Rustam Mikailovich Khabilov (born 4 November 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist, who last competed in the

Welterweight Welterweight is a weight class in combat sports. Originally the term ''welterweight'' was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like muay Thai, taekwondo, and mixed martial arts also use it for their own weight division system to classify th ...

division. He is a Combat Sambo World Champion and a former member of the Legion Sport Club fight team in Rostov-on-Don. Prior to signing with Bellator, Khabilov previously fought 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 the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC).

Background

Rustam was born in Goksu-otar village in Dagestan, in a Kumyk family. He studied at the Makhachkala Automobile College, where his sports career began. He started his training under

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 ...

, soon becoming world and Russia champion in fight sambo discipline. Married, has two sons and a daughter.

Mixed martial arts career

ONE Fighting Championship

In January 2012 it was announced that Khabilov had signed with ONE Fighting Championship. He made his debut at ONE Fighting Championship: Battle of Heroes at The BritAma Arena in

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

on 11 February 2012 against BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Ribeiro. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Khabilov signed a four-fight deal with the UFC in July 2012. In his debut, Khabilov faced Vinc Pichel on 15 December 2012 at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale. He won the fight in the first round by hurting Pincel with a suplex and finishing him off with punches on the ground. For his second fight in the organization, Khabilov faced UFC newcomer and Strikeforce veteran Yancy Medeiros at UFC 159 on 27 April 2013. The fight ended in unusual fashion as Medeiros dislocated his thumb during a takedown by Khabilov early in the first round, resulting in a TKO victory for Khabilov as Medeiros was unable to continue. For his third UFC fight, Khabilov faced Jorge Masvidal on 6 November 2013 at UFC: Fight for the Troops 3. He won the back-and-forth bout via unanimous decision. The fight also garnered Khabilov his first ''Fight of the Night'' bonus award. Khabilov was expected to face Rafael dos Anjos on 22 February 2014 at UFC 170. However, the bout was cancelled in the weeks leading up to the event due to an injury suffered by Khabilov. Khabilov faced Benson Henderson on 7 June 2014 in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round. Khabilov was expected to face Danny Castillo on 3 January 2015 at UFC 182. However, Khabilov pulled out of the bout due to alleged visa issues. Khabilov faced Adriano Martins on 22 February 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61. He lost the fight via split decision. A rescheduled bout with Danny Castillo was expected to take place on 25 July 2015 at UFC on Fox 16. However, for a second time, Khabilov was removed from the pairing due to alleged visa issues. Castillo faced Jim Miller at the event. Khabilov faced Norman Parke on 27 February 2016 at UFC Fight Night 84. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Khabilov was tabbed as an injury replacement for Rashid Magomedov to face Chris Wade on 8 May 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Khabilov was expected to face Reza Madadi on 3 September 2016 at UFC Fight Night 93. However, on 25 July, Madadi pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Leandro Silva. Khabilov won the fight via unanimous decision. Khabilov next faced Jason Saggo on 10 December 2016 at UFC 206. He won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision. Khabilov faced Desmond Green on 2 September 2017 at UFC Fight Night 115. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Khabilov was supposed to face Kajan Johnson on 17 March 2018 at UFC Fight Night 127. However, Khabilov pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Stevie Ray. The bout with Johnson was rescheduled and eventually took place on 15 September 2018 at UFC Fight Night 136. Khabilov won the back-and-forth fight by split decision. Khabilov faced Carlos Diego Ferreira on 23 February 2019 at UFC Fight Night 145. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Khabilov faced Sergey Khandozhko in a welterweight bout on 9 November 2019 at UFC Fight Night 163. He won the fight via unanimous decision and became a free agent after the fight.

Bellator MMA

On 2 October 2020, it was reported that Khabilov had signed a multi-fight deal with

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 ...

. Rustam was expected to make his Bellator debut against Andrey Koreshkov on 23 October 2021 at Bellator 269. However the bout was scrapped after Khabilov came down with a sickness. Khabilov was scheduled make his Bellator debut against Lewis Long on September 23, 2022, at Bellator 285. However, Long pulled out of the bout and a replacement opponent was not found. Khabilov was scheduled to face Jaleel Willis on March 31, 2023 at Bellator 293. However on the day of weigh-ins, Khabilov pulled out of the bout due to undisclosed reasons.

Personal life

Rustam has a wife and is a devout Sunni Muslim. He trained under Khabib Nurmagomedov's father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (''sambo/MMA''), Anvar Magomedgadzhiev, Abdusalam Gadisov and Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (''wrestling''), Mike Winkeljohn (''boxing''), Greg Jackson (''MMA'').

Championships and accomplishments

Sambo

*World Combat Sambo Federation (WCSF) **Combat Sambo World Lightweight Champion (2007). *Federation International Amateur de Sambo **Combat Sambo Russian National Middleweight Champion. **Combat Sambo Republic of Dagestan Middleweight Champion (4 Time).

Pankration

*Russian Pankration Federation **Pankration Middleweight World Champion **Moscow Middleweight Pankration Open 2010

Combat Jiu Jitsu

*Combat Jiu Jitsu Kyiv Cup Light-Heavyweight Champion

Mixed martial arts

* M-1 Global ** M-1 Challenge 2009 Championship. *

** Fight of the Night (One time) **UFC.com Awards ***2012: Ranked #10 Newcomer of the Year & Ranked #10 Knockout of the Year * SporTV.com **2012 Knockout of the year (2nd) vs. Vinc Pichel on 15 December 2012. * UFC Ultimate Insider **UFC Debuts of All-Time (8th) vs. Vinc Pichel on 15 December 2012. * MMAJunkie.com **2018 Robbery of the Year vs. Kajan Johnson

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Khabilov, Rustam 1986 births Living people Welterweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing sambo Mixed martial artists utilizing pankration Bellator male fighters Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Martial artists from Makhachkala People from Khasavyurtovsky District Kumyks Russian Sunni Muslims 21st-century Russian sportsmen