5 best Russian fighters in the UFC right now
![Petr Yan [Image via @parimatch on Twitter]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/03/95858-16485512924483-1920.jpg?w=500)
The UFC is a global brand and houses fighters from all around the world. Back in the early days of the promotion, most of the fighters hailed from either North or South America. With the incredible growth of MMA over the past decade or so, fighters from all over the planet have graced the octagon.
Throughout the history of combat sports, Russia has consistently produced world-class talent. Be it wrestling, boxing, judo or MMA, the transcontinental nation has delivered numerous world champions. Khabib Nurmagomedov, the most influential Russian MMA athlete of all time, has paved the way for a whole generation of his countrymen, and we're seeing the effects in numerous divisions in the UFC.
Here's the Complete List of Russian UFC Fighters
Most of the top Russians in MMA come from wrestling and combat sambo backgrounds. Having trained in these disciplines all their lives, these fighters have a significant advantage over most of their peers. Nurmagomedov's dominant run through the lightweight division is a testament to this notion.
On that note, here are the five best Russian fighters actively competing in the UFC today.
#5. Askar Askarov (14-1-1 overall, 3-1-1 in the UFC)
Askar Askarov is among the elite fighters competing at 125 pounds. Currently ranked in the top five of the flyweight division, Askarov is just a couple of wins away from fighting for the belt.
He came into the UFC with a perfect professional record of 11-0 after winning and defending the ACB flyweight title in his native Russia. In his promotional debut, Askarov and Brandon Moreno fought their way to a split-draw. After that fight, he put together a three-fight win streak to break into the upper echelons of the division.
Unfortunately, his sensational run came to an end at the hands of Kai Kara-France, who outpointed Askarov en route to a unanimous decision victory in March. Still only 29 and having taken very little damage in his career so far, expect this Russian flyweight to re-enter the title mix in the near future.
Askarov is a tough matchup for any 125-pound fighter. He possesses excellent wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, having finished half of his career wins via submission.
However, for some reason, he has struggled to finish his opponents since joining the UFC. All of his fights in the world's premier MMA promotion have gone to the judges' scorecards. Askarov has been accused of playing it safe in the past and being seemingly content with decision victories. Perhaps the loss to Kara-France will prompt him to adopt a more aggressive approach going forward.