Early career Cirkunov made his professional debut in January 2010 and amassed a record of 9–2 before signing a four-fight contract with the
Ultimate Fighting Championship in the summer of 2015. O'Connell withdrew from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Daniel Jolly. Cirkunov defeated Jolly via first-round KO after achieving full mount and battering him when he turned his back. Cirkunov faced promotional newcomer
Alex Nicholson on February 6, 2016, at
UFC Fight Night 82. Cirkunov submitted Alex Nicholson via a second-round neck crank, breaking both sides of his jaw in the process, after earlier breaking his nose. At the post-fight press conference, he told reporters, "I’m just really happy with the performance and especially – not just the submission – but I was able to break his jaw. I’m impressed." Cirkunov next faced another promotional newcomer in
Ion Cuțelaba on June 18, 2016, at
UFC Fight Night 89. He won the fight via submission in the third round. Cirkunov faced
Nikita Krylov on December 10, 2016, at
UFC 206. He won the fight via submission in the first round. In March 2017, Cirkunov signed a new, six-fight deal with UFC and fought
Volkan Oezdemir on May 28, 2017, at
UFC Fight Night 109. He lost the fight via knockout in just 28 seconds of the very first round. Cirkunov was scheduled to face
Glover Teixeira on October 28, 2017, at
UFC Fight Night 119. However, the pairing was delayed after a recent hand surgery for Teixeira was slow to heal and the bout eventually took place on December 16, 2017, at
UFC on Fox 26. Cirkunov lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Cirkunov faced
Patrick Cummins on October 27, 2018, at
UFC Fight Night 138. He won the fight by submission in the first round via an arm triangle choke. Cirkunov was expected to face
Ovince Saint Preux on March 2, 2019, at
UFC 235. However, on February 11, it was announced that Saint Preux suffered an injury and was pulled from the fight. Cirkunov instead faced
Johnny Walker. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Cirkunov faced
Jimmy Crute on September 14, 2019, at
UFC Fight Night 158. He won the back-and-forth fight via a Peruvian necktie submission in the first round. The win also earned Cirkunov his first
Performance of the Night bonus award. Cirkunov was expected to face
Ryan Spann on December 19, 2020, at
UFC Fight Night 183. However, Cirkunov pulled out in early December due to an injury. The fight was rescheduled to March 13, 2021, at
UFC Fight Night 187. Cirkunov lost the fight via technical knockout in round one. Cirkunov faced
Krzysztof Jotko in a middleweight bout on October 2, 2021, at
UFC Fight Night 193. He lost the fight via split decision. Cirkunov was scheduled to face
Makhmud Muradov on February 26, 2022, at
UFC Fight Night 202. However, Muradov pulled out in late January due to a hand injury and he was replaced by
Wellington Turman. Cirkunov lost the fight via armbar in the second round. After two straight losses at Middleweight, Misha was scheduled to return to Light heavyweight against
Shamil Gamzatov on August 6, 2022, at
UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill. However, Gamzatov was unable to obtain a US visa and the bout was scrapped. Cirkunov faced
Alonzo Menifield on October 15, 2022, at
UFC Fight Night 212. He lost the fight via knockout in round one. In late October 2022, it was reported that Cirkunov was released by the UFC. In May 2025, Cirkunov filed a class action anti-trust lawsuit, specifically challenges the enforceability of arbitration clauses and class action waivers in UFC contracts. ==Championships and accomplishments==