Umar
Nurmagomedov will welcome promotional newcomer Bekzat
Almakhan to the Octagon at
UFC Fight Night 238.
Multiple outlets confirmed the bantamweight booking following an
initial report from Frontkicked. UFC Fight Night 238 takes place on March
2 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and is headlined by a heavyweight
clash pitting Jairzinho
Rozenstruik against Shamil
Gaziev.
Nurmagomedov hasn’t competed since January 2023, when he scored a
first-round knockout of Raoni
Barcelos at UFC Fight Night 217. The 28-year-old Eagles
MMA representative was scheduled to lock horns with Cory
Sandhagen at UFC Nashville in August, but Nurmagomedov was
forced to withdraw from the event due to injury. Nurmagomedov’s
manager, Ali Abdelaziz, stated on social media that it has been
extremely difficult to find a willing opponent for the Dagestani
standout. Nurmagomedov is 16-0 as a professional, with four of
those coming in UFC competition.
Almakhan, meanwhile, has been victorious in 14 of 15 pro outings
and will carry an eight-bout winning streak into the matchup with
Nurmagomedov. The 26-year-old Kazakhstan native has finished all
but one of his career victories inside the distance.