Akop Stepanyan Explained

Akop Stepanyan
Акоп Степанян
Հակոբ Ստեփանյան
Birth Date:6 May 1986
Birth Place:Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
Residence:Saint Petersburg, Russia
Nationality:Russian[1]
Ethnicity:Armenian
Height:[2]
Weight:155lb
Weight Class:Featherweight (currently)
Lightweight
Reach:68inches
Style:Taekwondo, Boxing, ARB
Fighting Out Of:Saint Petersburg, Leningrad, Russia
Team:RusFighters Sport Club (USA)[3]
Reign Training Center
Rank:Black belt in Taekwondo
Master of Sports in Boxing
Master of Sports in Kickboxing
Years Active:2009–present
Mma Kowin:17
Mma Subwin:2
Mma Decwin:9
Mma Koloss:2
Mma Subloss:9
Mma Decloss:3
Mma Draw:1
Mma Nc:1
Sherdog:45416

Akop Stepanyan (ru|Акоп Степанян, hy|Հակոբ Ստեփանյան; born May 6, 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist of Armenian heritage[4] who competed in the featherweight and lightweight divisions of Bellator Fighting Championships and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Mixed martial arts career

M-1 Global

Stepanyan lost via submission (armbar) to Zagalav Mahachev at M-1 Challenge - 2009 Selections 2 in the first round.[5]

Post-M-1 Global

Stepanyan lost via unanimous decision (30–28, 29–28, 29–28) to Djamal Kurbanov at FEFoMP - Vladivostok Pankration Open Cup 2009 on April 25, 2009.

Return to M-1 Global

Stepanyan lost via submission (rear-naked choke) to Magomed Magomedov at M-1 Challenge - 2009 Selections 5 in the first round.[6]

Stepanyan was released from the M-1 after going 0–2 in the promotion.

Bellator MMA

In July, Stepanyan signed in Bellator.[7]

Stepanyan was then entered into the season seven featherweight tournament. His quarterfinal opponent was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Wagnney Fabiano at Bellator 76.[8] He lost the bout via first round armbar submission.

Stepanyan next faced former Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro in season eight featherweight tournament on February 7, 2013, at Bellator 88.[9] He lost the fight via controversial majority decision.

Stepanyan faced Chris Saunders on March 7, 2013, at Bellator 92.[10] He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Stepanyan was expected to face Shahbulat Shamhalaev on September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99.[11] However, Shamhalaev withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Justin Wilcox. Stepanyan dominated the first round, but was stopped by a rear naked choke submission in the second round.

Stepanyan faced Mike Richman at Bellator 106 on November 2, 2013.[12] Stepanyan had Richman in trouble early in the fight, but lost in the first round via TKO.[13]

League S-70

After Bellator dismissal Akop Stepanyan faced ex-UFC fighter Andre Winner. He won via unanimous decision.[14]

Absolute Championship Berkut

Stepanyan signed a four-fight deal with the ACB in February, 2017.[15]

Stepanyan faced Mukhamed Kokov on April 15, 2017, at ACB 57: Payback. He lost the fight via submission in the third round.

Stepanyan faced Felipe Cruz on June 17, 2017, at ACB 62. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

ARG (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat)

Kickboxing

Taekwondo

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win |align=center|28–14 (1)|Arlen Ribeiro|TKO (punches)|AMC Fight Nights 124||align=center|2|align=center|2:14|Yerevan, Armenia ||-|Loss| align=center|| Nikita Podkovalnikov| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Open FC 29| | align=center| 3| align=center| 2:27| Saint Petersburg, Russia| |-|Loss| align=center|| Shamil Gasanov| Submission (guillotine choke)| ProFC 69| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:40| Rostov-on-Don, Russia| |-|Loss| align=center|| Roman Silagadze| Submission (arm-triangle choke)| AMC Fight Nights 100| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:44| Moscow, Russia| |-|Win| align=center| 27–11 (1)| Mikhail Gogitidze| TKO (punches)| AMC Fight Nights 99| | align=center| 2| align=center| 0:59| Moscow, Russia||-|Win| align=center| 26–11 (1)| Shahin Najafi| TKO (punches)| Gorilla Fighting 22| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:35| Krasnodar, Russia||-|NC| align=center| 25–11 (1)| Elnur Agaev| Injury (doctors stoppage)| MFP 226| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:07| Khabarovsk, Russia| |-|Loss| align=center| 25–11| Magomed Sulumov| Decision (unanimous)| ACB 89: Aguev vs. Townsend| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Krasnodar, Russia||-|Loss| align=center| 25–10| Andrew Fisher| TKO (leg injury)| ACB 74: Aguev vs. Townsend| | align=center| 2| align=center| 1:01| Vienna, Austria||-|Win| align=center| 25–9| Felipe Cruz| KO (spinning wheel kick)| ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:38| Rostov-on-Don, Russia||-|Loss| align=center| 24–9| Mukhamed Kokov| Submission (kimura)| ACB 57: Payback| | align=center| 3| align=center| 0:51| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 24–8| Thiago Meller| Decision (split)| League S-70: Plotforma 7th| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Sochi, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 23–8| Will Chope| Decision (split)| Abu Dhabi Warriors 4| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates| |-| Loss| align=center| 22–8| Vener Galiev| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Fight Nights Global 45: Galiev vs. Stepanyan| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:16| Ufa, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 22–7| Leonardo Laiola| TKO (punches)| Octagon Fighting Sensation 6| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:59| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 21–7| Jung Sung-jo| KO (punches)| MFP: Governor's Cup of Sakhalin 2015| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:11| Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia||-| Win| align=center| 20–7| Andre Winner| Decision (unanimous)| S-70: Plotforma Cup 2015 | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Sochi, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 19–7| Helson Henriques| Decision (unanimous)| FEFoMP: Mayor's Cup 2015| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Khabarovsk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 18–7| Mohamed Hassan Badawy| TKO (punches)| Octagon Fighting Sensation 4| | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:19| Yaroslavl, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 17–7| Clayton Henriques| Decision (unanimous)| FEFoMP: Pankration & Fight Nights 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Vladivostok, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 16–7| Eddie Yagin| KO (head kick)| FEFoMP and Russian MMA Union: Russia's MMA Amateur Supercup | | align=center| 2| align=center| 4:44| Khabarovsk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 15–7| Mikhail Kislica| TKO (punch)| Baltic Challenge 6| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:41| Kaliningrad, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 14–7| Anatoli Angielovskyi| TKO (spinning back kick and punches)| Octogan Fighting Sensation 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:47| Yaroslavl, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–7| Mike Richman| TKO (punches)| Bellator 106| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:05| Long Beach, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 13–6| Justin Wilcox| Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)| Bellator 99| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:20| Temecula, California, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 13–5| Chris Saunders| TKO (kick to the body and punches)| Bellator 92| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:55| Temecula, California, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 12–5| Marlon Sandro| Decision (majority)| Bellator 88| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Duluth, Georgia, United States| |-| Loss| align=center| 12–4| Wagnney Fabiano| Submission (armbar)| Bellator 76| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:24| Windsor, Ontario, Canada| |-| Win| align=center| 12–3| Akhmet Aliev| KO (punch)| S-70: Plotforma Cup 2012| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:11| Sochi, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 11–3| Anatoliy Pokrovsky| KO (punch)| S-70: Russian Grand Prix 2011 (Stage 4)| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:50| Moscow, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 10–3| Antti Virtanen| Submission (guillotine choke)| Lappeenranta Fight Night 7| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:53| Lappeenranta, Finland| |-| Win| align=center| 9–3| Yevgeniy Lakhin| KO (punch)| S-70: Russian Grand Prix 2011 (Stage 2)| | align=center| 3| align=center| 3:19| Omsk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 8–3| Dmitriy Ushkanov| Decision (split)| FEFoMP: Battle of Empires| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Khabarovsk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 7–3| Babyrbek Samiev| Submission (guillotine choke)| Fights With Rules 3| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:35| Ufa, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 6–3| Atchin Chaoshen Ne| Decision (unanimous)| FEFoMP: Mayor's Cup 2011| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Khabarovsk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 5–3| Aleksey Ershik| Decision (unanimous)| FEFoMP: Amur Challenge| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Blagoveshchensk, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 4–3| Mikhail Drinovski| Decision (unanimous)| Northwestern League of Combat Sambo: Tournament in Memory of Private Korzun| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Saint Petersburg, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 3–3| Kazbek Magomedov| TKO (punches)| Northwestern League of Combat Sambo: Tournament in Memory of Partisan German| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:24| Saint Petersburg, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 2–3| Andrei Shpota| KO (punch)| ProFC: Union Nation Cup 5| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:42| Nalchik, Russia| |-| Win| align=center| 1–3| Djamal Kurbanov| KO (wheel kick)| FEFoMP: Mayor's Cup in Pankration| | align=center| 3| align=center| 1:09| Vladivostok, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–3| Magomed Magomedov| Submission (rear-naked choke)| M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 5| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:30| Saint Petersburg, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–2| Djamal Kurbanov| Decision (unanimous)| FEFoMP: Vladivostok Pankration Open Cup 2009| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Vladivostok, Russia| |-| Loss| align=center| 0–1| Zagalav Mahachev| Submission (armbar)| M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:55| Saint Petersburg, Russia|

Notes and References

  1. Web site: СТЕПАНЯН И ХАСБУЛАЕВ ПОДПИСАНЫ В BELLATOR. Bloodandsweat.ru . 2013-01-24 . 2016-05-12.
  2. Web site: Akop Stepanyan. sherdog.com. September 29, 2012.
  3. Web site: Rusfighters. Rusfighters.ru. September 29, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121031234408/http://rusfighters.ru/akop_stepanyan_70_kg. 2012-10-31. dead.
  4. Web site: Whitman . Mike . Bellator 76 to Feature Featherweight Quarterfinals, Including Wagnney Fabiano, Rad Martinez . Sherdog.com . 2012-09-13 . 2016-05-12.
  5. Web site: M-1 Selection. 2-й тур, Обзор и фотогалерея . Mixfight.ru . 2016-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120522234848/http://mixfight.ru/news/2009/4/19/M1_Selection_2_tur/ . 2012-05-22 . dead .
  6. Web site: Обзор пятого тура M-1 Selection Russia (ОН-ЛАЙН) . Mixfight.ru . 2016-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603183413/http://www.mixfight.ru/news/2009/7/21/Obzor_5-go_tura_M1_Selection_Russia/ . 2016-06-03 . dead .
  7. Web site: Akop Stepanyan signed in the BFC. armboxing.com. July 27, 2012.
  8. Web site: Alvarez vs. Pitbull Headlines Bellator 76 at Caesars Windsor October 12th . bellator.com . August 4, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029191449/http://www.bellator.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=592058&SPID=73496&ATCLID=205563893&DB_OEM_ID=23600 . October 29, 2013 .
  9. Web site: Stepanyan back in Bellator. valetudo.ru. January 29, 2013.
  10. Web site: last attempt to win. fightbetnetwork.com. March 1, 2013. March 7, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150715144631/http://www.fightbetnetwork.com/fights/1258/chris-saunders-vs-akop-stepanyan. July 15, 2015. dead. mdy-all.
  11. Web site: Rusfighters vs. Red Fury MMA. tapology.com. July 13, 2013.
  12. Web site: Tourney finalist Mike Richman vs. Akop Stepanyan joins Bellator 106. mmajunkie.com. October 15, 2013.
  13. Web site: Bellator 106 results/photos: Mike Richman drops Akop Stepanyan in first. mmajunkie.com. November 3, 2013.
  14. Web site: Russian super star vs. world. news.sportbox.ru. August 29, 2015.
  15. Web site: Stepanyan signed with ACB. mmaoctagon.ru. February 16, 2017.

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