Kairat Akhmetov (Kazakh: Қайрат Ахметов; born October 12, 1987[2]) is a Kazakhstani professional mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a flyweight for ONE Championship and is a former ONE Flyweight Champion.

Kairat Akhmetov
Born (1987-10-12) October 12, 1987 (age 36)
Taldy-Kurgan, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Native nameҚайрат Ахметов
Other namesThe Kazakh
NationalityKazakhstani
Height165 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb; 10 st)
DivisionFlyweight
Reach65 in (165 cm)
StyleGreco-Roman Wrestling[1]
TeamTiger Muay Thai (2016–present)[1]
Arlan MMA Pro Team
Years active2010–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total32
Wins30
By knockout5
By submission13
By decision12
Losses2
By decision2
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background edit

Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov was inspired by his father, an amateur champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, and soon followed in his footsteps. Akhmetov started training in 2000, and proved to be as talented as his father, eventually becoming a three-time National Greco-Roman Champion in Kazakhstan. He also took to Taekwondo, winning a regional championship.[3]

Mixed martial arts career edit

Early career edit

After turning professional in 2010, Akhmetov racked a 19–0 record almost solely in his native Kazakhstani regional circuit before being signed to the ONE Championship in 2015.[3]

ONE Championship edit

During his ONE Championship debut at ONE Championship: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II) Akhmetov won the ONE Flyweight Championship from Adriano Moraes by split decision. During the bout, Akhmetov suffered a back injury, leaving him unable to compete for nearly two years.[4][5] During Akhmetov's absence, Moraes would capture the Interim ONE Flyweight Championship. The two would meet again at ONE Championship: Kings & Conquerors for the unification bout. Akhmetov lost via unanimous decision.[6]

At ONE Championship: Global Superheroes Akhmetov lost to Geje Eustaquio by unanimous decision in a bout for the Interim ONE Flyweight Championship.[7]

Akhmetov faced Danny Kingad at ONE: Winter Warriors II on December 17, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision.[8]

Akhmetov faced Tatsumitsu Wada at ONE 158 on June 3, 2022.[9] Akhmetov won the bout via unanimous decision.[10]

Akhmetov faced Reece McLaren at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5, 2023.[11] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[12][13]

On June 16, 2023, it was reported that Akhmetov had tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition drug test and will face a six-month suspension.[14]

Championships and accomplishments edit

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
32 matches 30 wins 2 losses
By knockout 5 0
By submission 13 0
By decision 12 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 30–2 Reece McLaren Decision (unanimous) ONE Fight Night 10 May 5, 2023 3 5:00 Broomfield, Colorado, United States
Win 29–2 Tatsumitsu Wada Decision (unanimous) ONE 158 June 3, 2022 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 28–2 Danny Kingad Decision (unanimous) ONE: Winter Warriors II December 17, 2021 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore
Win 27–2 Kim Dae-hwan Decision (unanimous) ONE: Collision Course 2 December 18, 2020 3 5:00 Kallang, Singapore Catchweight (138 lb) bout.
Win 26–2 Reece McLaren Decision (unanimous) ONE: A New Era March 31, 2019 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. Later withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
Win 25–2 Haobin Ma Decision (unanimous) ONE: Conquest of Heroes September 22, 2018 3 5:00 Jakarta, Indonesia
Loss 24–2 Geje Eustaquio Decision (unanimous) ONE: Global Superheroes January 26, 2018 5 5:00 Manila, Philippines For the Interim ONE Flyweight Championship.
Win 24–1 Geje Eustaquio Decision (split) ONE: Total Victory September 16, 2017 5 5:00 Jakarta, Indonesia
Loss 23–1 Adriano Moraes Decision (unanimous) ONE: Kings & Conquerors August 5, 2017 5 5:00 Macau, SAR, China Lost the ONE Flyweight Championship.
Win 23–0 Adriano Moraes Decision (split) ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II) November 21, 2015 5 5:00 Beijing, China Won the ONE Flyweight Championship.
Win 22–0 Artemij Sitenkov TKO (corner stoppage) Alash Pride: Golden Horde October 17, 2015 1 3:01 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 21–0 Salah Elkas Decision (unanimous) Alash Pride: Warriors of the Steppe November 23, 2014 2 5:00 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 20–0 Tatsuya Watanabe Decision (unanimous) Alash Pride: Great Battle 2 December 19, 2013 3 5:00 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 19–0 Yoo Jae-nam Decision (unanimous) AP: Grand Prix 2013 July 7, 2013 2 5:00 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 18–0 Nurali Bakirdinova Submission (choke) Alash Pride: Great Battle March 30, 2013 1 3:05 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 17–0 Zhuo Yang Submission (rear-naked choke) AP: Alash Pride 2 December 22, 2012 1 1:30 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 16–0 Rafaels Saldes Submission (armbar) Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 53 November 30, 2012 1 4:12 London, England
Win 15–0 Kaan Kazgan Submission (rear-naked choke) Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 53 June 8, 2012 2 2:41 Astana, Kazakhstan
Win 14–0 Vladislav Nikitchenko Decision (unanimous) AP: Nowruz Cup 2012 March 18, 2012 3 5:00 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 13–0 Ruslan Belikov KO (punch) Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 50 December 21, 2011 1 0:49 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 12–0 Farkhad Firuzi Submission (rear-naked choke) AP: Cardinal Cup 2011 October 16, 2011 1 3:48 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 11–0 Nurlan Kamagulov Submission (rear-naked choke) Zhekpe Zhek Cup 2011 October 10, 2011 1 3:01 Kaskelen, Kazakhstan
Win 10–0 Aziz Baginbaev Submission (armbar) 1 4:23
Win 9–0 Janibek Omaruly Submission (guillotine choke) 1 1:23
Win 8–0 Abdyrashid Zholdasbayev Submission (rear-naked choke) Riviera Grand Prix 2011 July 28, 2011 1 1:30 Kapchagai, Kazakhstan
Win 7–0 Djamadyn Zaribzhanov TKO (punches) Riviera Grand Prix 2011 July 28, 2011 1 1:04 Kapchagai, Kazakhstan
Win 6–0 Janibek Omaruly Submission (Achilles lock) Iron Horde: Kazakhstan vs. Kyrgyzstan July 1, 2011 1 2:21 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 5–0 Amanjol Kunanyshbaev TKO (punches) Sarbaz Cup 2011: Kazakhstan vs. Uzbekistan May 1, 2011 1 3:18 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 4–0 Tofik Mamedov TKO (punches) S-1: Selection 2011 April 22, 2011 1 4:20 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 3–0 Zirodin Abdulkerimov Submission (rear-naked choke) Alash Pride 1 March 19, 2011 1 2:54 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 2–0 Nurazy Balayev Submission (standing guillotine choke) Iron Horde Cup 2 August 1, 2010 1 2:38 Almaty, Kazakhstan
Win 1–0 Anatoly Akhmetov Submission (rear-naked choke) Iron Horde Cup May 1, 2010 1 0:48 Almaty, Kazakhstan

[15] [16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Kairat Akhmetov Has Made Thailand His New Home". ONE Championship. 5 September 2017.
  2. ^ ESPN.com. "Kairat Akhmetov". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Kairat "The Kazakh" Akhmetov". ONE Championship. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ^ onefc.com. "ONE Championship: Dynasty of Champions /Beijing II)". ONE Championship. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  5. ^ onefc.com. "KAIRAT AKHMETOV - ONE Championship". ONE Championship. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  6. ^ onefc.com. "ONE Championship: Kings and Conqueror". ONE Championship. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  7. ^ onefc.com. "ONE Championship: Global Superheroes". ONE Championship. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  8. ^ Staff (2021-12-17). "ONE Championship: Winter Warriors II Full Results and Video". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  9. ^ Kerman, Garrett (26 May 2022). "'Buchecha' putting in work at Phuket Fight Club ahead of next MMA bout". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Kairat Akhmetov Rips Through Tatsumitsu Wada, Extends Winning Streak To Five". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  11. ^ Mark Molyneux (2023-02-17). "Exclusive: Australian Reece McLaren announced for historic ONE Championship bout in America". The Sporting News. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  12. ^ "Stamp, Kadestam Earn Interim World Title Shots After Dominant Wins On ONE Fight Night 10 Main Card". ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts. 2023-05-06. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  13. ^ Sherdog.com. "ONE on Prime Video 10 'Johnson vs. Moraes 3' Play-by-Play & Results". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  14. ^ "ONE Championship's Kairat Akhmetov and Julie Mezabarba suspended after failing drug tests". South China Morning Post. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2023-06-17.
  15. ^ Sherdog.com. "Kairat Akhmetov". Sherdog. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  16. ^ ESPN.com. "Kairat Akhmetov". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2019.

External links edit