UFC 311: Azamat Bekoev Makes Explosive Debut Against Zachary Reese

Zachary Reese and Azamat Bekoev, UFC 311
Zachary Reese and Azamat Bekoev, UFC 311 ceremonial weigh-in Credit: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press

Former LFA middleweight champion Azamat Bekoev made his promotional debut at UFC 311 on Saturday, facing off with Zach Reese.

Bekoev, who first won interim gold then unified and defended his title for LFA, had managed to skip the Contender Series by replacing SD Dumas in the fight. And he made the most of the short-notice opportunity.

Round one saw Reese come out aggressive, aiming for a head kick early, looking to use his long reach to trouble Bekoev. He landed a few solid knees but allowed Bekoev to close the distance and clinch. Reese managed to land a good elbow, but Bekoev responded by taking him down with ease. Once on the ground in full guard, Reese stayed active, landing sharp elbows and attempting submissions by throwing his legs up. Bekoev, however, remained patient, delivering short but powerful ground and pound. The difference in power became evident as Bekoev’s strikes began to find their mark, landing clean on Reese’s jaw several times, eventually knocking him out cold.

After a very impressive debut win, Bekoev, who trains at American Top Team in Miami, called for a fight on the Miami card expected to take place in April.

Official Result: Azamat Bekoev def. Zachary Reese by knockout (ground and pound), Round 1, 3:04