Azamat Kerefov

Russian mixed martial arts fighter
Azamat Kerefov
BornАзамат Керефов
1991 (age 32–33)
Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight125 lb (57 kg; 8 st 13 lb)
DivisionFlyweight
Fighting out ofNalchik, Russia
TeamGladiator Fight Team
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total17
Wins17
By knockout4
By submission2
By decision11
Losses0
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Azamat Kerefov (Russian: Азамат Керефов) is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the ACA, where he is the former ACA Flyweight Champion. Fight Matrix had him ranked a top 10 flyweight in the world from July 2020 till October 2022..[1] He is ranked #3 in the ACA flyweight rankings.[2]

Mixed martial arts career

Kerefov started his career as a professional fighter in mixed martial arts in 2014. His debut took place in the TFC - Gladiator Fights tournament, where he met with Andrey Khugaev, Kerefov finished his opponent at the end of the fourth minute of the first round . He fought with various promotions, such as ACB, ACA, ProFC, Tech-Krep FC, TFC - Gladiator Fights, Heat - Heat 41.[3]

On April 22, 2017, Kerefov made his ACA debut at the ACB 58: Young Eagles 17 tournament, finishing his opponent, a fighter from Belgium, Hamid Sultanbiev, with a choke hold in the second round.[4]

Kerefov won his next three bouts in ACA via decisions, against Kurban Gadzhiev, Narek Avagyan, and Goga Shamatava.[5][6][7]

On February 21, 2020 at the ACA 104: Goncharov vs. Vakhaev won the ACA flyweight champion belt, defeating the titled Russian fighter, ACB flyweight contender, Mansur Khatuev, by unanimous decision.[8][9][10][11]

On November 6, 2020 at the ACA 113: Kerefov vs. Gadzhiev, Kerefov defended the ACA Flyweight Championship in a fight against challenger Kurban Gadzhiez. Azamat Kerefov won by unanimous decision.[12][13][14]

Azamat was expected to make his second title defense against the #3 ranked Rasul Albaskhanov at ACA 121: Kerefov vs. Albaskhanov on April 9, 2021.[15] However, 2 days before Kerefov had to withdraw from the bout due to health issues. [16] The bout was rescheduled for ACA 127: Kerefov vs. Albaskhanov on August 28, 2021.[17] Kerefov won the fight by a third-round technical submission.[18]

After the bout, Kerefov vacated the ACA Flyweight Championship in order to test free agency.[19]

Kerefov faced Felipe Pereira on October 20, 2022 at UAE Warriors 34. He won the bout via unanimous decision.[20]

Kerefov was scheduled to face former UFC Top 5 contender Askar Askarov on July 21, 2023 at ACA 160 as part of the 2023 ACA Flyweight Grand Prix, however the bout was scrapped after Askarov had to pull out due to medical issues.[21]

Kerefov faced Osimkhon Rakhmonov on September 2, 2023 at ACA 162 as part of the 2023 ACA Flyweight Grand Prix.[22] At weigh-ins, Both Kerefov (129.8 lbs / 58.9 kg) and Rakhmonov (128 lbs / 58.1 kg) missed weight, with Kerefov being fined 50% and Rakhmonov being fined a 30% of his purse.[23] He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the third round.[24]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Absolute Championship Akhmat
  • Tech-Krep FC
    • PRIME Selection 2016 Tournament Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
17 matches 17 wins 0 losses
By knockout 4 0
By submission 2 0
By decision 11 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 17–0 Osimkhon Rakhmonov TKO (punches) ACA 162: Tumenov vs. Palmer September 2, 2023 3 1:54 Krasnodar, Russia 2023 ACA Flyweight Grand Prix Quarter-Final. Kerefov (129.8 lbs) and Rakhmonov (128 lbs) missed weight.
Win 16–0 Felipe Pereira Decision (unanimous) UAE Warriors 34 October 20, 2022 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Bantamweight bout.
Win 15–0 Rasul Albaskhanov Technical Submission (anaconda choke) ACA 127: Kerefov vs. Albaskhanov August 28, 2021 3 3:11 Krasnodar, Russia Defended the ACA Flyweight Championship.
Win 14–0 Kurban Gadzhiev Decision (unanimous) ACA 113: Kerefov vs. Gadzhiev November 6, 2020 5 5:00 Moscow, Russia Defended the ACA Flyweight Championship.
Win 13–0 Mansur Khatuev Decision (unanimous) ACA 104: Goncharov vs. Vakhaev February 21, 2020 5 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia Won the ACA Flyweight Championship.
Win 12–0 Goga Shamatava Decision (split) ACA 97: Goncharov vs. Johnson 2 August 31, 2019 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 11–0 Narek Avagyan Decision (unanimous) ACA 94: Bagov vs. Khaliev March 30, 2019 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 10–0 Kurban Gadzhiev Decision (unanimous) ACB 89: Abdulvakhabov vs. Bagov 3 September 8, 2018 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 9–0 Takeshi Kasugai Decision (split) HEAT 41 December 23, 2017 4 5:00 Nagoya, Japan Flyweight debut
Win 8–0 Khamid Sultanbiev Decision (unanimous) ACB 58: Young Eagles 17 April 22, 2017 3 5:00 Khasavyurt, Russia
Win 7–0 Aren Akopyan Decision (unanimous) Tech-Krep FC: PRIME Selection 2016 Finals October 29, 2016 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 6–0 Evgeny Bondarev Decision (unanimous) Tech-Krep FC: PRIME Selection 2016 Stage 3 August 5, 2016 2 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 5–0 Abdulkar Kadilov KO (punches) Tech-Krep FC: PRIME Selection 2016 Stage 2 July 7, 2016 1 2:23 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 4–0 Nemat Mamedov TKO (punches) Armavir MMA Federation: Battle on the Kuban June 5, 2016 1 2:23 Krasnodar, Russia
Win 3–0 Shamil Magomedov TKO (punches) PFC Gladiator 2 September 26, 2015 1 3:08 Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Win 2–0 Khasan Galaev Decision (unanimous) Battle On Akhtuba 1 October 4, 2014 3 5:00 Volgograd, Russia
Win 1–0 Andrey Khugaev Submission (armbar) Gladiator Fights 2014 July 4, 2014 1 3:40 Nalchik, Russia Bantamweight debut

[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Azamat Kerefov". Fight Matrix. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Rankings | UFC". www.aca-mma.com. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
  3. ^ medialead.ru. "Азамат Керефов: биография, новости, результаты, фото, видео бойца". www.aca-mma.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  4. ^ "Азамат Керефов (Azamat Kerefov) - рейтинг, новости, статистика боев, видео". mma-oracle.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  5. ^ "ACA 89 live broadcast - watch Abdulvakhabov vs Bagov fight online on September 08, 2018, results, review and video from the ACA 89". www.aca-mma.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  6. ^ "ACA 94 live broadcast - watch Khasbulaev vs Kokov fight online on March 30, 2019, results, review and video from the ACA 94". www.aca-mma.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  7. ^ "ACA 97 live broadcast - watch Johnson vs Goncharov fight online on August 31, 2019, results, review and video from the ACA 97". www.aca-mma.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Пять побед одержали бойцы смешанных единоборств из Кабардино-Балкарии на турнире ACA 104 в Краснодаре - Министерство Спорта Кабардино-Балкарской Республики". minsport.kbr.ru. Retrieved 2021-02-28.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Азамат Керефов - чемпион ACA | РИА Кабардино-Балкария". kbrria.ru. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  10. ^ "Боец из Нальчика стал чемпионом АСА". vestikavkaza.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  11. ^ "Боец из Нальчика стал чемпионом ACA в наилегчайшем весе". NEWS.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  12. ^ "Azamat Kerefov Upends Kurban Gadzhiev in Title Rematch at ACA 113". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Керефов защитил титул чемпиона, победив Гаджиева на турнире ACA 113". sport24 (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  14. ^ "Керефов победил Гаджиева и защитил чемпионский пояс ACA". Спорт РИА Новости (in Russian). 2020-11-06. Archived from the original on 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  15. ^ "Лига АСА проведет два чемпионских турнира в Минске". vesti.ru. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Азамат Керефов снялся с боя накануне турнира ACA 121". AllBoxing.ru - все новости бокса, ММА (MMA), UFC (ЮФС), Bellator, ACA, бои без правил. Видео и фото, прямые трансляции (in Russian). 7 April 2021. Archived from the original on 14 April 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  17. ^ Bulgaria, M. M. A. "Азамат Керефов срещу Расул Албасханов за титлата на ACА 127 — MMA.BG". mma.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  18. ^ Dorofeev, Denis. "Керефов задушил Албасханова и защитил титул чемпиона ACA". championat.com. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  19. ^ Весёлый, Виталий. "Азамат Керефов оставил пояс чемпиона ACA в легчайшем весе вакантным". www.championat.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2021-10-10. Retrieved 2021-10-10.
  20. ^ Raghuwanshi, Vipin (2022-10-20). "UAE Warriors 34 Results LIVE, Martun vs Acoidan, Card, Time". www.itnwwe.com. Archived from the original on 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  21. ^ "Бой между Аскаром Аскаровым и Азаматом Керефовым перенесен". AllBoxing.ru - все новости бокса и ММА (MMA) (in Russian). 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  22. ^ "Керефов проведет бой с Рахмоновым 21 июля в рамках Гран-при ACA в наилегчайшем весе". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). August 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "ACA 162: ТУМЕНОВ VS ПАЛМЕР — РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ ЦЕРЕМОНИИ ВЗВЕШИВАНИЯ". ACA MMA.
  24. ^ Иванов, Кирилл (2023-09-02). "Азамат Керефов победил Осимхона Рахмонова и вышел в полуфинал Гран-при". Fight.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-09-14.
  25. ^ Sherdog.com. "Azamat Kerefov". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2020-08-07.

External links

  • Professional MMA record for Azamat Kerefov from Sherdog