Bekzat Almakhan achieved a significant career milestone at UFC 315.
Facing the notoriously durable Brad Katona, Almakhan accomplished what no fighter before him had: he finished the Canadian bantamweight veteran. This historic moment arrived in the opening round when Almakhan landed a precise uppercut that instantly knocked Katona unconscious.
Almakhan`s sharp striking was evident during the brief duration of the fight. As Katona moved in, likely attempting one of his signature takedowns, he was met with a perfectly timed uppercut that immediately took away his ability to continue. A subsequent hammerfist from Almakhan sealed the outcome, prompting referee Jason Herzog to step in and halt the contest just 64 seconds into the first round.
This result marks a crucial bounce-back victory for Almakhan (12-2). He had previously shown promise in his UFC debut against the 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 (14-5), this fight brings his record in his second UFC tenure to 2-2. His return to the promotion followed his success in 2023, where he became a rare two-time winner of The Ultimate Fighter competition. Significantly, this knockout loss is the first of Katona`s 10-year professional mixed martial arts career.
