Naiza Fighting Championship returns this weekend with a loaded card featuring some of Kazakhstan’s top prospects. Two titles headline the event, with a number of fighters putting their undefeated records on the line. Here’s who to watch:
Nikolay Samusev, 27, Featherweight, 9-1-0, Kazakhstan
Derailed back in December of 2023 in his first and only appearance with Brave CF, Samusev slipped during a high kick, fell on his arm, and was forced out of the cage until his most recent performance in November. Now back on the road to the UFC, Nikolay Samusev is set for his second fight since returning from injury.
Samusev draws a matchup with major implications this weekend. He’ll be looking to return to his throne after previously holding the Naiza featherweight title in 2021 before moving on to Brave. Current titleholder Baergeng Jieleysisi might ring a bell for Road to UFC fans. He’s gone 2-2 across RTU appearances, including a run to the bantamweight final in 2024.
It was clear last time out that Nikolay Samusev had some rust from his two-year layoff, though expect we’ll see a much more comfortable version of the Kazakh fighter against Baergeng Jieleysisi.
Samusev has an extremely entertaining offensive game. He’s highly unorthodox in the way he brings his arsenal to the table, mixing in flying knees, judo trips, spinning backfists, and an overall willingness to throw down. His right hand packs serious power, whipping overhands that have put the lights out on several opponents in the past.
While most can correctly assume Samusev would rather dance with his opposition at range, the 27-year-old is also a willing grappler. He’s eager to dictate the pace of the fight and has no problem putting in a slower round or two to secure a victory, which may be his best attribute: Nikolay Samusev knows how to win.
If Samusev can continue making strides toward his past form, he’ll be back near the top of various prospect rankings in no time. Jieleysisi will without a doubt be the Kazakh fighter’s most experienced opponent to date, and now the question remains: can Nikolay Samusev make a statement? Fantastic matchmaking for the title at Naiza FC 84.
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Sairan Sagyndykov, 23, Bantamweight, 4-0-0, Kazakhstan
23-year-old bantamweight Sairan Sagyndykov should really be everyone’s favorite fighter. Just two fights into his career, he accepted a matchup against brutal finisher Tanirbergen Maratov, eventually emerging victorious to move to 3-0-0 as a professional. Now, he’s back in there again five months later, taking on undefeated Shakar Adyl, who has scored all three of his victories by finish.
Sagyndykov has incredible length for a bantamweight, possessing a comfortability at range that most fighters simply don’t have this early in their careers. He showcased plenty of skill during his run as an amateur at the GAMMA World Championships, which is a major reason why I’ve zeroed in on his early mixed martial arts career.
Similar to Samusev, he’s another fighter who is really good at winning. It sounds silly to say, but Sairan Sagyndykov manages the optics of his fights incredibly well. He’s never moving backward for too long or settling in bottom position. He always finds a way out. When Sagyndykov is in the cage, you know it’s going to be competitive.
His best offensive tools come to life when he’s pressuring with his Muay Thai style. He has a nice assortment of knees and elbows that have proved to be game changers in the past, while his body kick is truly high-level.
When threatened in the grappling department, Sagyndykov scrambles well, regaining position quickly and returning to his feet. He’s strong offensively, and standing 5’9”, he typically holds a size advantage that can make him a handful on the ground for smaller opponents. His matchup with Dastan Suleymanov really displayed the quality of his takedown arsenal and toughness, as he brought Suleymanov to the ground six times despite being knocked down by a spinning heel kick.
Sagyndykov has been able to bring his strengths together so far to build an undefeated record, but Shakar Adyl will be a massive threat to end that streak. A wise game plan is always in order for the Kazakh fighter, so I’m predicting Sairan Sagyndykov to implement his grappling early and disrupt the timing of his counterpart. This is an extremely high-level matchup at 135 pounds, with the potential for a superstar to emerge in the aftermath.
Begzhan Abilkassym, 23, Strawweight, 6-0-0, Kazakhstan
I’ve never covered men’s strawweight in the past, but I enjoyed Begzhan Abilkassym’s tape way too much to leave him out of this preview. To note, at 5’5”, I fully believe Abilkassym has the frame to fill out into a top prospect at flyweight if he ever desired a run toward the UFC.
Regardless, Begzhan “Headhunter” Abilkassym is an absolute killer and has been for quite a while now. Another GAMMA veteran, Abilkassym made some noise from August 2021 to March 2022, putting together a 4-1 record across two tournaments.
After turning professional in 2023, Abilkassym debuted with Naiza Fighting Championship from the start. He opened his career with early success, scoring a debut TKO when he finished Mukhammadzhon Komilzhonov at the end of round one via ground-and-pound. He’s truly only gotten better since then, and the accolades are just now starting to hit the shelf at Abilkassym’s home.
Back in November 2025, the 23-year-old Kazakh fighter captured the Naiza FC strawweight championship, finishing incumbent titleholder Bezhan Khojaliev in the first round. It’s only up from here for “Headhunter,” as he now goes for his first title defense against Berdibek Sirazhov, a 6-1 submission specialist. Sirazhov, currently on a four-fight win streak, made waves last summer by securing two first-round finishes in back-to-back months.
Abilkassym is a tricky puzzle to figure out. Defensively, he’s stout, never settling if he ends up being controlled along the cage. He constantly keeps his body moving, probing the outside on his bicycle while downloading information. There’s a surprising level of power in his hands for a fighter weighing in at 115 pounds. He legitimately put Khojaliev out cold with a combination on the feet, which continues to support my belief that Abilkassym could be a real player at flyweight.
Personally, I rated Begzhan Abilkassym’s last opponent, Bezhan Khojaliev, much higher than his current assignment in Berdibek Sirazhov. Expect this should be another first-round finish for “Headhunter.” Still, this matchup should be another one to look forward to. Both men are very much live for an early finish with the title on the line. Definitely a must watch at strawweight.
