Azat Maksum enters UFC 321 on Saturday, October 25, 2025, with a 15-2 MMA record and a 1-2 mark in the UFC, coming off a hard-fought split-decision loss to Tagir Ulanbekov in June. The Kazakh striker, known as “Qazaq,” has shown resilience and dynamic striking, with four knockout wins and six submissions in his career. His UFC debut was a split-decision victory over Tyson Nam, followed by narrow losses to Charles Johnson and Ulanbekov—both decisions against top-tier competition. Maksum has been a consistent performer on the regional scene and carries the momentum of an undefeated 16-fight streak before his UFC debut. He’s currently ranked outside the top 15 but is in a critical position: a win here could vault him into the flyweight contender conversation, while a loss may trigger a release from the promotion.

Mitch Raposo, the American prospect, enters this bout at 9-3 MMA and 0-2 UFC, having suffered two split-decision losses to established names in his short UFC tenure. Despite his undefeated start in regional promotions, Raposo has struggled to close out fights at the highest level, often outstruck and outmaneuvered in the later rounds. His style is aggressive and pressure-heavy, but his defensive awareness and fight IQ have been exposed against more polished UFC-caliber opponents. With no wins in the promotion and no clear path forward, this fight against Maksum is essentially a do-or-die scenario. The loser of this matchup is widely expected to be cut from the UFC roster, according to multiple MMA analysts, making this one of the highest-stakes flyweight bouts on the preliminary card.

The key storyline is simple: one man’s UFC future ends here. Maksum’s striking volume and scrambles will be tested against Raposo’s relentless forward pressure and grappling attempts. Raposo must close distance early and force a brawl to neutralize Maksum’s reach and accuracy; if he fails, Maksum’s counter-striking and takedown defense will dominate. The matchup lacks historical context—this is their first meeting—but the tactical battle is clear: Maksum’s technical superiority versus Raposo’s raw aggression. With both fighters’ UFC careers on the line, expect a high-tempo, emotionally charged 15 minutes. The winner becomes a dark horse contender; the loser exits the promotion without a win. Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi won’t just be another fight night—it’ll be a career-defining crossroads.

Team	Best Odds
Mitch Raposo	+405 BetOnline.ag	-115	+405	+380	+150	+350	-6500	-115	-102	+275	+104	+351	+394	+405	-133	+375
Draw	+4900 1xBet	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	+4900	-	-	-	-
Azat Maksum	+1800 DraftKings	-115	-520	-530	-233	-450	+1800	-115	-126	-400	-123	-541	-477	-475	-105	-500

Mitch Raposo @ Azat Maksum Odds

Mitch Raposo

Azat Maksum

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