Weight Class: Welterweight
Record: 6-0 (6-1 on Sherdog, second pro fight not counted on Tapology)
Age: 23 (per broadcast of last fight)
Height: 5’11”
Born In: Russia
Training Out Of: School of Martial Arts Alexander Shlemenko
Combined Opponent Records (at the time they fought): 32-29
Key Wins: N/A
Alexander Zyryanov will look to take a massive step forward in his career this weekend when he meets 53-fight veteran Kuerbangjiang Tuluosibake in the finals of the JCK welterweight tournament at JCK King 012.
Zyryanov’s impressive amateur career saw him compile a 13-1 record in the span of less than two years before making his pro debut in 2023 at SFC 8, where he submitted Sergey Penyevskoy in the first round with a rear naked choke. The 23-year-old was stopped in the opening round of his sophomore outing one month later, however the result of that fight is recognized by Sherdog, but not by Tapology.
As is sometimes the case with Russian fighters, “Drago” returned to amateur competition at SFC: MMA Grand Prix in 2024 and secured three wins in one night before he made his JCK debut later that year and secured his second pro win with another first-round submission. Zyryanov had a busy 2025, as he won a second-straight fight via anaconda choke and knocked out Abhijeet Petkar in just 44 seconds before he extended his run of first-round finishes by stopping Andi and Sejilahu as part of JCK’s welterweight tournament.
A cursory glance at Zyryanov’s record shows that he’s both a dangerous finisher and someone that prefers to get his work done on the ground. Opponents that find themselves on their knees need to be wary of the lanky Russian’s nasty front choke game, and he can also quickly hop on the back to lock up a rear naked choke when a fighter makes any attempt to get to their feet.
Zyryanov hasn’t shown off an especially effective takedown game as of yet, but he’s made up for that with his ability to capitalize on any minor mistakes his opponents may make during grappling exchanges. He’s also a threat to find submissions from top position, and he’s happy to rain down ground and pound with both punches and elbows in order to open up those opportunities.
The Russian’s fairly minimal striking game is aided by his long frame, and he’ll constantly pump out his lead hand and remain bouncing on his feet while a fight stays standing. He’s shown off some decent timing on his 1-2 combination as an opponent comes forward and does seem to pack a bit of power. He’ll also work in some occasional front and low kicks, along with spinning back kick attempts to the midsection of his opposition.
Zyryanov hasn’t faced particularly notable competition during his pro career, and a few of the fighters he’s beaten were also stepping in on short notice. That being said, he’s made short work of everyone he’s faced, which is exactly what you’d like to see from a prospect that still has plenty of time to gather more experience and keep improving.
The 23-year-old should continue to develop his skills under the tutelage of Alexander Shlemenko and is already a very promising prospect thanks to his nasty submission game. It would be a pretty significant step forward for him if he’s able to defeat a very experienced opponent in Tuluosibake and win the JCK welterweight tournament this weekend.