Ozzy Dugulubgov (photo via WSOF)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Ozzy Dugulubgov has become one of WSOF’s rising lightweights thanks to the training he’s received from the renowned Renzo Gracie Team, but the fighter’s father has also been a driving force behind his success.

After relocating to the U.S. several years back, Dugulubgov has been pursuing a career in fighting, which his father began building the foundation for decades ago.

“Basically I got involved in fighting because of my father,” the 25 year-old Dugulubgov relayed on a recent episode of Full Contact Fighter Radio. “He’s the one who put me on this path. He’s my first coach and he’s still coaching me even though he’s overseas.”

In fact, Dugulubgov hails from a region that is rich in martial arts tradition and MMA talent.

“I came originally from Russia, from the North Caucasus mountains; obviously most people know that there’s so many good fighters coming from there, Khaib Nurmagomedov, Rustam Khabilov and many other UFC fighters are showing right now, great skills as Russian fighters, but we’re not really Russian. We are native people that lived in that area, the different republics, so I came from that area, I came to the United States almost seven years ago.”

Ozzy Dugulubgov landing a crushing right to Keon Caldwell (photo via NBC Sports Network)

Since turning pro, under the Cage Fury Fighting Championship banner in 2011, Dugulubgov has gone on to score a 6-2 record. The New Jersey based fighter joined the World Series of Fighting last year, and since then he’s gone 3-1.

In his first three bouts with the promotion, Dugulubgov scored wins over Chris Wade and Andrew Osborne, before he lost via split decision to Jonathan Nunez in March.

Most recently, at WSOF 13 on September 13th, the lightweight made numerous highlight reels by knocking out Keon Caldwell in memorable fashion.

“My Dad introduced me traditionally to Taekwondo,” said Dugulubgov, while discussing his roots in fighting. “Not the sport Taekwondo, that’s usually more known in the United States, but it was combat Tae Kwon Do where you don’t wear much gear and it’s more like kickboxing. You throw punches to the head and kicking and everything.”

Of Dugulubgov’s six pro wins to date, three have come via TKO or knockout, and two were recorded via submission. The aforementioned win over Osborne came as a result of a second round, Achilles Lock at WSOF 5.

“I was introduced to that Taekwondo and I became a black belt, second degree in that one, and I became a world champion when I was junior, and a silver medalist when I was in the adult division in the worlds,” said Dugulubgov.

“I won so many titles in Europe, in Taekwondo, but also my Dad’s a national wrestling champion, he’s amazing in the wrestling skills,” the lightweight furthered. “So he was also teaching me wrestling skills and MMA fighting because from the beginning, his goal was for me to compete in the highest levels of MMA tournaments.”

You can read Dugulubgov’s thoughts on his recent, WSOF 13 win over Caldwell by heading here.