Yousri Belgaroui
Baby Face Assassin
Netherlands
Shines in upset debut win
Belgaroui defeated Azamat Bekoev via TKO (punches) at 0:55 of Round 3 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Vancouver.
ANALYSIS
A former professional kickboxer, Belgaroui transitioned to the world of MMA, moving to Connecticut to train with Glover Teixeira and Alex Pereira at Teixeira MMA & Fitness. He made his official UFC debut here in just his 12th pro fight and displayed some quality traits. Five inches taller than Bekoev, Belgaroui was always going to be in position to dominate this fight if he could remain upright. He did allow four takedowns, but was never pinned to the mat for long stretches at a time and was so dominant on the feet that it didn't really matter. Belgaroui is obviously behind where he should be in terms of experience at age 33, but he's a high-level athlete with a world-class kickboxing skill set.
A former professional kickboxer, Belgaroui transitioned to the world of MMA, moving to Connecticut to train with Glover Teixeira and Alex Pereira at Teixeira MMA & Fitness. He made his official UFC debut here in just his 12th pro fight and displayed some quality traits. Five inches taller than Bekoev, Belgaroui was always going to be in position to dominate this fight if he could remain upright. He did allow four takedowns, but was never pinned to the mat for long stretches at a time and was so dominant on the feet that it didn't really matter. Belgaroui is obviously behind where he should be in terms of experience at age 33, but he's a high-level athlete with a world-class kickboxing skill set.
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Bekoev bout re-scheduled
Belgaroui is scheduled to compete against Azamat Bekoev in a middleweight fight at UFC Vancouver on Oct. 18, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Belgaroui withdrew from UFC Vegas 108, scheduled for Saturday, which previously included him against Bekoev. They will fight more than two months down the line, which gives Belgaroui more time with his work visa.
Belgaroui withdrew from UFC Vegas 108, scheduled for Saturday, which previously included him against Bekoev. They will fight more than two months down the line, which gives Belgaroui more time with his work visa.
No longer fighting Bekoev
Belgaroui will no longer face Azamat Bekoev in a middleweight bout at UFC Vegas 108 on August 2, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Belgaroui reportedly has an issue with his work visa, which is why his short-notice fight against Bekoev can no longer proceed as scheduled. However, he's still signed with the UFC, reportedly to a four-fight deal.
Belgaroui reportedly has an issue with his work visa, which is why his short-notice fight against Bekoev can no longer proceed as scheduled. However, he's still signed with the UFC, reportedly to a four-fight deal.
Set for short-notice debut
Belgaroui will make his short-notice UFC debut against Azamat Bekoev in a middleweight matchup at UFC Vegas 108 on August 2, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
We last saw Belgaroui on the Contender Series in September of 2024, where he picked up a third-round stoppage victory over Taiga Iwasaka but wasn't awarded a contract. He was later critiqued for committing multiple eye pokes in the fight, which likely explained why he wasn't offered the UFC roster spot. Now, he'll have to prove himself the hard way, getting just two weeks' notice for a dangerous American Top Team product who already has two first-round stoppages in 2025.
We last saw Belgaroui on the Contender Series in September of 2024, where he picked up a third-round stoppage victory over Taiga Iwasaka but wasn't awarded a contract. He was later critiqued for committing multiple eye pokes in the fight, which likely explained why he wasn't offered the UFC roster spot. Now, he'll have to prove himself the hard way, getting just two weeks' notice for a dangerous American Top Team product who already has two first-round stoppages in 2025.