Mariya Agapova is a Kazakhstani mixed martial artist. She currently competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Her personal MMA record is 10-4-0 (W-L-D).
Mariya Agapova was born on April 7, 1997, in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. She started training martial arts around the age of eight in order to learn to defend herself.
Mariya Agapova MMA Career
Before turning professional Mariya Agapova had several amateur matches at the WMMAA – Asian MMA Championships, recording 3 wins (versus Samara Shambetova, Tatiana Chulkina, and Liliya Kazak) and 1 loss (to Giuangmei Han).
MMA debut
Mariya Agapova made her professional MMA debut On August 29, 2015, versus Yuliya Ivanova at the WFCA 8 – Irtysh Battle. She won the fight via unanimous deision.
Early MMA career
Mariya Agapova fought her early MMA career exclusively in Russia, China and Kazakhstan.
On August 27, 2016, she fought against Dariya Kutuzova at the WFCA 28 – Irtysh Battle and won via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
On April 29, 2017, she registered another win versus Yulia Litvinceva at the Brave CF 6 – Kazakhstan via TKO in the first round.
On August 24, 2017, she faced Yulia Kutsenko at the FNG – Fight Nights Global 72 and won the fight via armbar submission.
On December 16, 2017, Mariya Agapova registered another professional MMA victory at the FNG – Fight Nights Global 82 versus Liliya Kazak via split decision.
On July 21, 2018, she won the bout versus Na Liang at the Heroine FC 2 – Heroine Fighting Championship 2 via TKO in the first round.
Thus, she amassed an undefeated record of 6–0-0 (W-L-D) prior to debuting on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. On July 30, 2019, Mariya Agapova appeared at Dana White’s Contender Series 22, facing Tracy Cortez, but lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Invicta FC career
Despite losing at the Dana White’s Contender Series, she was awarded with a contract with Invicta FC.
On September 6, 2019, Mariya Agapova made her Invicta Fighting Championships debut on September 6, 2019, against Alexa Conners at Invicta FC: Phoenix Series 2. She won the fight via a submission in Round 1.
On October 4, 2019, she faced Marilia Santos at the Invicta FC 37 – Gonzalez vs. Sanchez and won via TKO in Round 1, earning her the Performance of the Night award.
UFC career
On June 13, 2018, Mariya Agapova made her professional UFC debut versus Hannah Cifers at the UFC on ESPN 10 – Eye vs. Calvillo. She won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in Round 1.
On August 22, 2020, she lost to Shana Dobson at the UFC on ESPN 15 – Munhoz vs. Edgar via TKO in Round 2.
Mariya Agapova returned to the victories on October 9, 2021, versus Sabina Mazo at the UFC Fight Night 194 – Dern vs. Rodriguez. She won the fight via rear-naked choke submission in Round 3.
On March 5, 2022, she lost to Maryna Moroz at the UFC 272 – Covington vs. Masvidal via arm-triangle choke submissions.
On September 17, 2022, Mariya Agapova registered another loss to Gillian Robertson at the UFC Fight Night 210 – Sandhagen vs. Song via rear-naked choke technical submission in Round 2.