A video interview has been released featuring Zhalgas Zhumagulov discussing his first career knockout victory. The fighter's eldest son and coach Sergey Morozov attended the fight. In the interview, Zhumagulov addressed the topic of potentially returning to the UFC. He also discussed what he described as the "madness" of modern popular MMA and problems facing young fighters in the sport today. The conversation covered various aspects of his career and the current state of mixed martial arts. The intimate nature of the interview, with family present, provided personal insight into the fighter's perspective on the sport.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov has opened up about his first career knockout win and the possibility of a return to the UFC in a newly released video interview, with the conversation taking on a personal tone thanks to the presence of his eldest son and teammate Sergey Morozov.
Zhumagulov, 37, holds a professional record of 14-9 and competes out of American Top Team. The Kazakhstani flyweight is known for his relentless output, averaging an impressive 5.24 significant strikes landed per minute — a rate that makes his first finish by knockout a notable milestone in his career. He fights out of a switch stance and stands five-foot-four with a 66-inch reach.
Morozov, also 37 and a fellow Kazakhstani training out of American Top Team, attended the fight to support his son and was part of the interview setting. A bantamweight with a 19-5 record, Morozov brings his own decorated résumé to the gym, averaging 3.63 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing strikes at a rate of 3.01 per minute.
In the interview, Zhumagulov touched on a possible UFC return, though no official booking has been announced. He also spoke candidly about what he called the "madness" of modern popular MMA, and raised concerns about the challenges facing young fighters trying to make their way in the sport today.
Why it matters
- Zhumagulov's first career knockout signals potential evolution in his finishing ability after years as a high-volume striker
- A UFC return, if it materializes, would bring a 14-9 fighter with elite striking output back to the promotion's flyweight division
- His comments on the state of MMA and the pressures on emerging fighters add a broader perspective beyond his own career trajectory
