Gadzhi Kadiomarovich Rabadanov (born July 1, 1993) is a Russian mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

division of

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) was an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 by Bjorn Rebney and operated until 2025. The promotion takes its name from ''wikt:bellator, bellātor ...

. He has been fighting as pro since 2013. He has previously competed in Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Fight Nights Global (FNG). Rabadanov is a former Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) lightweight champion. He is also won gold medal in the MMA World Championship in Prague (2015). As result Rabadanov was given International Master of Sports in mixed martial arts (MMA) for his achievements in Prague. He is also bronze medalist from World Combat Sambo Championship. Rabadanov is the current record holder of the fastest finish in amateur MMA history, in which he submitted his opponent in 17 seconds in the very first round of the bout.

Early life

Rabadanov was born in the city of

Makhachkala Makhachkala, previously known as Petrovskoye (1844–1857) and Port-Petrovsk (1857–1921), or by the local Kumyk language, Kumyk name of Anji, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Dagestan, Russia. ...

, in the

Republic of Dagestan Dagestan ( ; ; ), officially the Republic of Dagestan, is a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus of Eastern Europe, along the Caspian Sea. It is located north of the Greater Caucasus, and is a part of the North Caucasian Fede ...

, Russia, on January 1, 1993, of

Dargin Dargin may refer to: *Dargwa language, Caucasus *Dargwa people Dargins or Dargwa (, ''darganti'') are a Northeast Caucasian native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus, and who make up the second largest ethnic group in the North Cau ...

ethnicity. He currently resides in

Chelyabinsk Chelyabinsk; , is the administrative center and largest types of inhabited localities in Russia, city of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. It is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, seventh-largest city in Russia, with a population ...

. In his childhood, he played football and was passionate about freestyle wrestling. Rabadanov eventually switched to combat samboat the age of 17 years old, where he came under the tutelage of

Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Abdulmanap Magomedovich Nurmagomedov (; 10 December 1962 – 3 July 2020) was a Russian Soviet Army, military veteran, former judoka and combat sports coach. In September 2019, he was named by the ''Russian Book of Records'' as the most succe ...

. Following his graduation from high school, he combined his combat sambo training and study at the Russian Legal Academy. Rabadanov gave martial arts (Combat Sambo and MMA) his whole attention after his third year of college and began competing professionally in MMA. Ever since than he started doing professional MMA and grappling. He obtained a legal degree after graduating from the academy with honors. He is an amateur MMA champion of Russia in 2015.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

In February 2013, Rabadanov made his professional MMA debut at the Octagon MMA Warriors 13 event, defeating fellow newbie Evgeniy Sokha with a kimura in the second round. He competed seven more times across local MMA promotions in Russia. WMMAA Lightweight Champion Rabadanov had a notable run at WMMAA World Championship at Prague, where he defeated current UFC fighters like

Ľudovít Klein Ľudovít Klein (born February 22, 1995) is a Slovak mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Ľudovít Klein was born in Nové Zámky, where he also started his sports career ...

and Loik Radzhabov to become WMMAA Lightweight champion. It was in this tournament, where he became record holder for the fastest finish in amateur MMA history, with the record of defeating his opponent in 17 seconds in the very first round of the fight. Return to Professional MMA Rabadanov didn't actually compete for a major MMA organization until 2016, when he went into the Fight Nights Global promotion, for whom he successfully competed in six of their events. Rabadanov also competed for notable MMA promotion, PFL in May 23, 2019, when he was pitted against former UFC fighter Steven "Super" Siler, which the Dagestani won via unanimous decision. He was unable to establish himself as regular fixture in PFL due to issues with weight cutting, so he opted to return to his homeland and resumed his career with the Russian MMA promotion Gorilla FC. On February 9, 2020, Rabadanov and the Brazilian fighter, Joao Paulo de Moura e Silva were given the chance to compete for Gorilla Fighting Championships lightweight belt, after the original bout between Nurullo Aliev and Anvar Chergesov (original competitors for lightweight belt) was cancelled, at GFC 24 event, in which the Dagestani won the belt by defeating Brazilian via unanimous decision.

Eagle Fighting Championship

The Gorilla Fighting Championship was than bought by MMA superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov for a price of one million dollar, and then rebranded as Eagle Fighting Championship. Rabadanov who remained lightweight champion under the new organization, was booked to defend his title against French fighter of Chechen origin Mehdi Dakaev, at EFC 30, on December 4, 2020. Dakaev won the fight against Rabadanov via unanimous decision and ultimately becoming the new lightweight champion. In Rabadanov second fight for Eagle Fighting Championship, he was booked against Russian compatriot Valery Gritsutin (who was on a 6 fight winning streak), at EFC 33 event, which he won by unanimous decision. After this fight, Rabadanov went on to sign for the US-based promotion Bellator MMA.

Bellator MMA

Rabadanov was set to make his debut for Bellator MMA against Daniel Carey, at Bellator 263 - Pitbull vs. McKee, on July 31, 2021. He KO'd the American fighter with a punch in round one of the fight. In Rabadanov second bout for Bellator MMA, he booked to face against the Maori fighter Jay-Jay Wilson, at Bellator 276 - Borics vs. Burnell, on March 12, 2022. He defeated New Zealander via unanimous decision. Four months later on July 22, Rabadanov was booked to face the Hawaiian fighter Bobby King, at Bellator 283 - Lima vs. Jackson event. He won the fight via unanimous decision. In December of the same year, Rabadanov participated in a special event in co-promotion between Bellator MMA and Japan-based promotion Rizin Fighting Federation called Bellator MMA vs Rizin where he set to face off against Japanese BJJ specialist by the name of Koji Takeda. He won the fight against Takeda via unanimous decision. In Rabadanov fifth fight for Bellator, he was booked in a bout against the Dutch adversary Pieter Buist, at Bellator 297 - Nemkov vs. Romero event, on June 16, 2023. The Dagestani defeated the Dutchman via unanimous decision on judges scorecard.

Professional Fighters League

2024

Rabadanov started the 2024 season with a bout against Solomon Renfro on April 12, 2024 at PFL 2. He won the fight by unanimous decision. His second fight for 2024 season was booked against unbeaten Nicaraguan prospect, Elvin "The Prodigy" Espinoza on June 21, 2024 on the prelims of PFL 5 - Collard vs. Burnell card, at Jon M. Huntsman Center stadium,

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, the most populous county in the state. The city is the core of the Salt Lake Ci ...

, Utah. Rabadanov won the fight via (30-27) unanimous decision on all three judges scorecard. With this the Nicaraguan fighter suffered the first loss of his pro fight career. Rabadanov faced Michael Dufort in the semifinals of the 2024 Lightweight tournament on August 16, 2024 at PFL 8. He won the fight by knockout in the second round. In the final, Rabadanov faced

Brent Primus Brent Primus (born April 12, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for the PFL. He formerly competed for Bellator MMA, where he was a one-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion. Background Born and raised in Eugene, O ...

on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10. He won the tournament including the $1 million prize by knockout in the third round.

2025

On February 26, 2025, the promotion officially revealed that Rabadanov joined the 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament. In the quarterfinal, Rabadanov faced

Marc Diakiese Marc Diakiese (born 16 March 1993) is an English professional mixed martial artist who is signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as a lightweight. He formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Caged Steel and BAMMA. ...

on April 18, 2025, at PFL 3. He won the fight via knockout in round one.

Championships and accomplishments

Sambo

* Russian Combat Sambo Federation (RCSF) ** Russian Professional Combat Sambo Championship-Samara, Russia (2014) at 74 kg * World Combat Sambo Federation (WCSF) ** World Combat Sambo Championship-Moscow, Russia (2014) at 74 kg

Amateur mixed martial arts

* Russian MMA Union ** Generic_belt_icon

Russian Championship-Omsk, Russia (2015 at

lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

) * World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) ** Generic_belt_icon

World Championship-Prague, Czech Republic (2015 at

)

Professional mixed martial arts

Professional Fighters League The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...

** 2024 PFL Lightweight Championship *

Eagle Fighting Championship Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC), commonly referred to as Eagle FC, is a Russian mixed martial arts promotion company established in 2020 by former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was renamed to Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC ...

/Gorilla Fighting Championship ** Generic_belt_icon

GF Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rabadanov, Gadzhi 1993 births Living people Dargwa people Russian male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing sambo Bellator male fighters Russian sambo practitioners 21st-century Russian sportsmen

Early life

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Eagle Fighting Championship

Bellator MMA

Professional Fighters League

2024

2025

Championships and accomplishments

Sambo

Amateur mixed martial arts

Professional mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

See also

References

External links