Efe Ajagba Decks and Stops Charles Martin, Dzambekov KOs Elbiali on Paramount + Las Vegas Zuffa Card
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (February 15th, 2026)– In the main event of an eight bout Zuffa Boxing card at Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday, February 15, 2026, heavyweight contender Eje Ajagba, ranked in the top 15 worldwide rankings by the World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Federation, decked former heavyweight champion Charles Martin in the third and fourth round, and then stopped him at 1:11 of the fourth round after landing a series of right hands to the head.
Ajagba, now 21-1-1 with 15 knockouts, Stafford, Texas, by way of Nigeria, age 31, weighed in at a career high 254 pounds, and effectively let Martin’s left hands outwork him and win the first two rounds due to a slow start. The third and fourth rounds were 10-8 rounds for Ajagba, and the key difference was on the scorecards. Martin, inactive for 14 months, was still in the house with all three cards at 28-28 entering round four, but at 6’5″ and an 80-inch reach, he fell short of Ajagba’s 6’6″, 85 inches of reach. The world-class pace was furious, and Martin eventually became a slow-moving target ripe for the slaughter. Martin briefly held the International Boxing Federation World Heavyweight title from January to April of 2016.
“I’m ready for everyone in the top 10, but nobody is mentioning my name. Nobody’s calling (out) my name. I’m (in the) top 10. I’m ready to go. I want to fight (the other contenders of the) the top 10, and the top five. I put the heavyweight division on notice. I’m not running. You’ve got to step in the ring with me now,” declared Ajagba after this bout.
In the light heavyweight preliminary bout to the main event, after a competitive first round, Umar Dzambekov scored a one-punch right uppercut knockout of Ahmed Elbiali, with the bout ending at 57 seconds of the first round, with Elbali on his back with his left leg twitching. Referee Allen Huggins did not bother to count.
The Austrian southpaw Dzambeokov, 14-0 with 10 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, displayed pinpoint technical skills with crisp body and head jabs. A few crisp head shots got through just before a careless Elbali came forward punching recklessly with shoddy defense, and Dzambekov landed a right uppercut, which made Elbiali, 24-2 with 19 knockouts, Las Vegas, Nevada by way of Cairo, Egypt, AKA ‘The American Pharaoh’ down onto his back and out, with absolutely no hope of getting up. This was the knockout of the night for the Zuffa Boxing event. Dzambekov, in victory, demonstrated he was one class above Elbali in terms of raw technical ability. A light heavyweight title shot appears to be on the near horizon, if what Dzambekov demonstrated in this knockout win continues.
Paramount + Zuffa Boxing Las Vegas Undercard Results
Jaybrio Pe Benito won by TKO in three rounds over Abel Mejia, Lightweights
Leo Ruiz won by TKO in four over Casey James Streeter, Super Welterweights
Mark Beuke won by eight round split decision over Antonio Woods, Middleweights
Emiliano Alvarado won by fourth-round stoppage over Devin Gantt, Super Bantamweights
Oswaldo Molina Won by six rounds decision over Joshua Clarke, Lightweights
Dariial Kuchmenov won by fourth-round stoppage over Jorge Lagunas, Lightweights
COMMENTS
Robert Brizel – Head Boxing Correspondent