UFC 321’s Azamat Murzakanov Likes Being Underestimated

Abu Dhabi — With a thunderous finish of Aleksandar Rakic to kick off the UFC 321 main card on Saturday, Azamat Murzakanov may finally be on the radar of fight fans.

After his previous fight, a TKO of Brendson Ribeiro, UFC commentator Joe Rogan called Azamat Murzakanov one of the most unheralded light heavyweights. While that may be the case, Murzakanov is willing to keep proving himself.

“Let them underestimate me still, and I’m going to prove as we go each time,” Murzakanov (16-0) told Cageside Press and other media outlets at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. “I’m thinking we will get good news soon. I really like when they underestimate me.”

That good news, if Murzakanov gets his way, will come in the form of a number one contender’s match. Along with himself, there’s the surging Carlos Ulberg and resurgent Jiri Prochazka in the mix in the UFC’s 205 pound division.

“Any of these guys that could put me towards the title shot,” Murzakanov stated when asked which of the names available he’d like to tango with. None are booked currently; Alex Pereira, who reclaimed light heavyweight gold earlier this month, does not have a fight booked either.

Of note, things got a bit heated between Azamat Murzakanov and Rakic after Saturday’s bout, though cooler heads ultimately prevailed. As to what happened, “I didn’t like the way he, his attitude during the face-offs,” Murzakanov stated. “So I just responded to him in the same way.”

The knockout, more than anything, gives Murzakanov the last word of course.

Watch the full UFC 321 post-fight press conference with Azamat Murzakanov above.