From internal troops to the UFC: the turbulent rise of Azamat Murzakanov
In short: Few fighters navigate as much chaos as Azamat Murz and his path to the top. Between doping suspensions, visa hurdles, and sudden medical withdrawals, the Russian light heavyweight has turned a career of instability into a climb toward the world's elite rankings.
Born in 1989 in the village of Kyzburun III, Azamat Murzakanov’s early life was defined by discipline. After serving in the internal troops and working for the Ministry of Internal Affairs' SOBR unit, he began his professional MMA career in 2010. His early trajectory was marked by explosive power, including a 10-second knockout in his professional debut against Anzor Khakimov. He trained at the Unity Sports Complex in Nalchik under the guidance of Khachim Mamkhegov, an honored trainer of Russia in hand-to-hand combat. This mentorship helped him achieve titles as a multiple champion of Russia and a three-time world champion.
However, his ascent to the UFC was far from linear. In 2017, shortly after signing with the promotion, Murzakanov was removed from a scheduled fight against Joachim Christensen after testing positive for boldenone metabolites. This resulted in a two-year suspension beginning in September 2017. He later faced further disciplinary action when the CSAD suspended him from November 2024 to May 2025 following a positive test for LGD-4033 metabolites. His career has also seen significant interruptions due to health, such as a withdrawal from a 2023 event due to pneumonia symptoms. Even his brother, Marat, follows a path of martial discipline as a master of sports in the FSB border troops.
Despite these setbacks and various logistical hurdles—including visa issues and bouts canceled due to opponents' medical unfitness—Murzakanov proved resilient. He secured a UFC contract via Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 and earned two 'Performance of the Night' honors for his victories over Tafon Nchukwi and Alonzo Menifield. As of October 2026, he holds the #9 spot in the Meta UFC light heavyweight rankings, though his first professional loss arrived in April 202 and against Paulo Costa. His resilience was evident in 2019 when he won the Brave CF openweight tournament. He also demonstrated his striking prowess by securing a first-round knockout against Aleksandar Rakić in late 2025.
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