Mariya Agapova

Mariya Agapova is a Kazakhstani flyweight who emerged from regional competition in Russia, China, and Kazakhstan with an undefeated record and signed with the UFC in early 2020. She announced herself on the big stage with a spectacular submission of Hannah Cifers in her debut, including a head-kick setup, and earned a second Performance of the Night bonus for a rear-naked choke finish over Sabina Mazo in 2021. These early wins established her as a submission specialist with legitimate finishing ability.

However, Agapova's trajectory took a sharp downward turn from 2022 onward. She lost to Maryna Moroz at UFC 272 via submission, suffered a knee injury that forced her out of competition for months, and then dropped three consecutive fights to Gillian Robertson, Maryna Moroz, and Luana Santos, all by submission. The pattern revealed a fighter whose ground-heavy approach had become predictable and exploitable at the elite level. In July 2024, the UFC removed her from the roster after a 2-4 record in the promotion.

Undeterred, Agapova signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in August 2024 and made her debut in June 2025 against Jessica Eye. Though she lost that bout by decision, the move represents a reset and a search for a fresh start in a sport that rewards her willingness to engage upright and outside the traditional MMA framework. For fans, Agapova embodies the arc of a once-promising fighter learning to adapt or fade away.