EXCLUSIVE: When the temperature dropped, and the snow started to fall, Zhalgas Zhumagulov and his friends, would cheekily aggravate the local Kazakh bus drivers by engaging in their favourite hobby.
On November 9, the popular fighter will return to action against Aaron Aby at Oktagon 63 inside the Tipos Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov used to infuriate bus drivers
Zhalgas Zhumagulov is a fighter renowned for not just his tremendous performances inside the cage, but also his wacky hairstyle and charismatic personality.
With a wealth of experience inside the UFC, the gifted mixed martial artist is ready to take Oktagon MMA by storm, with an ambition of becoming the promotion’s flyweight champion.
But his journey to superstardom started long ago, in his home of Aktobe, Kazakhstan. As a youngster, ‘Zhako’ loved causing mischief, with him and his pals often pushing the boundaries of fun, as they aimed to take advantage of the freezing weather, much to the anger of the bus drivers.
In an exclusive interview with Sporf, the fighter laughed: “One of my favorite childhood memories is how, during winter, my friends and I would grab onto the back bumper of a bus and slide along the snow. It was such a thrill: we’d ride along, feeling the cold wind on our faces, until the driver noticed us and jumped out to chase us. Those moments, running from him on the slippery road, were filled with laughter and pure joy. That was true childhood!”
However, while sprinting away from the furious bus drivers certainly fueled his adrenaline, it wasn’t enough to fully satisfy Zhumagulov’s need for thrills, with the natural-born fighter falling in love with MMA.
Zhalgas Zhumagulov promises ‘surprises’ in Oktagon MMA
Blessed with talent in abundance, the skilled practitioner has travelled the world, picking up major scalps, including Jerome Rivera at UFC 264 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But it’s not just his fighting prowess that separates him from the pack, but his outrageous hairstyle, which gained massive attention among fans. And while he’s waved goodbye to the magnificent barnet, rumour has it, that his famous bob could be making a comeback in Oktagon MMA.
Zhumagulov chuckled: “My old hairstyle really became iconic. During a 5-month training camp, I realized that finding a good barber there wasn’t easy, so I decided not to cut my hair, just trimmed my bangs a little myself. What’s next – you’ll have to wait and see. I can say one thing: a new Zhalgas is coming, and I’m heading to conquer Europe. So get ready for some surprises!”
Featured Image Credit: Oktagon MMA
