Azamat Murzakanov, a highly regarded figure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), has been served a six-month suspension due to an infraction of the organization’s Anti-Doping Policy. The suspension was issued by the Combat Sports Anti-Doping (CSAD), impacting the path of the currently ranked No.12 light heavyweight fighter. The terms of the suspension deny him any participation in competitions until the start of May. This verdict delivers a significant setback to Murzakanov, who hails from Nalchik, Russia, as he faces an unplanned break from competing during the first few months of 2025.
The 35-year-old fighter had previously showcased an impressive trajectory in his UFC career. Emerging from the Dana White’s Contender Series in 2021, he quickly paved his way to success by winning his initial four competitions in the UFC. His debut with the corporation was particularly notable; he was conferred with a $50,000 Performance of the Night award after he woefully defeated Tafon Nchukwi in the third round with an astounding flying knee move.
Adding to his victorious chronicles, Murzakanov secured another win in his UFC career, last taking place in August, where he was up against Alonzo Menifield. Triumphing over Menifield via a second-round technical knockout, Murzakanov fortified his untarnished professional MMA profile, now standing at a formidable 14-0 record. This match also marked his fifth victory within the UFC ranks.
However, potentially tarnishing his clean fighting record, Murzakanov was detected with traces of a metabolite of LGD-4033—an anabolic agent classified as a prohibited substance in all circumstances under the UFC’s Prohibited List—in his system. This detection led to further investigation into the cause of the positive test, and it was found to originate from a dietary supplement reportedly consumed by Murzakanov in the lead up to the sample collection.
In efforts to confirm the source of the prohibited substance, the dietary supplement supposedly ingested by Murzakanov was procured and subjected to a precise analysis. Despite the ingredient not being mentioned in its label, tests confirmed the presence of LGD-4033 in a low concentration within the supplement. This revelation sent ripples through the combat sports industry, highlighting the issue of unidentified substances in dietary aids.
The imposition of the suspension was in consequence of an out-of-competition testing completed on October 8, 2024, which returned positive for the presence of LGD-4033. However, the situation took an interesting turn when a subsequent sample from Murzakanov, collected on October 31, was tested and returned negative results. This played a significant role in corroborating Murzakanov’s narrative surrounding his usage timeline of the proscribed substance.
This recent controversy marks the second instance of an anti-doping violation by Murzakanov since his induction into the UFC. This repetition is what led to the doubling of his suspension period from the earlier 90 days to the current 180 days. The commencement of his suspension took effect on the first day of November 2024, with its end pegged as May 1, 2025.
In the interim of Murzakanov’s absence, the light heavyweight division of the UFC will continue to see competitive battles. Currently, the weight class is under the reign of Alex Pereira, the active champion who successfully defended his title on three separate occasions in the year 2024.
As spectators and fans eagerly await the resurgence of Azamat Murzakanov, the UFC promises an unparalleled line-up of fights. One highlight on the horizon is the much-anticipated UFC 312 that is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.
In this awaited event, Dricus Du Plessis, the reigning middleweight champion, places his title at stake for the second time. His adversary for this challenging fight is Sean Strickland, marking a potentially electrifying showdown that will hopefully help fill the void left by Murzakanov’s temporary departure.