The “Lazy King” is ready to put on a “lazy show” for “lazy people.”
With a record of 15-1, Abdoul Abdouraguimov is viewed by many as potentially MMA’s best prospect outside of a major promotion, if someone with 16 professional fights can be even considered a prospect.
Born in Dagestan, Abdouraguimov has made it a priority to become fluent in English, cut promos, put on exciting fights, finish opponents, and display his quirky personality. So why isn’t he the UFC?
“This is the real question,” Abdouraguimov recently told MMA Junkie. “Myself, even everyone around me, we don’t know. UFC is a private company. They do what they want. Honestly, I don’t know why. Today, it’s a business. You have to know some good people in the world to get past. Today, I don’t have this kind of connection, those strong connections. That’s why with waiting. I’m a guy, I want to stay positive. I’ll do my job and we’ll see if the opportunities are going to come to us after each fight. It’s always something new that comes, so we’ll see. We’re very positive. Let’s see what happens.”
Recap #02:
Le jeudi 3 février 2022 avait lieu #ARES3:
Abdoul Abdouraguimov –Godofredo Pepey
Le combat pour le titre à 77kg a tenu ses (courtes) promesses.Victoire par soumission à 2:54min de la fin du premier round.
Bravo @LazyKingMMA qui passe à (14-1) pic.twitter.com/6NT2M4KNJ7— French MMA (@FrenchMma_) February 7, 2022
In a day and age where the “new breed” of mixed martial artists, fighters who started practicing at a young age, is spotlighted, Abdouraguimov is a rare exception. While he wrestled since 16, he began his MMA fighter path at 21. Within two weeks, he was a blue belt. He turned pro without any amateur bouts.
Abdouraguimov credits much of his swift success to an unusual fighter attribute that earned him his nickname: laziness. Don’t get it twisted, Abdouraguimov puts in the work, but only when he feels like it, when it’s necessary.
“I have a lazy character,” Abdouraguimov said. “It’s lazy but smart. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to work hard and all this stuff, but if it isn’t efficient, I don’t want it. For me, it must be efficient and optimized. I’m smart-lazy. … To be lazy, you’re going to get less injured. Too much work is never good. Too much of anything is never good. I see some amateur fighters. They train more than me. They train four or five times a day.”
From Dagestan to Germany to France, Abdouraguimov has been around the world. That’s why he doesn’t like to single out one specific region, location, or group of people he represents. But he does understand the value in connecting with fans through language and personality.
Just check out the time he stole the show – from the crowd – during a potential No. 1 contender fight for his ARES FC welterweight title.
During this break, Abdoul Abdouraguimov warms up the audience in the dome
#ARES9 pic.twitter.com/1ZruDDsTpm
— ARES Fighting Championship (@ares_fighting) November 3, 2022
Multilingual, Abdouraguimov is currently pushed as the face of ARES, a France-based promotion. Already a star among fans in the region, Abdouraguimov seemed to many to be a shoo-in for the UFC’s debut in Paris this past September.
Despite a “Submission of the Year” candidate triangle against UFC alum Godofredo Pepey, and a one-sided mauling of Bellator alum Karl Ammosou that led to a doctor stoppage, the call from the UFC never came. Abdouraguimov attended the event as a fan instead – all swagged out, of course.
As he walked the streets of Paris in the hours prior to the event, Abdouraguimov had a chance encounter with a very important player in the grand scheme of things, UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard.
“I went to talk with him a little bit and he said, ‘Yes, I know you,’ but he doesn’t have the power to make (those) decisions,” Abdouraguimov said.
Maynard is in charge of the UFC women’s divisions, as well as men’s flyweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight. Sean Shelby heads the welterweight division’s matchmaking and is the one Abdouraguimov would’ve preferred to run into.
Vous connaissez tous ma propagande acharnée pour Abdoul , vous pensez vraiment que j’allais laisser Mick Maynard
(recruteur ufc) . Ce baladé tranquillement dans la capitale ?
C’est mal connaitre MMAPropagande
.. #ABDOULATUFC
Trad en com au cas oupic.twitter.com/uEhDGLQKBV
— MMA PROPAGANDE (@MMAPropagande) September 4, 2022
Until the UFC opportunity comes, however, Abdouraguimov plans to keep doing what he’s good at: winning. Meanwhile, his supporters will continue their campaign of decorating the UFC’s comment sections with crown and koala emojis, an ode to Abdouraguimov’s impromptu upside-down victory celebration.
Le Lazy show
pic.twitter.com/Jj6NYo6129
— ABDOUL ABDOURAGUIMOV (@LazyKingMMA) February 17, 2022
With 12 finishes in 15 pro appearances, Abdouraguimov has already captured one title and will go for a second division’s strap Jan. 20 at ARES FC 11 vs. Rafal Haratyk (16-4-2). If the call comes thereafter, Abdouraguimov will still be ready.
“It’s obvious I’ll bring the lazy show to the American people,” Abdouraguimov said. “I’m the ‘Lazy King’ and I’m making the lazy show. There are not many fighters who can make a fight and who can make a show. I can make both. I can talk in English. Show me a lot of fighters who came from Dagestan, Russia who can talk English and who are not shy to talk. I’m not shy to talk. I’m not shy to make a show, a performance. I’m not shy to fight, also.
“Even in my fights, I don’t know how it’s going to be finished. I, myself, in one of my last fights, was surprised I hit an inverted triangle choke. I had never done it in my life. I’m very creative and you can expect the unexpected. I’ll put on a ‘Lazy King’ show.”
Check out MMA Junkie’s full interview with “The Lazy King” below:
Sloths, backflips, and inverted triangles: ‘The Lazy King’ Abdoul Abdouraguimov awaits UFC call