Askar Askarov gets first UFC win and already sets sights on flyweight title shot

LAS VEGAS – Askar Askarov beat Tim Elliott with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 246 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Askarov, who stayed unbeaten and picked up his first win in the UFC after a draw in his promotional debut.

Result: Askar Askarov def. Tim Elliott via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Askar Askarov (10-0-1 MMA, 0-0-1 UFC) vs. Tim Elliott (15-9-1 MMA, 4-7 UFC)
Key stat: Elliott landed three takedowns, but Askarov narrowly edged him in the striking, 96-86, and took the win.

Askarov on the fight’s key moment

“I was confident that I took the first and second round, so I was expecting for them to call me the winner. I knew that he was very unorthodox and that it would be a difficult fight, so my coaches created a great game plan for me and I stuck to that. I wanted to focus on my striking and you could see that it was successful.”

Askarov on his first UFC victory

“I was expecting to get my first UFC win back in Mexico, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. Now my UFC journey is really beginning and I’m happy to get the win.”

Askarov on what he wants next

“I started my year with a great win over a top-ranked opponent, so I hope that I will be in the top 10 now. I want to fight more guys in that top 10. I’d love to fight three more times this year and earn a title shot and prove what I can do.”

To hear more from Askarov, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.