Undefeated Dagestani wrestler Aliaskhab Khizriev wanted to defend his perfect record in his second UFC fight against Makhmud Muradov at UFC Vegas 85.
Inactivity has plagued Khizriev since signing with the UFC in 2020. He has had five fights canceled for one reason or another since then, and it took him two years and four cancellations just to get to his debut, in which he dominated and finished Denis Tiuliulin. Two years later, he takes on a once-hyped prospect in Muradov who had his train derailed with two straight losses in 2022. A win in 2023 over veteran Bryan Barbarena got him back on track, and taking the ‘zero’ of Khizriev would put him right back in the limelight. But neither fighter was happy when they left the UFC Apex on Saturday.
Aliaskhab Khizriev opened the fight pressing forward in his southpaw stance, throwing hands right away. However, on the way to begin his combination he poked Muradov in the eye with his lead hand. It was a bad one; the doctor was heard informing referee Herb Dean that Muradov’s cornea was scratched. The fight barely got started before it was over, continuing Khizriev’s run of bad luck which rivals fighters like Alex Perez.
The only things that can be said now are that hopefully Moradov is okay and hopefully they are able to rematch soon, so both of their careers can move past this incident.
Official Result: Aliaskhab Khizriev vs Makhmud Muradov ends in No Contest (eye poke), Round 1, 0:11
