Yousri Belgaroui

The Bekoev fight gave Belgaroui another meaningful name to pair with the Contender Series success, and he got it by rallying into a third-round finish. That mattered because it suggested his MMA adaptation was not only about controlling favorable striking looks early but about carrying danger long enough to finish a solid opponent late.

Key moments

• Stopped Azamat Bekoev 55 seconds into round three.
• The finish gave Belgaroui a second consecutive UFC-level statement win.
• It reinforced that his power and composure could hold up in longer fights.

Against Ahmed Sami, Belgaroui did something nearly as valuable as a knockout by winning five full rounds and taking a unanimous decision. That mattered because it suggested his game was becoming less fragile in MMA terms and because the win gave him a championship-level regional result before the Contender Series call arrived.

Key moments

• Beat Ahmed Sami by unanimous decision over five rounds.
• The victory came in a title-fight style regional main event setting.
• It gave Belgaroui a longer-form win before his 2024 DWCS opportunity.

Belgaroui's body attack and long-knee game were on display against Kvelidze, whom he finished at the very end of round one.

Key moments

• Stopped Giorgi Kvelidze at 4:59 of round one.
• The finish came from a knee to the body followed by punches.
• It put Belgaroui back on track after the Marco Tulio loss.

Belgaroui answered the close Ahmed Sami loss quickly by stopping Samir Zaidi late in the opening round at UAE Warriors 27.

Key moments

• Stopped Zaidi by first-round KO/TKO at 4:32.
• The win came one fight after the narrow Ahmed Sami defeat.
• Re-established Belgaroui's finishing threat on the UAE Warriors circuit.

That result mattered later because Belgaroui eventually avenged it in a five-round win at Levels Fight League 11, turning an early regional setback into one of the more meaningful corrections on his résumé.

Key moments

• Lost a split decision to Sami after three rounds in Abu Dhabi.
• The bout stood out as a competitive catchweight matchup rather than a one-sided defeat.
• Belgaroui later avenged the result with a unanimous decision win in February 2024.