
Middleweight Zach Reese was supposed to be facing Sedriques “SD” Dumas at UFC 311 on Saturday. However, with Dumas out, it’s Russian Azamat Bekoev stepping into the fight on short notice. The card is headlined by Islam Makhachev, taking on Renato Moicano on a day’s notice after Arman Tsarukyan was forced out due to a back injury.
Azamat “King Pit” Bekoev
Standing at five-foot-eleven
Fighting at 185 lbs (middleweight)
29-years-old
Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia–Alania, Russia/US
Training out of American Top Team
A pro record of 18-3
6 KO/TKOs, 8 Submission
Pro comp; N/A
How Bekoev will fare in the UFC
Aamat Bekoev’s eventual path to the UFC seemed inevitable once he made the move to the U.S., particularly after his success in LFA. Winning and defending a title in the LFA often serves as a direct pipeline to the UFC, as champions rarely get the chance to defend their belts before being signed. However, Bekoev stands out, having defended his LFA title twice.
The main reason he hasn’t been called up sooner is his fighting style, which often leads to decisions rather than finishes. That changed in his most recent fight, where a knockout victory likely vaulted him to the top of the UFC’s list for short-notice replacements. Over his last three fights, Bekoev has secured wins against a current UFC fighter, a Contender Series alum, and a seasoned veteran with 28 fights to his name.
However, Bekoev’s record is a little misleading. While it shows eight first-round finishes and eight submission victories, he is far from a submission specialist and tends to struggle to secure finishes against high-level opponents. Most of his early finishes came against fighters with losing records or those past their prime. In reality, Bekoev’s style is more akin to a slow, grinding approach.
He doesn’t push a high pace, instead working his way forward with single strikes and basic one-two combinations before attempting takedowns. While his wrestling entries are solid, he struggles to finish takedowns against the cage, relying more on strength than technical skill. His ground game is similarly limited—while he can maintain heavy top control, his lack of jiu-jitsu and ground-and-pound effectiveness are significant drawbacks. Bekoev often fails to cause meaningful damage from the top, relying on short punches and elbows that all too frequently have little impact.
On the feet, Bekoev has some power but throws at a low volume, making it relatively easy for opponents to outpoint him as long as they avoid trading. His striking lacks the depth and adaptability needed to succeed at the UFC level.
In summary, Bekoev’s heavy top control, limited grappling, and subpar wrestling likely won’t be enough for him to thrive in the UFC. His slow-paced, grinding style may secure wins against lesser foes, but his overall skill set appears too limited to excel in the sport’s most competitive promotion.
How he matches up with Reese:
If Reese doesn’t finish the fight quickly, he’s almost certainly going to be taken down. His takedown defense is lacking, but he’s shown some skill attacking from his back. Bekoev, who tends to stay in guard when on top, will be at risk of submissions, though he typically avoids opening up enough to expose himself to real danger.
On the feet, Reese has more offensive tools, particularly with his reach advantage. However, Bekoev’s tighter fundamentals, like keeping his hands high, contrast with Reese’s tendency to drop his hands and show signs of fatigue as the fight progresses. There’s a possibility Bekoev could land a significant punch to drop Reese, but the more likely scenario is Bekoev exploiting Reese’s long limbs to secure takedowns and dominate from top position, earning a decision victory.