Azamat Bekoev Turned a Short-Notice UFC Debut
Azamat Bekoev knocked out Zachary Reese in his UFC debut on January 18, 2025. The middleweight contest at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, ended at 3:04 of the first round after Bekoev delivered powerful ground strikes from inside Reese’s guard.
The newcomer generated damage from top position
Bekoev accepted the assignment at short notice and made an immediate impression once the action reached the canvas. He created room above Reese and delivered the blows that brought the fight to its conclusion.
The finish extended his winning streak to seven and moved his professional record to nineteen victories against three defeats. It also gave the former LFA champion a successful introduction to the UFC.
A substantial career preceded the first appearance
Bekoev had been competing professionally since 2015 and trained with American Top Team. His background included LFA championship success before the late opportunity to face Reese.
That experience meant his promotional debut came after years of competition rather than at the beginning of his development. Against Reese, he converted a dominant position into an immediate finishing opportunity.
A second early finish followed in May
Bekoev returned against Ryan Loder on May 3, 2025, and stopped him through strikes at 2:44 of the opening round. That result gave him consecutive first-round victories to begin his UFC run.
The Reese contest established the starting point for that successful introduction. Bekoev’s first two appearances both ended before a second round, carrying his earlier championship experience into decisive performances against new opponents.
Sources
- UFC: short-notice debut, ground strikes, streak and record
- UFC: career background, LFA championship and Loder follow-up
- UFC: official result, date and venue
