Saparbek Dibirovich Safarov (Russian: Сапарбек Сафаров; born 14 October 1986)[4] is a Russian mixed martial artist, who competes in the light heavyweight division. He competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[5][3]
Saparbek Safarov Сапарбек Сафаров | |
---|---|
Born | Saparbek Dibirovich Safarov October 14, 1986 Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia |
Nationality | Russian |
Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
Division | Heavyweight Light Heavyweight Middleweight (2020–present) |
Reach | 78 in (198 cm) |
Style | Sambo, Freestyle wrestling |
Fighting out of | Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia |
Team | Legion Fight Team[1] K Dojo Warrior Tribe Eagles MMA Dagestan |
Rank | Master of Sports in Freestyle Wrestling[2][3] Master of Sports in Combat Sambo[2][3] |
Years active | 2010–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 13 |
Wins | 10 |
By knockout | 7 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 1 |
Losses | 3 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 2 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Mixed martial arts career
editSafarov started his career with 8 straight victories that included 6 knockouts and 2 submissions. He was then called in for a short replacement fight against Gian Villante. Gian's original opponent, Patrick Cummins, pulled out of the fight with a staph infection.[6] Safarov suffered the first loss of his career by knockout in a back and forth fight.[7] Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night for their performance.[8]
Safarov was next expected to fight Marcos Rogério de Lima at UFC Fight Night 115. However, Lima tested positive for banned anabolic steroids and the bout was cancelled.[9]
Safarov faced Tyson Pedro on February 11, 2018 at UFC 221. He lost the fight via kimura submission in the first round.[10]
Safarov was expected to face Alonzo Menifield on November 10, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 139.[11] However, it was reported on October 21, 2018 that Safarov pulled out from the event due to undisclosed reasons and the bout was scrapped.[12]
Safarov was scheduled to face Gökhan Saki on March 16, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 147.[13] However, Saki pulled out of the fight in late February due to an undisclosed injury.[14] Saki was replaced by Nicolae Negumereanu.[15] Safarov won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
Safarov was expected to face promotional newcomer Da Un Jung on August 31, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 157.[17] However, on August 5, 2019, Safarov was pulled from the bout for undisclosed reasons.[18]
Safarov faced Rodolfo Vieira in a middleweight bout on March 7, 2020 at UFC 248.[19] He lost the fight via an arm-triangle submission in the first round.[20]
Safarov was scheduled to face Julian Marquez on August 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 175.[21] However, the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos on November 14 after Safarov faced travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] In turn, Safarov pulled out due to weight cut issues a day before the event and the pairing was canceled once again.[23]
On December 8, 2020, it was announced that the UFC had released him.[24]
Championships and accomplishments
edit- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Gian Villante
Mixed martial arts record
edit13 matches | 10 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 7 | 1 |
By submission | 2 | 2 |
By decision | 1 | 0 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Zeit | Standort | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 10–3 | Ramdan Mohhamed | TKO (punches) | MFP 240 - Modern Fighting Pankration 240 | May 25, 2023 | 1 | 2:16 | Moscow, Russia | |
Loss | 9–3 | Rodolfo Vieira | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 248 | March 7, 2020 | 1 | 2:58 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Middleweight debut. |
Win | 9–2 | Nicolae Negumereanu | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal | March 16, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | Safarov was deducted a point in round 1 for continuously grabbing the cage. |
Loss | 8–2 | Tyson Pedro | Submission (kimura) | UFC 221 | February 11, 2018 | 1 | 3:54 | Perth, Australia | |
Loss | 8–1 | Gian Villante | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Abdurakhimov | December 9, 2016 | 2 | 2:54 | Albany, New York, United States | Fight of the Night. |
Win | 8–0 | Rodney Wallace | TKO (corner stoppage) | WFCA 17 | April 9, 2016 | 2 | 5:00 | Grozny, Russia | |
Win | 7–0 | Giga Kukhalashvili | Submission (triangle choke) | ProFC 54 | September 7, 2014 | 1 | 2:13 | Rostov-on-Don, Russia | |
Win | 6–0 | Valdas Pocevicius | KO (punches) | Battle of Stars 1 | December 22, 2012 | 1 | 0:00 | Makhachkala, Russia | Light Heavyweight debut. |
Win | 5–0 | Igor Sliusarchuk | TKO (punches) | World Ultimate Full Contact | December 24, 2011 | 1 | 2:54 | Makhachkala, Russia | |
Win | 4–0 | Igor Litoshik | TKO (punches) | M-1 Global | June 4, 2011 | 1 | 3:00 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Win | 3–0 | Adrian Mallebranche | TKO (punches) | M-1 Selection 2011 | April 1, 2011 | 1 | 0:04 | Makhachkala, Russia | |
Win | 2–0 | Vasily Klepikov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Selection 2010 | February 12, 2011 | 1 | 1:18 | Kyiv, Ukraine | |
Win | 1–0 | Visampasha Mirzakhanov | TKO (punches) | Legion Fight 5 | November 20, 2010 | 1 | 0:49 | Krasnodar, Russia |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Сапарбек Сафаров - Спортивный клуб "Оплот"". www.oplotmma.com.
- ^ a b Сапарбек Сафаров - биография, история поединков, новости о бойце (in Russian). MMAoctagon.ru. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Saparbek Safarov - Official UFC Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ MIXED MARTIAL ARTS SHOW RESULTSDATE: March 7th, 2020
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Saparbek Safarov". Sherdog.
- ^ "Patrick Cummins Withdraws from UFC Albany Bout with Gian Villante - MMAWeekly.com". www.mmaweekly.com.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (2016-12-09). "UFC Fight Night 102 results: Gian Villante tops Saparbek Safarov in back-and-forth brawl". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ Mike Sloan (2016-12-09). "UFC Fight Night 102 bonuses: Villante, Safarov, Ngannou, Meerschaert all pocket $50K". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-12-09.
- ^ "De Lima flagged by USADA, pulled from UFC Fight Night 115". 11 August 2017.
- ^ "UFC 221 results: Tyson Pedro submits Saparbek Safarov in opening round". 10 February 2018.
- ^ Davidson Baker (2018-08-21). "Alonzo Menifield-Saparbek Safarov added To UFC Denver". themmatakeover.com. Retrieved 2018-08-21.
- ^ DNA, MMA (2018-10-21). "Alonzo Menifield vs. Saparbek Safarov gecanceld voor UFC Denver". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2018-10-22.
- ^ Oleś, Bartosz (2018-12-26). "Gokhan Saki vs. Saparbek Safarov planowane na UFC on ESPN+5 w Londynie". InTheCage.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2018-12-27.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (2019-02-28). "Gökhan Saki injured, will not fight in London" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
- ^ Marcel Dorff (March 2019). "Nick Negumereanu makes UFC debut against Saparbeg Saforov during UFC London". mmadna.com. Retrieved 2019-03-04.
- ^ "UFC London results: Saparbek Safarov survives point deduction to defeat Nicolae Negumereanu". MMA Junkie. 2019-03-16. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
- ^ Staff (2019-07-01). "Saparbek Safarov meets newcomer Da Un Jung during UFC Shenzhen". mmadna.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ "Fresh off of DWCS victory, Jamahal Hill steps in to fight Da Un Jung at UFC on ESPN+ 15". MMA Junkie. 2019-08-02. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
- ^ Redactie (2020-01-07). "BJJ wizard Rodolfo Vieira meets Saparbek Safarov during UFC 248 in Las Vegas". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2020-01-07.(in Dutch)
- ^ Doherty, Dan (2020-03-07). "UFC 248 Results: Rodolfo Vieira Chokes Out Saparbek Safarov in First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-03-08.
- ^ "Julian Marquez vs. Saparbeg Safarov joins UFC's Aug. 29 lineup". MMA Junkie. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
- ^ David Tees (2020-08-24). "Julian Marquez vs. Saparbeg Safarov moved to November 14 UFC card". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- ^ Alexander K. Lee (2020-11-13). "Julian Marquez vs. Saparbeg Safarov off of UFC Vegas 14 due to Safarov weight issues". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2020-11-13.
- ^ "Brasileiro-uruguaio é incluído em nova leva da barca de demissões do UFC". www.globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-12-08.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Saparbek Safarov MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography - Sherdog.com". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-12-27.