The Kazakh fighter dominates his opponents and is eager to join the UFC! He knocked out Nurmagomedov and remains undefeated.

The Kazakh MMA fighter (7-0) transitioned to professional fights less than two years ago, but in this short time, he has convinced everyone that he is ready to conquer greater heights. Currently, the 27-year-old league champion is one of the candidates to represent Kazakhstan. The correspondent discusses Isbulaev's rapid progress and his prospects.

The undefeated fighter hails from the Orenburg region (Russia). An ethnic Kazakh, he has secured several notable victories for his homeland, including the title of European MMA champion. Among amateurs, he achieved significant success at the regional and national levels, becoming a master of sports in sambo. He also excelled in military hand-to-hand combat during his service in the Russian army.

At the beginning of 2023, at the age of 26, he decided to move from amateur to professional status. His MMA record among amateurs was 11-3. He made his professional debut in the Kazakh league Alash Pride FC, where he was introduced as a Kazakhstani fighter. By that time, Salamat had already relocated to Aktobe, where he began training at the "Erkin Kush" gym, having previously trained all his life in his hometown of Orenburg.

In less than two years, Isbulaev has achieved seven victories in seven bouts, only taking one fight to the second round (the other six were finished in the first five minutes). He has four knockout wins and three submissions.

In September, he won by technical knockout against a previously undefeated Russian fighter (6-1) in a match for the interim championship belt of the organization. On November 30, in Turkestan, he became the holder of a full championship title, finishing another representative from Russia - .

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman)

Alash Pride LW champ Salamat Isbulaev improves to 7-0 with a first round TKO over Nurdi Gatsaev

Immediately following the fight, Salamat stated his goals, making it clear that his primary mission is to showcase his skills in the world's top league - the UFC.

"All my goals lead to the UFC. I want to build a successful fighting career and become the best fighter in the world," he said.

It would be fair to say that Isbulaev has not yet faced a serious test in his career, at least not in the professional realm. The only experienced opponent he faced was the Russian fighter , who had a record of 23-9-1 at the time of the match with Salamat. However, the Dagestani was already 41 years old.

If we consider his other opponents, their average record is about 2-1. On the other hand, it is important to remember that Isbulaev himself recently transitioned to professional fighting, and his career is still in its early stages.

One advantage of the Kazakh fighter is his extensive amateur career, which includes over 100 bouts at various levels across several disciplines, providing an excellent foundation for his transition to the professional circuit. As a result, he feels comfortable, regularly enters the octagon, and does not experience excessive nerves even in title fights.

He is currently one of the bright prospects for Kazakhstan. If his senior colleagues and manager guide him in the right direction, he will have every chance to make it to the UFC and make a loud statement about himself across the ocean. However, there is a feeling that making a sudden leap forward may not be wise. First, it would be preferable to see Salamat face more prominent opponents in local leagues to avoid the scenario where he confronts tough competition for the first time in the UFC. With favorable circumstances, after a couple of fights, Salamat could be 100 percent ready for an American venture.

By the way, Isbulaev has a chance to replicate the achievement of his compatriot . Damir was the first ethnic Kazakh from Russia to enter the UFC. Subsequently, he began representing Kazakhstan in tournaments, and this same story is unfolding for Isbulaev.

They are also united by the fact that they were both born in the Orenburg region. Ismagulov lived in the village of Udarnoe, which is located on the border with Kazakhstan, 150 kilometers from Uralsk, while Isbulaev hails from the village of Zemlyansky, also situated on the border, 260 kilometers from Aktobe.