Bekzat Almakhan made a significant mark in the history books at UFC 315.
Facing the notoriously durable veteran Brad Katona, Almakhan achieved a first, becoming the only fighter to secure a finish against the Canadian bantamweight. He accomplished this feat by landing a devastating uppercut in the opening round that immediately knocked Katona out.
Almakhan`s striking precision was on full display for the brief duration of the fight. As Katona initiated one of his characteristic takedown attempts, he ran directly into a perfectly timed uppercut. This connection instantly robbed Katona of his senses. A follow-up hammerfist sealed the outcome before referee Jason Herzog swiftly intervened to stop the contest just 64 seconds into the first round.
This victory serves as a strong bounce-back performance for Almakhan, elevating his record to 12-2. He had previously impressed in his UFC debut against the then-undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov, despite ultimately losing that fight by decision. Almakhan has now secured wins in 10 of his last 11 professional fights.
For Brad Katona, whose record now stands at 14-5, this loss brings him to 1-3 in his second run with the UFC, following his distinction as a two-time winner of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. Notably, this marks the first time in his 10-year professional career that Katona has been finished by knockout.
Marcus Blakely