ONE Championship Knockout Artist Eyes UFC Contract in Front of Dana White

Known as the ‘uncrowned champion’ by fans, Akbar Abdullaev believes he has the skills to take on UFC fighters, with a UFC opportunity now seemingly closer than ever. However, will he be able to?  His skills do tell something very different about him.

Akbar Abdullaev Could Have Dana White Taking Notice at DWCS

Now, what’s so special about the Osh, Kyrgyzstan native? Well, not only is he undefeated at 13-0, but the 28-year-old has finished every fight of his career. Not a single one has gone the distance.

Balak’s record tells a story before the hype ever begins. In his ONE Championship debut, he stopped Ho Taek Oh in just 44 seconds before finishing Aaron Canarte in 41 seconds in his second fight. His ONE campaign has been equally explosive. With a 5-0 record, he has established himself as one of ONE’s biggest talents.

If we look closely at his record, it becomes clear that the 28-year-old is a knockout machine. According to Tapology, Abdullaev has 12 wins by knockout, with eight of those stoppages coming in the very first round. His only submission victory also came in Round 1, making his finishing ability impossible to ignore.

Despite failing two hydration tests that turned his planned title fight against Tang Kai into a non-title bout, Abdullaev still managed to stop the champion via fifth-round TKO. His final ONE fight against Ibragim Dauev was equally explosive, as he stopped him via third-round TKO.

He is exactly the kind of fighter UFC head honcho Dana White would look forward to, and a single victory could etch his name onto a UFC contract. However, Figueroa is no easy opponent either.

Is Anthony Figueroa the Man Who Can Stop Abdullaev?

Abdullaev will look to impress Dana White with his performance on September 15, but Anthony Figueroa could pull off a massive upset if he performs at his best. With a 9-1 record, the 26-year-old is chasing a breakthrough, and DWCS could provide the perfect opportunity. 

Figueroa started his professional career in 2018 and opened with four consecutive victories, including a one-off Bellator appearance. However, his momentum stalled when Christian Avalos submitted him in his third A1 Combat outing in 2024.

However, the 28-year-old bounced back with four straight wins, earning an interim lightweight title opportunity at A1 Combat 35 in May. Figueroa defeated Eugene Correa, but because he missed weight ahead of the fight, he was ineligible to win the belt.

After having a taste of Bellator and A1 Combat, the Gilroy, California native is looking forward to making his name in the UFC. Will he be able to take on the ONE talent? Well, time will tell.