ANOTHER HIGHLIGHT KO FOR @JudoRazak!
Less than 30 seconds in #UFCVegas35 pic.twitter.com/1boiMBLTfB— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) August 29, 2021
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Abdul Razak Alhassan’s prodigious physical tools do not always coincide with the results.
One of the more unpredictable competitors on the Ultimate Fighting Championship roster, the volatile judoka will toe the line against Joaquin Buckley in a three-round UFC Fight Night 201 middleweight showcase on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Alhassan, 33, has compiled a 5-4 record across his nine outings inside the Octagon. He last appeared at UFC on ESPN 30, where he needed just 17 seconds to strike down Alessio Di Chirico with a head kick on Aug. 28.
As Alhassan moves ever closer to his potential showstopper opposite Buckley, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. He hails from a hometown rich in combat sports history.
Alhassan was born on Aug. 11, 1985 in Accra, Ghana—the capital of the coastal African country. It was also the birthplace of three world champion boxers: Azumah Nelson, Josh Clottey and Ike Quartey.
2. Better late than never accurately describes his arrival.
“Judo Thunder” did not make his professional mixed martial arts debut until the age of 28. Alhassan punched out Kolby Adams in 20 seconds at Xtreme Knockout 20 on Nov. 23, 2013. In fact, 12 of his 15 career bouts have taken place since he turned 30.
3. Seasoned observers know not to blink when he fights.
Alhassan sports seven sub-minute finishes among his 11 pro victories. In addition to his aforementioned routs of Adams and Di Chirico, he cut down Matt McKeon with punches 47 seconds into their Feb. 28, 2015 encounter under the Rocks Xtreme MMA banner, wiped out Ken Jackson with punches 40 seconds into their Aug. 13, 2016 pairing inside Rage in the Cage OKC, brought down Jos Eichelberger with punches 57 seconds into their Oct. 14, 2016 clash under the Legacy Fighting Championship flag, knocked out Charlie Ward 53 seconds into their Nov. 19, 2016 match at UFC Fight Night 99 and laid out Niko Price with punches 43 seconds into their Sept. 8, 2018 confrontation a UFC 228.
4. He does not see eye to eye with judges.
The Ghanaian knockout artist has gone the distance three times in 15 professional appearances and owns a 0-3 mark in those bouts. Alhassan was outpointed by Omari Akhmedov at UFC Fight Night 109, Mounir Lazzez at UFC on ESPN 13 and Jacob Malkoun at UFC on ESPN 22.
5. He prepares at high altitude.
Once a member of the Fortis MMA stable, Alhassan now trains at the Elevation Fight Team camp in Denver. There, at 5,280 miles above sea level, he sharpens his formidable skills alongside Alistair Overeem, Justin Gaethje, Neil Magny, Drew Dober and Curtis Blaydes, among others.