Maria Agapova born on April 7, 1997 in the city of Pavlodar, Republic of Kazakhstan - an outstanding mixed martial arts fighter, competing in the portal's lightweight division Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). During her career, she took part in 15 different competitions.
Detstvo
Maria's upbringing was difficult. Her family environment was unstable; her father struggled with mental health problems and alcoholism, which led to his early death when Maria was just eleven. Maria and her sister were subsequently raised by their mother, who faced her own difficulties. Overburdened with the responsibilities of two jobs and lacking support from her partner, her mother sometimes resorted to physical punishment. It took Maria years to come to terms with her mother's actions and acknowledge the pressure she faced, although it left their relationship strained for a long time.
Maria sought solace in martial arts as a way to protect herself from any form of threat. She first tried karate and found it unsatisfactory, but at age nine she moved to Omsk and began kickboxing, which included regular sparring. After her father's death, her family returned to Pavlodar, where she took up boxing. At the age of 14, Maria already competed as a member of the Kazakhstan national team, and at 16 she began making money from sports. Despite early success, her time with the national team was marred by a poor relationship with her coach, which ultimately led her to pursue a career in MMA. In MMA she found an important mentor in Rinat Sadykov, who had a significant influence on her life and career.
Personal life and vegetarianism
Maria's personal life is no less intriguing than her professional path. Her past includes fights and legal problems, which over time forced her to reconsider her behavior and avoid such confrontations. Dedicated to her career and not yet married, Maria openly stated her reluctance to establish personal connections in the CIS countries, citing concerns about domestic violence and inadequate police response.
Her move to the United States at age 22 marked a new phase in her life that was both challenging and rewarding. At first, her generosity caused her to have financial difficulties, which led to significant debt. During these difficult times, she turned to her artistic skills to generate income, successfully selling her artwork and writing books. These creative pursuits not only brought her financial support, but also allowed her to further explore her talents.
After adopting a vegetarian diet, Maria worked with a nutritionist to develop a meal plan rich in the proteins she needed for her athletic training. Additionally, she continued to express her personal journey through tattoos, a form of self-expression that began in her childhood, despite her family's initial objections.
Career ladder
Maria Agapova began her journey into mixed martial arts in Pavlodar, marking her entrance with notable early victories. Her first win came in 2015 when she beat Yulia Ivanova to secure a unanimous decision. In 2016, she continued her winning streak with a quick submission victory over Daria Kutuzova in the first round. During 2017, Maria won three more victories, with two significant fights taking place in Russia, in Sochi and Moscow. Her successful streak continued in 2018, when she scored another victory at a tournament in China.
After these victories, Maria moved her base to the United States, where she has played all her matches since then. Her initial foray onto American soil was less successful; She suffered her first professional loss to Tracy Cortez in Las Vegas in July 2019 in a match promoted by Dana White of UFC. Returning later that year, she scored victories in two straight fights in Kansas City, and her final match against Marilla Santos was noted as the highlight of the tournament.
This performance led to Maria signing a contract with UFC. She made her debut in the arena in June 2020, defeating Hannah Cyphers by submission in the first round, which also marked one of the best fights. However, she suffered a setback in August, losing by knockout to Shena Dobson. After a year off, she returned to the Octagon in October 2021 to defeat Sabine Mazo via submission in an impressive third round.
Achievements and awards
Maria Agapova's record in mixed martial arts is 12 fights with 10 victories, including three knockouts and five submissions, as well as two defeats, one of which by knockout. Although she has yet to win a single championship, her determination and continuous improvement, combined with the experience of her coaching team, point to a promising future with potential title opportunities.
Maria Agapova in 2024
Maria devotes herself entirely to teaching and personal creativity. Now she is preparing for the next fight. This upcoming match is filled with personal and emotional overtones as the fighters have a shared history of training in the same gym and have since gone their separate ways due to a contentious relationship. The rival publicly made several serious accusations against Maria, which she categorically denies. This argument adds tension to their upcoming match, although Maria is not sure that the match will even take place.
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