By Frank Bonada
At the UFC 308 press conference in Abu Dhabi, former IMMAF European Open Champion and undefeated professional fighter Nabotov Dorobshokh (Tajikistan) took an unexpected route to make his case for a UFC contract.
During the Q&A session, Dorobshokh stepped up to the microphone, addressing UFC President Dana White directly and making a pitch for his shot in the octagon.
“I am an undefeated elite athlete from Tajikistan. Nabotov Dorobshokh, nine wins, zero losses,” he declared. “Dana, I don’t have a question – I came here for a fight on short notice. I’ve never had a manager; I did it all by myself. Please give me a chance. Dana, I want to fight in the UFC. I’m ready.”
Dorobshokh’s initiative earned him an unprecedented invitation onto the stage, where he and White shook hands in front an excited Abu Dhabi crowd, fueling speculation that he had secured a UFC contract on the spot.
In a later appearance at the Power Slap 9 post-event conference, White clarified his plans for the 25-year-old fighter, emphasizing that while Dorobshokh wasn’t immediately signed, he’d be given a special opportunity to showcase his skills.
White announced: “I’m going to do ‘Lookin For A Fight’ – it’s a TV show that I do on YouTube with Matt Serra and Din Thomas. ‘The Korean Zombie’ (Chan Sung Jung) has his own fight league. He’s started his own promotion. So I’m going to go do an episode of that in December, in Korea, and I’m going to put that kid in the show. And we’ll watch him fight. I’ll pay for the fight, I’ll let Mick (Maynard) or Sean (Shelby) make the opponent. And we’ll give this guy a fight. See what happens.”
White added, “We’re giving him an opportunity. He stood up on the mic today. He’s getting the opportunity. Train, let’s get you an opponent, train the right way, fight, and see if you can get in the show. This will basically be a like a Contender Series fight.”
Dorobshokh’s journey to this moment is built on his impressive amateur achievements. Undefeated at the 2019 IMMAF European Open Championships, he claimed victories over skilled opponents, including Ondřej Štěpánek (Czech Republic), Franz Hainzl (Austria), and future IMMAF World Champion Zé Machado (Portugal). His amateur success once again showcases the world-class talent that IMMAF consistently cultivates.
Now, Dorobshokh’s pathway to a potential UFC contract awaits, with one shot on the December card to prove he belongs among MMA’s elite.
