Kazakhstani Invicta FC Vet Mariya Agapova Signs With UFC

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Dreams Come True. This is a translation of one of my tattoos. I always knew and felt it. Today something happened that I have been going all my life to. Thank you Shannon @shanknapp for giving me the chance to show myself in @invictafc. Thanks to my teammates. You have no idea how much you mean to me! A year ago, I looked at you from the TV screen. And I promised myself that I would become as strong as you. And now we are a team. And you helped me all the time on my hard way. And now I am UFC fighter like you. Thanks to my best managers in the world @alexdavismma @alexeyzhernakov @alexandrromashov13 for their well-coordinated work. And help me in every bad situation. Thanks to my coaches who put a lot of effort and work into me @rinat_bahitovich @deoliveira_coach @kingmofh @macarraodossantos @katelkubis @evertonvvoliveira @rocco.fabricio Thanks everyone! The guys from the gym this year became my family. I came here every day, even when it seemed to me that everything was over, and my dream never come true. I woke up every day, and watched the inscription on the sheet that I would fight in the UFC in 2020. And I went to ATT. Fighters from all over the world, from different states, are training there. And we have no one here but each other. We are really a huge family. And I'm incredibly happy that there are so many amazing people around me, and that I have become part of a huge family. In one family you are born, and one family you find(c) @brian666werner I'll write a book soon guys. And now this book has a happy ending! And thanks to my beautiful followers, my suns for your help, donations and support! You were my ray of light in bad moments! Thanks to your help, I paid for the house, bought food, and did not give up. Because you all supported me! My guys! Thank you for everything. In a couple of months I will be in the resource to send each of you a thanks gift. Thanks all my friends for supporting me! And for all this time I understood one thing: Not all the people who hug you are your friends. And not all people who beat up you - your enemies. @amandaufcribas @amanda_leoa @joannajedrzejczyk @maryna_moroz_ufc @markaomaluko @valerieloureda

A post shared by Maria Agapova (@mma.mashka) on Feb 26, 2020 at 10:38am PST

The Ultimate Fighting Championship appears to be gearing up for its inaugural trip to Kazakhstan by signing a promising young fighter from the nation.

On Wednesday, Mariya Agapova (8-1) announced on Instagram that she has signed with the UFC. The 22-year-old was originally slated to meet Daiana Torquato at Invicta FC 39 in February, but she was hit by a car and suffered an elbow injury. Agapova's debut date and opponent have not yet been announced.

Agapova has won her last two by first-round stoppage, both coming inside the Invicta Fighting Championships cage, over Alexa Conners and Marilia Santos in 2019. The previously undefeated fighter came on to Dana White's Contender Series in July 2019 and dropped her first and only loss to Tracy Cortez. The American Top Team prospect sports a finish rate of 75 percent, with five first-round finishes to her credit.

The promotion is heading to Kazakhstan on June 13, and no venue or city have been determined. Nur-Sultan, which contains a 30,000 seat arena called the Astana Arena, is a potential destination. The organization has also signed multiple additional Kazakhstani fighters of late, including unbeaten welterweight Shavkat Rakhmonov and top-15 flyweight Zhalgas Zhumagulov. Russian fighter Damir Ismagulov is also of Kazakh descent, and has been with the promotion since 2018.