Akop Stepanyan

Summary

Akop Stepanyan (Russian: Акоп Степанян, Armenian: Հակոբ Ստեփանյան; born May 6, 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist of Armenian heritage[4] who competed in the featherweight and lightweight divisions of Bellator Fighting Championships and Absolute Championship Berkut.

Akop Stepanyan
Акоп Степанян
Հակոբ Ստեփանյան
Born (1986-05-06) May 6, 1986 (age 37)
Yerevan, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union
ResidenceSaint Petersburg, Russia
NationalityRussian[1]
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[2]
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
DivisionFeatherweight (currently)
Lightweight
Reach68.0 in (173 cm)
StyleTaekwondo, Boxing, ARB
Fighting out ofSaint Petersburg, Leningrad, Russia
TeamRusFighters Sport Club (USA)[3]
Reign Training Center
RankBlack belt in Taekwondo
Master of Sports in Boxing
Master of Sports in Kickboxing[3]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total42
Wins27
By knockout16
By submission2
By decision9
Losses13
By knockout2
By submission8
By decision3
Draws1
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Mixed martial arts career edit

M-1 Global edit

Stepanyan lost via submission (armbar) to Zagalav Mahachev at M-1 Challenge - 2009 Selections 2 in the first round.[5]

Post-M-1 Global edit

Stepanyan lost via unanimous decision (30–28, 29–28, 29–28) to Djamal Kurbanov at FEFoMP - Vladivostok Pankration Open Cup 2009 on April 25, 2009.

Return to M-1 Global edit

Stepanyan lost via submission (rear-naked choke) to Magomed Magomedov at M-1 Challenge - 2009 Selections 5 in the first round.[6]

Stepanyan was released from the M-1 after going 0–2 in the promotion.

Bellator MMA edit

In July, Stepanyan signed in Bellator.[7]

Stepanyan was then entered into the season seven featherweight tournament. His quarterfinal opponent was Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Wagnney Fabiano at Bellator 76.[8] He lost the bout via first round armbar submission.

Stepanyan next faced former Sengoku Featherweight Champion Marlon Sandro in season eight featherweight tournament on February 7, 2013, at Bellator 88.[9] He lost the fight via controversial majority decision.

Stepanyan faced Chris Saunders on March 7, 2013, at Bellator 92.[10] He won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Stepanyan was expected to face Shahbulat Shamhalaev on September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99.[11] However, Shamhalaev withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by Justin Wilcox. Stepanyan dominated the first round, but was stopped by a rear naked choke submission in the second round.

Stepanyan faced Mike Richman at Bellator 106 on November 2, 2013.[12] Stepanyan had Richman in trouble early in the fight, but lost in the first round via TKO.[13]

League S-70 edit

After Bellator dismissal Akop Stepanyan faced ex-UFC fighter Andre Winner. He won via unanimous decision.[14]

Absolute Championship Berkut edit

Stepanyan signed a four-fight deal with the ACB in February, 2017.[15]

Stepanyan faced Mukhamed Kokov on April 15, 2017, at ACB 57: Payback. He lost the fight via submission in the third round.

Stepanyan faced Felipe Cruz on June 17, 2017, at ACB 62. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments edit

ARG (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat) edit

  • Russian Union of Martial Arts
    • Russian National Champion of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat[3]

Kickboxing edit

  • Kick-Boxing Federation of Russia
    • Russian National Champion
    • Silver Medalist European Championship 2004[3]

Taekwondo edit

  • Taekwondo Union of Russia
    • Russian National Champion 2002

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
42 matches 27 wins 13 losses
By knockout 16 2
By submission 2 8
By decision 9 3
Draws 1
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 27–13 (1) Shamil Gasanov Submission (guillotine choke) ProFC 69 December 18, 2021 1 1:40 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Loss 27–12 (1) Roman Silagadze Submission (arm-triangle choke) AMC Fight Nights Global 100 April 10, 2021 2 4:44 Moscow, Russia Return to Featherweight.
Win 27–11 (1) Mikhail Gogitidze TKO (punches) AMC Fight Nights Global 99 December 25, 2020 2 0:59 Moscow, Russia
Win 26–11 (1) Shahin Najafi TKO (punches) GFC 22 December 13, 2019 2 1:35 Krasnodar, Russia
NC 25–11 (1) Elnur Agaev Injury (doctors stoppage) MFP 226 December 15, 2018 1 4:07 Khabarovsk, Russia Return to Lightweight.
Loss 25–11 Magomed Sulumov Decision (unanimous) ACB 89: Aguev vs. Townsend September 8, 2018 3 5:00 Krasnodar, Russia
Loss 25–10 Andrew Fisher TKO (injury) ACB 74: Aguev vs. Townsend November 18, 2017 2 1:01 Vienna, Austria
Win 25–9 Felipe Cruz KO (spinning heel kick) ACB 62: Stepanyan vs. Cruz June 17, 2017 1 4:38 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
Loss 24–9 Mukhamed Kokov Submission (kimura) ACB 57: Payback April 15, 2017 3 0:51 Moscow, Russia Return to Featherweight.
Win 24–8 Thiago Meller Decision (split) League S-70: Plotforma 7th August 21, 2016 3 5:00 Sochi, Russia Catchweight (159 lb) bout.
Win 23–8 Will Chope Decision (split) Abu Dhabi Warriors 4 May 24, 2016 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 22–8 Vener Galiev Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Nights Global 45: Galiev vs. Stepanyan April 22, 2016 3 3:16 Ufa, Russia Catchweight (161 lb) bout.
Win 22–7 Leonardo Laiola TKO (punches) Octagon Fighting Sensation 6: Best of the Best November 20, 2015 1 4:59 Moscow, Russia Won the vacant OFS Lightweight Championship.
Win 21–7 Sung Jo Jong KO (punches) MFP: Cup of the Sakhalin Administration Head 2015 October 31, 2015 1 0:11 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia
Win 20–7 Andre Winner Decision (unanimous) League S-70: Russia vs. World August 29, 2015 3 5:00 Sochi, Krasnodar krai, Russia
Win 19–7 Helson Henriques Decision (unanimous) FEFoMP: Mayor's Cup 2015 June 6, 2015 3 5:00 Khabarovsk, Russia
Win 18–7 Mohamed Hassan Badawy TKO (punches) Octagon Fighting Sensation 4: Challenge the Best May 16, 2015 2 4:19 Yaroslavl, Russia Catchweight (161 lb) bout.
Win 17–7 Clayton Henriques Decision (unanimous) FEFoMP: Pankration & Fight Nights 2 April 18, 2015 3 5:00 Vladivostok, Russia
Win 16–7 Eddie Yagin KO (head kick) FEFoMP: Russia's MMA Supercup December 20, 2014 2 4:44 Khabarovsk, Russia
Win 15–7 Mikhail Kislica TKO (body punch) ProFC 56: Baltic Challenge 6 November 1, 2014 1 4:41 Kaliningrad, Russia
Win 14–7 Anatoli Angielovskyi TKO (spinning back kick and punches) OFS - Octogan Fighting Sensation 2 October 17, 2014 1 2:47 Yaroslavl, Russia Catchweight (158.7 lb) bout; Stepanyan missed weight.
Loss 13–7 Mike Richman TKO (punches) Bellator 106 November 2, 2013 1 4:05 Long Beach, California, United States
Loss 13–6 Justin Wilcox Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 99 September 13, 2013 2 2:20 Temecula, California, United States Bellator Season 9 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal
Win 13–5 Chris Saunders TKO (body kick and punches) Bellator 92 March 7, 2013 3 3:55 Temecula, California, United States Lightweight bout.
Loss 12–5 Marlon Sandro Decision (majority) Bellator 88 February 7, 2013 3 5:00 Duluth, Georgia, United States Bellator Season 8 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss 12–4 Wagnney Fabiano Submission (armbar) Bellator 76 October 12, 2012 1 3:24 Windsor, Ontario, Canada Bellator Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Return to Featherweight.
Win 12–3 Akhmet Aliev KO (punch) League S-70: Russian Championship Finals August 11, 2012 1 2:11 Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia S-70 2012 Russian Lightweight Tournament Final.
Win 11–3 Anatoliy Pokrovsky TKO (body kick) League S-70: Russian Championship Semifinals May 25, 2012 3 1:50 Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia S-70 2012 Russian Lightweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 10–3 Antti Virtanen Submission (guillotine choke) Lappeenranta Fight Night 7 April 14, 2012 1 0:53 Lappeenranta, South Karelia, Finland
Win 9–3 Yevgeniy Lakhin TKO (body punch) League S-70: Russian Championship Second Round February 18, 2012 3 3:19 Omsk, Omsk Oblast, Russia S-70 2012 Russian Lightweight Tournament Second Round.
Win 8–3 Dmitriy Ushkanov Decision (split) FEFoMP - Battle of Empires December 17, 2011 2 5:00 Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
Win 7–3 Babyrbek Samiev Submission (guillotine choke) FWR - Fights With Rules 3 November 25, 2011 1 2:35 Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia
Win 6–3 Atchin Chaoshen Ne Decision (unanimous) FEFoMP - Mayor's Cup 2011 May 7, 2011 2 5:00 Khabarovsk, Khabarovsk Krai, Russia Featherweight bout.
Win 5–3 Aleksey Ershik Decision (unanimous) FEFoMP - Amur Challenge April 16, 2011 2 5:00 Blagoveshchensk, Amur Oblast, Russia Return to Lightweight.
Win 4–3 Mikhail Drinovski Decision (unanimous) Northwestern League of Combat Sambo: Tournament in Memory of Private Korzun October 23, 2010 2 5:00 Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Win 3–3 Kazbek Magomedov TKO (punches) Northwestern League of Combat Sambo - Tournament in Memory of Partisan German September 11, 2010 1 3:24 Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia Welterweight debut.
Win 2–3 Andrei Shpota KO (punch) ProFC - Union Nation Cup 5 February 13, 2010 1 3:42 Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkar Republic, Russia
Win 1–3 Djamal Kurbanov KO (wheel kick) FEFoMP - Mayor's Cup in Pankration November 21, 2009 3 1:09 Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Loss 0–3 Magomed Magomedov Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 5 July 22, 2009 1 3:30 Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
Loss 0–2 Djamal Kurbanov Decision (unanimous) FEFoMP - Vladivostok Pankration Open Cup 2009 April 25, 2009 3 5:00 Vladivostok, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Loss 0–1 Zagalav Mahachev Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 2 April 19, 2009 1 4:55 Saint Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia Lightweight debut.

References edit

  1. ^ "СТЕПАНЯН И ХАСБУЛАЕВ ПОДПИСАНЫ В BELLATOR". Bloodandsweat.ru. 2013-01-24. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  2. ^ "Akop Stepanyan". sherdog.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "Rusfighters". Rusfighters.ru. Archived from the original on 2012-10-31. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
  4. ^ Whitman, Mike (2012-09-13). "Bellator 76 to Feature Featherweight Quarterfinals, Including Wagnney Fabiano, Rad Martinez". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  5. ^ "M-1 Selection. 2-й тур, Обзор и фотогалерея". Mixfight.ru. Archived from the original on 2012-05-22. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  6. ^ "Обзор пятого тура M-1 Selection Russia (ОН-ЛАЙН)". Mixfight.ru. Archived from the original on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2016-05-12.
  7. ^ "Akop Stepanyan signed in the BFC". armboxing.com. Retrieved July 27, 2012.
  8. ^ "Alvarez vs. Pitbull Headlines Bellator 76 at Caesars Windsor October 12th". bellator.com. August 4, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013.
  9. ^ "Stepanyan back in Bellator". valetudo.ru. January 29, 2013.
  10. ^ "last attempt to win". fightbetnetwork.com. March 1, 2013. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Rusfighters vs. Red Fury MMA". tapology.com. July 13, 2013.
  12. ^ "Tourney finalist Mike Richman vs. Akop Stepanyan joins Bellator 106". mmajunkie.com. October 15, 2013.
  13. ^ "Bellator 106 results/photos: Mike Richman drops Akop Stepanyan in first". mmajunkie.com. November 3, 2013.
  14. ^ "Russian super star vs. world". news.sportbox.ru. August 29, 2015.
  15. ^ "Stepanyan signed with ACB". mmaoctagon.ru. February 16, 2017.

External links edit

  • Professional MMA record for Akop Stepanyan from Sherdog