Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
Döwletjan Ýagşymyradow (Russian: Довлетджан Ягшимурадов; born 1990) is a Turkmen mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Bellator MMA. He has also competed in Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), where he was the ACA Light Heavyweight Championship. As of October 10, 2023, he is #5 in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings.
Biography
Dovlet was born in the city of Türkmenabat, but most of the time he lived in a village not far from there. At the age of 6, the boy went not only to school, but he studied at the 1st comprehensive school in his native village, but also signed up for a karate section. It was easy to get there - half an hour on foot or five minutes by car. After several years of training, Yagshimuradov became one of the best karatekas among his peers, took the championship title in the category of teenagers under 11 years old and eventually won gold at the national level tournament.
In the 7th grade, he switched to kickboxing, and even while studying at the lyceum, he continued to train. Upon reaching the age of majority, the future fighter joined the army, and after demobilization, he lived in his homeland for a little less than a year and left for Kharkov to enter the university.
At the age of 17 Ýagşymyradow went to serve in the Armed Forces of Turkmenistan. He has the title of senior sergeant.
Yagshimuradov has resided in Kharkov, Ukraine, for the last twelve years, constructing a life with his kin and earning a living as a pugilist and entrepreneur. He possessed and managed two ventures and was a man of business with three diverse diplomas, among them a bachelor's degree in economics and law conferred by Kharkiv National University of Economics in 2015.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
As a student, in 2011, Dovletdzhan began to visit the hall where the guys were taught the art of universal combat. In March 2012, the coach asked his ward to compete at the Oplot Challenge 1 tournament against the Czech Rudolf Kriz, which started the path of the Turkmen fighter in mixed martial arts.
The first fight was a draw, and in the next 7 performances, Yagshimuradov got 4 wins and 3 losses. This was explained by the fact that, due to inexperience, Dovlet did not think about a sports career, he went to fights on a weekly notice, but later the situation changed. At the end of his studies at the university, he went on a series of 5 victories and had "gold" behind him in the light heavyweight tournament. The native of Chardzhou held his last fight in OC against Magomed Ankalaev, losing to him by decision of the judges, and then a serious career rise awaited him.
Having spent one fight under the auspices of the RFP, and knocking out Maxim Kushnerenko in 27 seconds, Yagshimuradov was invited to M-1, where he was defeated by Mikhail Rogozin. The failure was followed by success and, having obtained another victory, with a record of 11-5 and one draw, the fighter signed a contract with Absolute Championship Akhmat.
Absolute Championship Akhmat
The first fight took place abroad - in Austria at ACB 52, where Dovlet finished Dan Konecki. This was followed by victories over Jared Torgeson at ACB 62 and Joachim Christensen at ACB 75, the knockout of which was marked by a bonus, as the best of the evening.
At ACB 79: Aguev vs. Alfaya, Dovlet faced Luis Fernando Miranda in a title eliminator, defeating Miranda by the way of knockout in just a minute of the fight, and less than 4 months later at ACB 86, a duel for the belt took place. The confrontation with Batraz Agnaev ended in Yagshimuradov submitting Agnaev via rear-naked choke in the third round, winning the bout and ACB Light Heavyweight Championship.
On February 16, 2019 at ACA 92: Yagshimuradov vs. Celiński, Yagshimuradov faced Karol Celińskt for inaugural ACA Light Heavyweight Championship after the league was renamed, winning the bout and title via TKO in round fourth.
On December 14, 2019 at ACA 103: Yagshimuradov vs. Butorin, Dovlet defended the AСA Light Heavyweight title against Alexey Butorin, winning the fight via unanimous decison.
Bellator MMA
In December 2020, Dovletdzhan signed a contract with the Bellator MMA.
Dovletdzhan was scheduled to made his Bellator debut on April 9, 2021 at Bellator 256 against Corey Anderson in quarterfinal round of Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. On March 26, it was announced that the bout would be moved to Bellator 257 on April 16. He lost the bout via third-round technical knockout.
Dovletdzhan faced Karl Albektsson at Bellator 268 on October 16, 2021, losing the bout via unanimous decision.
Yagshimuradov was scheduled to face Tony Johnson at Bellator 277 on April 15, 2022. However, due to an injury, Johnson was forced to pull out and was replaced by former Bellator Middleweight Champion Rafael Carvalho. Dovletdzhan won the bout in the second round via TKO.
Dovletdzhan faced Julius Anglickas at Bellator 292 on March 10, 2023. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Dovletdzhan faced Maciej Różański on October 7, 2023 at Bellator 300. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments
Absolute Championship Akhmat
ACA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; First)
One successful title defense
Absolute Championship Berkut
ACB Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; Last)
Knockout of the Night (One times) vs. Joachim Christensen on November 25, 2017
Oplot Challenge
OC 2012-2013 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner
Mixed martial arts record
|-
|Win
|align=center|21–7–1
|Maciej Różański
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 300
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|San Diego, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|20–7–1
|Julius Anglickas
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 292
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|San Jose, California, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|19–7–1
|Rafael Carvalho
|TKO (elbows and punches)
|Bellator 277
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:04
|San Jose, California, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|18–7–1
|Karl Albrektsson
|Decision (unanimous)
|Bellator 268
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Phoenix, Arizona, United States
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|18–6–1
|Corey Anderson
|TKO (punches and elbows)
|Bellator 257
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|2:15
|Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|18–5–1
|Alexey Butorin
|Decision (unanimous)
|ACA 103: Yagshimuradov vs. Butorin
|
|align=center|5
|align=center|5:00
|St Petersburg, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|17–5–1
|Karol Celinski
|TKO (punches)
|ACA 92: Yagshimuradov vs. Celiński
|
|align=center|4
|align=center|4:16
|Warsaw, Poland
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|16–5–1
|Batraz Agnaev
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|ACB 86: Balaev vs. Raisov 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|3:44
|Moscow, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|15–5–1
|Luis Fernando Miranda
|KO (punch)
|ACB 79: Aguev vs. Alfaya
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:03
|Grozny, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14–5–1
|Joachim Christensen
|KO (punch)
|ACB 75: Gadzhidaudov vs. Zielinski
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:14
|Stuttgart, Germany
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13–5–1
|Jared Torgeson
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|0:39
|Rostov-on-Don, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12–5–1
|Dan Konecke
|TKO (knee and punches)
|ACB 52: Another Level of MMA Fighting
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|2:44
|Vienna, Austria
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|11–5–1
|Vitaliy Onishchenko
|Decision (unanimous)
|World Warriors FC: Warriors Honor 2
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Kharkiv, Ukranie
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|10–5–1
|Mikhail Ragozin
|TKO (punches)
|M-1 Challenge 61: Battle of Narts 2
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|2:00
|Nazran, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|
|Maxim Kushnerenko
|KO (punch)
|Real Fight Promotion: West Fight 15
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:27
|Kharkiv, Ukranie
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|9–4–1
|Magomed Ankalaev
|Decision (unanimous)
|Oplot Challenge 103
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Moscow, Russia
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|9–3–1
|Fuad Gadirov
|KO (punch)
|Oplot Challenge 94
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|3:59
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|8–3–1
|Borys Polezhai
|TKO (corner stoppage)
|Oplot Challenge 86
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:31
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7–3–1
|Arsen Mensitov
|TKO (punches)
|Oplot Challenge 67
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:39
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|6–3–1
|Bogdan Savchenko
|Decision (unanimous)
|Oplot Challenge 57
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|5–3–1
|Anton Stepanenko
|TKO (punches)
|Oplot Challenge 55
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:53
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|4–3–1
|Aleksander Boyko
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Oplot Challenge 45
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:17
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4–2–1
|Mihail Petkov
|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|Oplot Challenge 41
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|3:07
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|3–2–1
|Rashid Yusupov
|Submission (armbar)
|Oplot Challenge 35
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|4:45
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3–1–1
|Alexander Barbaryan
|Submission (achilles lock)
|Oplot Challenge 24
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|2:15
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2–1–1
|Sergey Lewandowskiy
|TKO (punches)
|Oplot Challenge 20
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|0:30
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1–1–1
|Artur Vartanyan
|TKO (punches)
|Oplot Challenge 14
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:57
|Kharkov, Ukraine
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|0–1–1
|Vasily Babich
|Submission (inverted triangle choke)
|Oplot Challenge 2
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|1:58
|Kharkiv, Ukraine
|
|-
|Draw
|align=center|0–0–1
|Rudolf Kriz
|Draw (unanimous)
|Oplot Challenge 1
|
|align=center|2
|align=center|5:00
|Kharkiv, Ukraine
|
|-
See also
List of current Bellator MMA fighters
List of male mixed martial artists
References
External links
20th-century births
Living people
Light heavyweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing kickboxing
Mixed martial artists utilizing karate
Turkmen male mixed martial artists
People from Türkmenabat
Turkmenistan military personnel
Bellator male fighters