Zakir came into Power Slap 14 with something to prove—not just to himself, but to his country. After earning a rare second chance from Dana White to compete again just three weeks after his last match, the Kazakhstan native made the most of his opportunity by delivering a highlight-reel finish that had the entire crowd buzzing.
“It means a lot,” Zakir said after the fight. “I’m grateful to Dana, to Frank—this is a big opportunity not only for me, but for all of Kazakhstan to represent our country on a global stage in this new sport.”
Respect for the Opponent, But No Mercy
Zakir took a clean shot in the opening round that visibly shook him for a moment. But once he regained his composure, it was all business.
“I won’t downplay it—he hit me hard, it rocked me a bit. But after that, I locked in. I knew it was time to destroy,” Zakir said, though he admitted it was tough knowing the opponent had family in the stands. “That part was painful for me, but this is sport.”
The power Zakir displayed in his finishing strike had the audience on their feet. What made it even more impressive? He did it with a completely reworked technique. Due to lingering issues from a previous injury, Zakir had to rebuild his strike mechanics in just three weeks.
“It’s still not where I want it to be,” he admitted. “I’m only using my shoulders, no back, and I’ve had to adjust to using different muscles. But I’ll keep refining it.”
Kazakhstan’s Slap Star on the Rise
While Power Slap is still new in Kazakhstan, Zakir believes it’s gaining traction. “We have a word—‘shapalak’—it means slap. It’s already part of our culture,” he said with a smile.
The love he’s been getting back home is overwhelming. “So many messages from Kazakhstan, from all over the Russian-speaking community. They tell me I inspire them. That means everything.”
After his knockout victory, Zakir hoisted both his teammate Sergey and his coach into the air and carried them over to Dana White in celebration.
“It was pure emotion,” he explained. “I always want to share my victory with those who helped me earn it.”
Language Barriers, But Not Emotional Ones
Though Zakir is still learning English, he’s quickly picking it up—and making friends along the way.
“Everyone in Power Slap is real. No egos, no drama. We all respect each other,” he said. “Even if we slap each other in the match, we shake hands afterward. That’s how athletes should be.”
And while his English is improving, Zakir has also been teaching some Russian words to his fellow strikers—including some they probably shouldn’t repeat.
“I won’t name names, but let’s just say a few of them are learning the wrong words first,” he laughed.
Looking Ahead
Zakir has three months left on his visa, but the Power Slap team is working on extending it with a work visa so he can continue his rise in the sport.
“I’m not done yet. I want to keep growing, keep getting stronger, and one day, be the monster Dana said I can become.”