This video details the story of Askar Masarov, a Ukrainian MMA fighter who fraudulently manipulated his fight record to gain entry into the UFC. The video exposes his deceptive tactics, including name changes, fabricated fight results, and fake fight footage, and chronicles the eventual exposure of his fraud.
Askar Masarov's fraudulent record: Masarov, originally Artur Shakov, fabricated a significant portion of his MMA record to appear more successful than he actually was. This included creating fake fights and promotions, changing his name to obscure his poor record, and attempting to remove losses from his official record.
The exposure of the fraud: Websites such as Sherdog and Tapology, which meticulously track fight results, eventually uncovered Masarov's deception through inconsistencies and fabricated evidence. Multiple instances of fake fight posters, manipulated fight footage, and false claims were revealed.
Masarov's UFC debut and aftermath: Despite the exposed fraud, Masarov made his UFC debut. His performance was poor, resulting in a first-round loss. He was subsequently released from the UFC and received a six-month ban from the Nevada Athletic Commission due to a failed drug test. Further investigations continued to uncover more falsified information about his record even after his UFC release.
The vulnerability of MMA record-keeping: The case highlights the vulnerabilities within lower-level MMA record-keeping, where less scrutiny allows for the manipulation of fight results and the creation of false records.
