Zubaira Tukhugov

Ultimate Fighting Championship In December 2013, it was announced that Tukhugov had signed a contract with UFC and was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Thiago Tavares on February 15 at UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi. However, Tavares was forced to pull out due to an undisclosed injury, and was replaced by UFC newcomer Douglas Silva de Andrade. Tukhugov dominated the fight and got a unanimous decision win.

Tukhugov later faced Ernest Chavez on October 4, at UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story. He won the fight via technical knockout due to punches in the first round.

Tukhugov was expected to face Thiago Tavares on June 6, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 68 However, the pairing was scrapped after Tukhugov suffered a rib injury.

Tukhugov faced Phillipe Nover on December 10, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 80. He won the fight by split decision.

Tukhugov next faced Renato Moicano on May 14, 2016 at UFC 198. In a controversial series of events, despite Tukhogov suffering a kick to the groin in the first round and again in the second round, referee Eduardo Herdy signaled the competitors to continue. Tukhogov lost the fight via split decision.

Tukhugov was expected to face Tiago Trator on December 9, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 102. However, on November 14, Tukhugov was pulled from the card after being notified by USADA of a potential anti-doping violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collected earlier. In February 2018, it was announced that Tukhugov received a two years USADA suspension and contributed USD ten thousand dollar for the arbitration proceedings in testing positive for ostarine from a sample collected on October 29, 2016.

Tukhugov was scheduled to face Artem Lobov on October 27, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 138. However, it was reported that Tukhugov was removed from the fight due his role in the UFC 229 post-fight melee.

After a three-year lay-off, Tukhugov returned to face Lerone Murphy on September 7, 2019 at UFC 242. The back-and-forth fight ended in a split draw, with two judges awarding a 29-28 win to different fighters and the third seeing it as a 28-28 draw.

Tukhugov faced Kevin Aguilar on February 23, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Tukhugov faced Hakeem Dawodu on September 27, 2020 at UFC 253. At the weigh-ins, Tukhugov weighed in at 150 pounds, four pounds over the non-title featherweight fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Tukhugov was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to his opponent Dawodu. Tukhugov lost the fight via split decision.

Tukhugov was scheduled to face Ricardo Ramos on March 13, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 187. A week before the event, Tukhugov pulled out due to undisclosed reasons. Promotion officials elected to remove Ramos from the card entirely. The Ramos bout was rescheduled for October 30, 2021 at UFC 267. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Tukhugov was scheduled to face Nate Landwehr on August 6, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 40, However, Tukhugov pulled out of the fight due to alleged visa issues which restricted his travel.

Tukhugov was scheduled to face Lucas Almeida on October 22, 2022 at UFC 280. The bout was canceled just minutes before weigh-ins, due to weight management issues.

Tukhugov was scheduled to face Joel Álvarez on February 14, 2023 at UFC 284. However, Alvarez withrew from the event for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Elves Brenner. At the weigh-ins, Tukhugov weighed in at 157.5 pounds, one and a half pound over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Tukhugov was fined 30% of his purse, which went to Brenner. He lost the fight via split decision.

On February 28, 2023 Tukhugov was released from the UFC roster.

Professional Fighters League Tukhugov was scheduled to face Artem Lobov on October 3, 2025, at PFL Champions Series 3. However on September 30, the promotion announced that the bout was scrapped due to Lobov's suffered an injury in training.

Controversies

UFC 229 Nurmagomedov-McGregor post-fight incident At UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped the cage after his victory and charged toward Conor McGregor's team mate Dillon Danis. Soon after, McGregor and Khabib's cousin Abubakar Nurmagomedov attempted to exit the octagon, but a scuffle broke out between them after McGregor hit Abubakar, who then punched him back. Tukhugov jumped the cage and punched McGregor before security pulled him and Asadulla Emiragaev away. On January 29, 2019, the NSAC announced a one-year suspension for Tukhugov, (retroactive to October 6, 2018) and a $25,000 fine. On May 22, 2019, NSAC reduced the suspensions by 35 days which allowed Tukhugov to be eligible to compete again on September 1, 2019.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Elves Brener Decision (split) UFC 284

Perth, Australia Win

Ricardo Ramos Decision (unanimous) UFC 267

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Hakeem Dawodu Decision (split) UFC 253

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Kevin Aguilar TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker

Auckland, New Zealand Draw

Lerone Murphy Draw (split) UFC 242

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Renato Moicano Decision (split) UFC 198

Curitiba, Brazil Win

Phillipe Nover Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ernest Chavez TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Douglas Silva de Andrade Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Mousasi

Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil Win

Vaso Bakočević KO (spinning back kick) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 13

Moscow, Russia Win

Denys Pidnebesnyi Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 58

Grozny, Russia Win

Kuat Khamitov Decision (split) Alash Pride FC: Great Battle

Almaty, Kazakhstan Win

Harun Kina TKO (punches) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 10

Moscow, Russia Win

Romano De Los Reyes Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 8

Moscow, Russia Win

Anatoliy Pokrovsky Decision (unanimous) League S-70: Plotforma Cup 2012

Sochi, Russia Loss

Akhmet Aliev KO (head kick) League S-70: 2011 Russian Grand Prix 4

Moscow, Russia Win

Ivan Lapin Decision (split) League S-70: 2011 Russian Grand Prix 3

Moscow, Russia Win

Risim Mislimov Decision (unanimous) MMA Corona Cup 20

Moscow, Russia Loss

Anton Telepnev Decision (split) ProFC 22

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Murad Abdulaev TKO (doctor stoppage)

Win

Rasul Shovhalov Decision (unanimous)

Loss

Murad Machaev Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Danil Turinghe TKO (punches)

Win

Evgeniy Slonskiy Decision (unanimous) ProFC 15

Moscow, Russia Win

Viktor Finagin Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Roman Markovich Decision (unanimous)

Win

Isa Musaev Decision (unanimous)