Kairat Akhmetov Explained

Kairat Akhmetov (Kazakh: Қайрат Ахметов; born October 12, 1987^[2]) is a Kazakhstani professional mixed martial artist, who currently fights in the flyweight division. He previously competed for ONE Championship, where he is the former ONE Flyweight Champion.

Background

Kairat “The Kazakh” Akhmetov was inspired by his father, an amateur champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, and soon followed in his footsteps. Akhmetov started training in 2000, and proved to be as talented as his father, eventually becoming a three-time National Greco-Roman Champion in Kazakhstan. He also took to Taekwondo, winning a regional championship.^[3]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After turning professional in 2010, Akhmetov racked a 19–0 record almost solely in his native Kazakhstani regional circuit before being signed to the ONE Championship in 2015.

ONE Championship

During his ONE Championship debut at ONE Championship: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II) Akhmetov won the ONE Flyweight Championship from Adriano Moraes by split decision. During the bout, Akhmetov suffered a back injury, leaving him unable to compete for nearly two years.^{[4] [5]} During Akhmetov's absence, Moraes would capture the Interim ONE Flyweight Championship. The two would meet again at ONE Championship: Kings & Conquerors for the unification bout. Akhmetov lost via unanimous decision.^[6]

At ONE Championship: Global Superheroes Akhmetov lost to Geje Eustaquio by unanimous decision in a bout for the Interim ONE Flyweight Championship.^[7]

Akhmetov faced Danny Kingad at on December 17, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision.^[8]

Akhmetov faced Tatsumitsu Wada at ONE 158 on June 3, 2022.^[9] Akhmetov won the bout via unanimous decision.^[10]

Akhmetov faced Reece McLaren at ONE Fight Night 10 on May 5, 2023.^[11] He won the bout via unanimous decision.^{[12] [13]}

On June 16, 2023, it was reported that Akhmetov had tested positive for a banned substance in an out-of-competition drug test and will face a six-month suspension.^[14]

Professional grappling career

Akhmetov faced Patchy Mix in the main event of ADXC 6 on October 25, 2024. He lost the match by unanimous decision.^[15]

Championships and accomplishments

• ONE Championship
  • ONE Flyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

|-|Win|align=center|30–2|Reece McLaren|Decision (unanimous)|ONE Fight Night 10||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Broomfield, Colorado, United States| |-| Win| align=center| 29–2| Tatsumitsu Wada| Decision (unanimous)| ONE 158| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 28–2| Danny Kingad| Decision (unanimous)| | | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 27–2| Kim Dae-hwan| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: Collision Course 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Kallang, Singapore| |-| Win| align=center| 26–2| Reece McLaren| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: A New Era| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Tokyo, Japan| |-| Win| align=center| 25–2| Haobin Ma| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: Conquest of Heroes| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Jakarta, Indonesia| |-| Loss| align=center| 24–2| Geje Eustaquio| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: Global Superheroes| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Manila, Philippines| |-| Win| align=center| 24–1| Geje Eustaquio| Decision (split)| ONE: Total Victory| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Jakarta, Indonesia| |-| Loss| align=center| 23–1| Adriano Moraes| Decision (unanimous)| ONE: Kings & Conquerors| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Macau, SAR, China| |-| Win| align=center| 23–0| Adriano Moraes| Decision (split)| ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II)| | align=center| 5| align=center| 5:00| Beijing, China| |-| Win| align=center| 22–0| Artemij Sitenkov| TKO (corner stoppage)| Alash Pride: Golden Horde| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:01| Almaty, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 21–0| Salah Elkas| Decision (unanimous)| Alash Pride: Warriors of the Steppe| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Almaty, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 20–0| Tatsuya Watanabe| Decision (unanimous)| Alash Pride: Great Battle 2| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Almaty, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 19–0| Yoo Jae-nam| Decision (unanimous)| AP: Grand Prix 2013| | align=center| 2| align=center| 5:00| Almaty, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 18–0| Nurali Bakirdinova| Submission (choke)| Alash Pride: Great Battle| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:05| Almaty, Kazakhstan| |-| Win| align=center| 17–0| Zhuo Yang| Submission (rear-naked choke)| AP: Alash Pride 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:30| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 16–0| Rafaels Saldes| Submission (armbar)| Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 53| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:12| London, England||-| Win| align=center| 15–0| Kaan Kazgan| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 53| | align=center| 2| align=center| 2:41| Astana, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 14–0| Vladislav Nikitchenko| Decision (unanimous)| AP: Nowruz Cup 2012| | align=center| 3| align=center| 5:00| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 13–0| Ruslan Belikov| KO (punch)| Bushido Luihuania: Vol. 50| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:49| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 12–0| Farkhad Firuzi| Submission (rear-naked choke)| AP: Cardinal Cup 2011| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:48| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 11–0| Nurlan Kamagulov| Submission (rear-naked choke)|rowspan=3 | Zhekpe Zhek Cup 2011|rowspan=3 | | align=center| 1|align=center| 3:01|rowspan=3 | Kaskelen, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 10–0| Aziz Baginbaev| Submission (armbar) | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:23||-| Win| align=center| 9–0| Janibek Omaruly| Submission (guillotine choke)| align=center| 1| align=center| 1:23||-| Win| align=center| 8–0| Abdyrashid Zholdasbayev| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Riviera Grand Prix 2011| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:30| Kapchagai, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 7–0| Djamadyn Zaribzhanov| TKO (punches)| Riviera Grand Prix 2011| | align=center| 1| align=center| 1:04| Kapchagai, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 6–0| Janibek Omaruly| Submission (Achilles lock)| Iron Horde: Kazakhstan vs. Kyrgyzstan| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:21| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 5–0| Amanjol Kunanyshbaev| TKO (punches)| Sarbaz Cup 2011: Kazakhstan vs. Uzbekistan| | align=center| 1| align=center| 3:18| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 4–0| Tofik Mamedov| TKO (punches)| S-1: Selection 2011| | align=center| 1| align=center| 4:20| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 3–0| Zirodin Abdulkerimov| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Alash Pride 1| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:54| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 2–0| Nurazy Balayev| Submission (standing guillotine choke)| Iron Horde Cup 2| | align=center| 1| align=center| 2:38| Almaty, Kazakhstan||-| Win| align=center| 1–0| Anatoly Akhmetov| Submission (rear-naked choke)| Iron Horde Cup| | align=center| 1| align=center| 0:48| Almaty, Kazakhstan|^{[16] [17]}

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of ONE Flyweight Champions

External links

• Kairat Akhmetov at ONE

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kairat Akhmetov Has Made Thailand His New Home. 5 September 2017. ONE Championship.
2. Web site: Kairat Akhmetov. ESPN.com. ESPN. June 24, 2019.
3. Web site: Kairat "The Kazakh" Akhmetov. December 23, 2020. ONE Championship. 30 January 2017 .
4. Web site: ONE Championship: Dynasty of Champions /Beijing II). onefc.com. ONE Championship. 28 January 2017 . June 24, 2019.
5. Web site: KAIRAT AKHMETOV - ONE Championship. onefc.com. ONE Championship. 30 January 2017 . June 24, 2019.
6. Web site: ONE Championship: Kings and Conqueror. onefc.com. ONE Championship. 27 January 2017 . June 24, 2019.
7. Web site: ONE Championship: Global Superheroes. onefc.com. ONE Championship. 4 December 2017 . June 24, 2019.
8. Web site: Staff. 2021-12-17. ONE Championship: Winter Warriors II Full Results and Video. 2021-12-17. Cageside Press. en-US.
9. Web site: Kerman . Garrett . 26 May 2022 . 'Buchecha' putting in work at Phuket Fight Club ahead of next MMA bout . 26 May 2022 . sportskeeda.com.
10. Web site: 2022-06-03 . Kairat Akhmetov Rips Through Tatsumitsu Wada, Extends Winning Streak To Five . 2022-06-04 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
11. Web site: Mark Molyneux . 2023-02-17 . Exclusive: Australian Reece McLaren announced for historic ONE Championship bout in America . 2023-02-17 . The Sporting News.
12. Web site: 2023-05-06 . Stamp, Kadestam Earn Interim World Title Shots After Dominant Wins On ONE Fight Night 10 Main Card . 2023-05-14 . ONE Championship – The Home Of Martial Arts . en-US.
13. Web site: Sherdog.com . ONE on Prime Video 10 'Johnson vs. Moraes 3' Play-by-Play & Results . 2023-05-14 . Sherdog . en.
14. Web site: ONE Championship's Kairat Akhmetov and Julie Mezabarba suspended after failing drug tests. South China Morning Post. 2023-06-16. 2023-06-17.
15. Web site: ADXC 6 Full Results And Highlights . Jits Magazine . 26 October 2024.
16. Web site: Kairat Akhmetov. Sherdog.com. Sherdog. June 24, 2019.
17. Web site: Kairat Akhmetov. ESPN.com. ESPN. June 24, 2019.