8 thoughts on “(SPOILERS) Olympic Bronze Medalist Bekzod Abdurakhmonov vs Derek De Freitas”

  1. Bekzod is 8-0 with 7 first round finishes. 3 of those finishes are submissions, and 4 are stoppages, one of which was a clean head kick KO.

    Bekzod was a two time Olympian for Uzbekistan in Freestyle Wrestling. In the 2016 Olympics he tech falled returning Gold Medalist Jordan Borough’s and knocked him out of the tournament. He ended up taking 4th place that year, but in the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to Covid) he took home a bronze medal opposite American Kyle Dake.

    Prior to his Olympic Career Bekzod Abdurakhmonov wrestled under folkstyle rules in America’s NCAA D1 where he achieved All-American status for Pennsylvania’s Clarion University in 2012, finishing in 3rd place.

    Prior to that he was a x2 NJCAA National Champion for Daniel Cormier’s alma matter, Colby Community College.

    Bekzod has been residing in the Boston area since his graduation in 2012, and speaks perfect English. Originally fighting out of Sidyontong, Bekzod fought 6 times between 2013 & 2014, before taking a sabbatical to concentrate on the 2016 Olympics.

    Following the completion of his 2016 run, Bekzod returned to MMA for a single fight in 2017, before once again diverting his attention to the Olympic Games.

    Currently Bekzod holds down a part-time job ads the assistant wrestling coach for Harvard. He has no desire to return to the Olympics, instead deciding to concentrate full time on MMA.

    Look for UFC to try and sweep him up as this years “Bo Nickal” in order to promote the Contenders Series. But, also look for Bellator, PFL, ONE, Rizn, ACA, KSW, Eagle FC, and FNG to all offer him a better deal.

    Will Bekzod accept his 15k UFC contract, or will he choose the big money to compete elsewhere?

  2. There are guys who pop up at D1 schools from the international scene every few years and immediately make an impact (Ugi at the Citadel, Yonger Bastida at Iowa State, etc.). Bekzod, I believe, had a brother who also wrestled at the collegiate level, but he was very much in the same camp, and when he pulled a 3rd place finish for Clarion, he made a lot of people pay attention. Glad to see him back in MMA and using that folkstyle background to good effect.

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