Former UFC Flyweight Askar Askarov Signs with Absolute Championship Akhmat

Ex-UFC flyweight contender Askar Askarov has signed with Absolute Championship Akhmat.

The promotion announced the news on Saturday. Askarov asked to be released from his UFC contract late last year, and the Las Vegas-based organization granted that request. A date for his ACA debut is currently unknown.

“Due to my return being delayed due to medical reasons and being my last fight under my contract, I asked UFC to release me,” Askarov wrote on Instagram last October. “To which, I received a positive response. First, let's put our health in order, and then we will see what and how.”

Askarov suffered his first loss in 16 professional outings last March, when he dropped a unanimous verdict to Kai Kara France at UFC on ESPN 33. He wouldn’t compete again in 2022, as he pulled out of proposed fights against the likes of Brandon Royval and Alex Perez.

The 30-year-old Dagestani is a former Absolute Championship Berkut title holder who owns wins over Joseph Benavidez, Alexandre Pantoja and Tim Elliott in UFC competition. He also fought current UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno to a draw in September 2019.

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