One to Watch at UFC 239: Ismail Naurdiev
Ismail “The Austrian Wonderboy” Naurdiev | 18-2 | 5’10; 170 lbs. | Age: 22 | Reach: 74” | Orthodox Stance | Fighting Out of Salzburg, Austria
“The Austrian Wonderboy” Ismail Naurdiev is 18 and 2 professionally with 16 stoppages to his name. Born in the capital of Chechnya, Grozny, Russia, Naurdiev later moved to Salzburg, Austria to double down on his fighting career. The multi-national man made his MMA debut in 2012, breaking out in a four-fight win streak before falling victim to a Cam Kaya (2-0) triangle choke.
Naurdiev sharpened his all-around game and went on to win his next 11 fights. He gained fame around Eastern Europe for his unique arsenal of strikes mixed with lethal knockout power.
After a recent stretch of vicious knockouts, Ismail scored a shot with the UFC to make his name in the Octagon. On just two weeks notice, Naurdiev faced Michel Prazeres who himself was riding an eight-fight winning streak. “The Austrian Wonderboy” went into the cage the biggest underdog on the card but came out three rounds later with a dominant debut decision as he held off the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt on the ground and outstruck him 63 to 15.
Naurdiev now fights on one of the most popular cards of the year, UFC 239, against Chance “Black Eagle” Rencountre (13-3).
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Ismail Naurdiev
(18-2)
Chance Rencountre
(13-3)