The Kazakhstan league Naiza FC has made a big breakthrough in recent years, reaching a completely new level by domestic standards. Now the league has champions in four weight categories, and the bbabo.net correspondent told readers about them in more detail. In this material, you will learn about the opposition of the champions, their background and future prospects.
The organization's champions are represented in the flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight and lightweight divisions. They are Kazakh fighters Alibi Idris (5-0, 57 kilograms), Nikolai Samusev (8-0, 66 kilograms), Ildar Kudaibergenov (5-0, 70 kilograms) and a fighter from Kyrgyzstan Aizhigit Erkebai Uulu (6-1, 61 kilograms).
In total, there are eight men's and three women's divisions in the Naiza FC league, and it turns out that more than half of the weight categories do not have champions. A few months ago, the president of the league, Nurbek Karabala, explained this situation in an interview with bbabo.net:
“Now we can put fighters in any weight, where there are no belts, and make them champions. But we need the history of this division, some kind of drama, so that the audience is interested. And not for someone to come, immediately become a champion, and then every time a new champion was beaten. Why is this necessary? We need a quality champion who will go a certain way to the belt."
And this approach of the organization cannot but rejoice. Usually, in young leagues, it is enough for fighters to win almost one fight to immediately become a champion, but Naiza FC honors traditions and history, so over time, vacant belts will find their deserved owners.
Alibi Idris (5-0) - flyweight
The 27-year-old fighter from the Arlan MMA Pro Team has spent all of his fights in the Naiza FC league. He made his debut in November 2019 and after a year and a half became the champion of the organization. He has five victories, three of which were ahead of schedule.
In July last year, he defeated compatriot Aslan Utegaliyev by unanimous decision (9-6). It was his fifth league win and it was the win that gave Idris the long-awaited title.
Alibi is a strong enough fighter, and he is already able to try himself in foreign promotions. But first, he needs a few successful belt defenses on bbabo.net, and then Idris will be able to go to represent Kazakhstan in other countries without a doubt.
Aizhigit Erkebay Uulu (6-1) - bantamweight
The 23-year-old Kyrgyz fighter is still quite young, but at the same time experienced. He made his professional debut at home in 2018. Naiza FC appeared in the league only in 2021, but after the very first fight in Kazakhstan, he became the main contender for the belt.
In February last year, he met with undefeated Kazakhstani Nurbolat Abu (5-1), whom he defeated due to a successful choke hold. It was an upset, and thanks to the bright performance, he deserved a title shot.
In the summer, he met with the champion Zhuman Zhumabekov (11-5) and managed to knock him out in the second segment of the fight. Since then, Aizhigit has been the champion of Naiza FC.
At this weight, the competition is even tougher than at flyweight. Therefore, Erkebay Uulu still has a lot of work to do to keep the championship belt at his waist.
Nikolai Samusev (8-0) - featherweight
The six-time national champion in Muay Thai represents the capital club Tobet Top Team. The 23-year-old fighter has been working with coach Dias Kabduov since the very beginning of his sports career. In August 2018, Samusev began his professional career in MMA, winning by technical knockout at the tournament of the Russian promotion Fight Nights Global.
Starting from May 2019, Nikolai spent his next fights in the Naiza FC league. In two and a half years, he defeated seven opponents, three of whom he finished. In April 2021, he became the featherweight champion, defeating Russian Arsen Baliants by unanimous decision (14-5).
In November, Samusev successfully defended his belt, knocking out compatriot Rayymbek Orynbay (6-3). After this victory, Nikolai made a statement that he was no longer going to fight with other fighters from Kazakhstan. He stated that if in the future the applicants represent Kazakhstan, he will leave the belt vacant.
Samusev has excellent prospects. He is young, but he already has eight wins in eight fights, as well as a great Muay Thai background. It can be assumed that right now it is Nikolai who is the most promising of all current Naiza FC champions.
Ildar Kudaibergenov (5-0) - lightweight
The 32-year-old fighter from Nur-Sultan represents the Arlan MMA Pro Team. He is the oldest champion in the promotion, but at the same time, age matters less in lightweight than in those we talked about above.
He made his MMA debut in 2011, winning a split decision at the Kazakh tournament organized by Bushido Lithuania. Nine years later, in December 2020, Ildar returned to performing.Within three weeks, he had won two consecutive victories in the Naiza FC league and very quickly became a contender for the lightweight belt. Last June, Kudaibergenov faced then-champion Fanil Rafikov (20-5) and defeated him via unanimous decision.
At the end of the year, Ildar held a successful title defense, defeating another Kazakhstani Serikbai Khodjabaev by unanimous decision (11-6). Then there was information that Magomed Kabardiev (7-0) could become Kudaibergenov's next opponent, but then the Arlan MMA Pro Team announced that they would not bring their fighters in a cage with each other.
You can read more about the history of Kudaibergenov here:
Seven years in prison, comeback and championship. The Story of NFC Best Lightweight Ildar Kudaibergenov
Recall that Naiza FC will hold its next tournament on March 5 in Almaty. In the main event of the evening, the vacant welterweight belt will be contested. Kazakh fighter from Russia Serik Razgaliyev (7-1) and Brazilian Douglas de Oliveira (11-5) claim for it.
"Kazakhstani McGregor" is torn in Bellator: refusal of the title and the role of a pioneer
Photo: Naiza FC (1, 2, 4, 5), YouTube channel "Sport Meykindigi" (3)
All news of the Strandzha Cup with the participation of boxers from Kazakhstan
bbabo.Net