Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (; ; born 22 May 1989) is a Turkmen mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he was the 2024 light heavyweight tournament winner. He has previously competed in Bellator MMA (2020-2023). He has also competed in Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), where he was the ACA Light Heavyweight Champion. As of August 21, 2026, he is #4 in the PFL light heavyweight rankings.

Biography Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov was born in the city of Türkmenabat, but grew up in a nearby village. At the age of six, in addition to going to school-where he studied at the 1st comprehensive school in his native village-he signed up for a karate lessons. After several years of training, Yagshimuradov became one of the best karatekas among his peers, taking the under-11 championship and eventually winning gold at the national level tournament.

In the 7th grade, he switched to kickboxing. Upon reaching the age of eligibility, Yagshimuradov joined the army, and after demobilization, he lived in his homeland for a little less than a year and left for Kharkiv to pursue his college education.

In July 2026 Yagshimuradov has been appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Friendship Games.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career As a student, in 2011, Dovletdzhan began to visit the hall where combat sports were taught. In March 2012, Yagshimuradov was asked to compete at the Oplot Challenge 1 tournament against the Czech Rudolf Kriz, which started the path of the Turkmen fighter in mixed martial arts.

On December 14, 2019, at ACA 103: Yagshimuradov vs. Butorin, Dovlet defended the AСA Light Heavyweight title against Alexey Butorin, winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Bellator MMA In December 2020, Dovletdzhan signed a contract with the Bellator MMA.

Dovletdzhan was scheduled to made his Bellator debut on April 9, 2021, at Bellator 256 against Corey Anderson in quarterfinal round of Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix. On March 26, it was announced that the bout would be moved to Bellator 257 on April 16. He lost the bout via third-round technical knockout.

Dovletdzhan faced Karl Albektsson at Bellator 268 on October 16, 2021, losing the bout via unanimous decision.

Yagshimuradov was scheduled to face Tony Johnson at Bellator 277 on April 15, 2022. However, due to an injury, Johnson was forced to pull out and was replaced by former Bellator Middleweight Champion Rafael Carvalho. Dovletdzhan won the bout in the second round via TKO.

Dovletdzhan faced Julius Anglickas at Bellator 292 on March 10, 2023. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Dovletdzhan faced Maciej Różański on October 7, 2023, at Bellator 300. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Professional Fighters League Dovletdzhan started the 2024 season against Jakob Nedoh on April 12, 2024 at PFL 2. He won the fight in the first round by technical knockout.

In his next bout on June 21, 2024 at PFL 5, Dovletdzhan faced Simon Biyong, winning the bout via unanimous decision.

Dovletdzhan faced Rob Wilkinson in the semifinals of the 2024 Light Heavyweight tournament on August 16, 2024 at PFL 8. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In the final, Yagshimuradov faced Impa Kasanganay on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10. He won the tournament and $1 million prize by knockout in the first round.

Yagshimuradov faced Corey Anderson in a rematch for the inaugural PFL Light Heavyweight Championship on October 3, 2025, at PFL Champions Series 3. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Yagshimuradov faced Tyson Pedro on April 16, 2026, at PFL Belfast. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yagshimuradov was scheduled to face Simeon Powell on July 31, 2026, at PFL New York. However, the bout was removed from the event after the New York State Athletic Commission declined to license Powell due to a previous surgery. Therefore, the bout was moved to PFL Charlotte on August 7, 2026. Yagshimuradov lost the bout via split decision.

Championships and accomplishments Professional Fighters League 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship Absolute Championship Akhmat ACA Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; First) One successful title defense Absolute Championship Berkut ACB Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; Last) Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Joachim Christensen on November 25, 2017 Oplot Challenge OC 2012-2013 Light Heavyweight Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Simeon Powell Decision (split) PFL Charlotte: Battle vs. Rosta

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Tyson Pedro Decision (unanimous) PFL Belfast: Kelly vs. Wilson

Belfast, Northern Ireland Loss

Corey Anderson Decision (unanimous) PFL Champions Series 3

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Win

Impa Kasanganay KO (punches) PFL 10 (2024)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Rob Wilkinson Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2024)

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Simon Biyong Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2024)

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Jakob Nedoh TKO (punches) PFL 2 (2024)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Maciej Różański Decision (unanimous) Bellator 300

San Diego, California, United States Win

Julius Anglickas Decision (unanimous) Bellator 292

San Jose, California, United States Win

Rafael Carvalho TKO (elbows and punches) Bellator 277

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Karl Albrektsson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 268

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Loss

Corey Anderson TKO (punches and elbows) Bellator 257

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Alexey Butorin Decision (unanimous) ACA 103

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Karol Celinski TKO (punches) ACA 92

Warsaw, Poland Win

Batraz Agnaev Submission (rear-naked choke) ACB 86

Moscow, Russia Win

Luis Fernando Miranda KO (punch) ACB 79

Grozny, Russia Win

Joachim Christensen KO (punch) ACB 75

Stuttgart, Germany Win

Jared Torgeson Submission (rear-naked choke) ACB 62

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Dan Konecke TKO (knee and punches) ACB 52

Vienna, Austria Win

Vitaliy Onishchenko Decision (unanimous) World Warriors FC: Warriors Honor 2

Kharkiv, Ukraine Loss

Mikhail Ragozin TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 61

Nazran, Russia Win

Maxim Kushnerenko KO (punch) Real Fight Promotion: West Fight 15

Kharkiv, Ukraine Loss

Magomed Ankalaev Decision (unanimous) Oplot Challenge 103

Moscow, Russia Win

Fuad Gadirov KO (punch) Oplot Challenge 94

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Borys Polezhai TKO (corner stoppage) Oplot Challenge 86

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Arsen Mensitov TKO (punches) Oplot Challenge 67

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Bogdan Savchenko Decision (unanimous) Oplot Challenge 57

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Anton Stepanenko TKO (punches) Oplot Challenge 55

Kharkov, Ukraine Loss

Aleksander Boyko Submission (guillotine choke) Oplot Challenge 45

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Mihail Petkov Submission (rear-naked choke) Oplot Challenge 41

Kharkov, Ukraine Loss

Rashid Yusupov Submission (armbar) Oplot Challenge 35

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Alexander Barbaryan Submission (achilles lock) Oplot Challenge 24

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Sergey Lewandowskiy TKO (punches) Oplot Challenge 20

Kharkov, Ukraine Win

Artur Vartanyan TKO (punches) Oplot Challenge 14

Kharkov, Ukraine Loss

Vasily Babich Submission (inverted triangle choke) Oplot Challenge 2

Kharkiv, Ukraine Draw

Rudolf Kříž Draw (unanimous) Oplot Challenge 1

Kharkiv, Ukraine

Actor career In 2022, Yagshimuradov played the role of Balaban Alp in the Turkish television series Kuruluş: Osman Season 3. Balaban Alp is a normal Selcuk soldier who joins Osman and becomes his Alp as he comes with a messenger of Sultan Alaeddin.

Television Year Title Role 2022–present Kuruluş: Osman Balaban