Baisangur Susurkaev Is Making the Most of His UFC Opportunity

Baisangur Susurkaev hasn’t wasted any time making his Contender Series opportunity count.

Since winning his UFC contract on Season 9 in August 2025, the middleweight prospect is 3-0 inside the promotion, finishing every opponent and upping his professional record to 12-0. His transition from hopeful newcomer to intriguing UFC prospect has been defined by one word, finishes.

That does not mean the road has been entirely smooth. He was on a hot streak until he withdrew recently. What happens next is up in the air. Still, the results inside the cage have made Susurkaev a compelling example of what can happen when a Contender Series signing immediately converts opportunity into production.

The Season 9 Performance That Opened the Door

Susurkaev appeared on the opening episode of DWCS Season 9 on August 12, 2025, facing Murtaza Talha. He delivered the kind of decisive performance that makes a contract discussion straightforward, stopping Talha with a first-round TKO at 3:04. The victory improved his record to 9-0 and secured his place on the UFC roster.

The performance provided an emphatic introduction, but his turnaround afterward made the story even more unusual. Rather than waiting months for a carefully scheduled debut, Susurkaev returned to competition just four days later at UFC 319 in Chicago. His first official UFC assignment came against Eric Nolan, turning one potentially career-changing week into two separate tests.

Four Days Later, Another Finish

Against Nolan on August 16, Susurkaev showed that his finishing ability extended beyond the striking that earned his contract. He submitted Nolan with a rear-naked choke at 2:01 of the second round, completing a remarkable stretch with two victories in less than a week.

The significance went beyond the quick turnaround. His Contender Series appearance ended with a TKO and his UFC debut ended with a submission. Those contrasting results offered an early indication that opponents would need to prepare for more than one route to defeat. Susurkaev had not simply repeated his audition performance. He had found a different answer on a bigger stage.

Two More Wins Strengthen the Case

Susurkaev returned at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, against Eric McConico. This time, the fight reached the third round before Susurkaev secured a knockout victory with at 1:38. The result moved him to 11-0 overall and gave him consecutive finishes to begin his UFC career.

His next appearance brought another third-round breakthrough. Facing Djorden Santos at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, Susurkaev finished a rear-naked choke at 4:12 of the final round. He landed 107 significant strikes to Santos’ 78 before securing the submission, adding a substantial striking output to another successful finishing performance.

Together, those victories have given his early UFC resume more substance than a single spectacular debut. He has now finished one UFC opponent in the second round and two in the third, demonstrating that his ability to end fights has carried beyond the opening exchanges. His promotional record stands at 3-0, with two submissions and one knockout.