

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the night (Three times) vs. Charlie Ward, Sabah Homasi and Alessio Di Chirico

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 20 matches | 12 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 2 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 4 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 12–7 (1) | César Almeida | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 | January 11, 2025 | 1 | 4:19 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 12–6 (1) | Cody Brundage | NC (illegal elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez | July 13, 2024 | 1 | 0:37 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Accidental elbows to the back of the head left Brundage unable to continue. |
| Loss | 12–6 | Joe Pyfer | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 2 | 2:05 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 | Claudio Ribeiro | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov | January 14, 2023 | 2 | 0:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–5 | Joaquin Buckley | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill | February 19, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–4 | Alessio Di Chirico | KO (head kick) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze | August 28, 2021 | 1 | 0:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Jacob Malkoun | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum | April 17, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 10–3 | Khaos Williams | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 1 | 0:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (172.5 lb) bout; Alhassan missed weight. |
| Loss | 10–2 | Mounir Lazzez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige | July 16, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Catchweight (174 lb) bout; Alhassan missed weight. |
| Win | 10–1 | Niko Price | KO (punch) | UFC 228 | September 8, 2018 | 1 | 0:43 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Sabah Homasi | KO (punch) | UFC 220 | January 20, 2018 | 1 | 3:47 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 8–1 | Sabah Homasi | TKO (punches) | UFC 218 | December 2, 2017 | 1 | 4:21 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Loss | 7–1 | Omari Akhmedov | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Teixeira | May 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 7–0 | Charlie Ward | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Hall 2 | November 19, 2016 | 1 | 0:53 | Belfast, Northern Ireland | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 6–0 | Jos Eichelberger | TKO (punches) | Legacy FC 61 | October 14, 2016 | 1 | 0:57 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 5–0 | Ken Jackson | TKO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 47 | August 13, 2016 | 1 | 0:40 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | Middleweight bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Bryce Shepard-Mejia | KO (punch) | Bellator 143 | September 25, 2015 | 1 | 1:26 | Hidalgo, Texas, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Matt McKeon | TKO (punches) | Rocks Xtreme MMA 12 | February 28, 2015 | 1 | 0:47 | Harker Heights, Texas, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Matt Jones | TKO (punches) | Bellator 111 | March 7, 2014 | 1 | 1:23 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Catchweight (190 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Kolby Adams | TKO (punches) | Xtreme Knockout 20 | November 23, 2013 | 1 | 0:25 | Arlington, Texas, United States | Catchweight (180 lb) bout. |