Gadzhi Rabadanov

Gadzhi Kadiomarovich Rabadanov (Russian: Гаджи Кадиомарович Рабаданов, born July 1, 1993) is a Russian mixed martial artist, currently fighting in the Lightweight division of the PFL, where he was the 2024 PFL Lightweight Champion. A professional mixed martial artist since 2013, He has previously competed in Bellator MMA, Fight Nights Global (FNG), and GFC, where he was the promotion's Lightweight Champion. As of February 12, 2026, he is #2 in the PFL lightweight rankings.

He is also an WWMMA world champion, winning a gold medal in the -74 kg category in 2015, in Prague. As result Rabadanov was given International Master of Sports in mixed martial arts (MMA) for his achievements in Prague. He is also a WCSF World Combat Sambo Championship bronze medalist in 2014.

Rabadanov set a record for the fastest finish in amateur MMA history, when which he submitted his opponent in 17 seconds, in 2015.

Early life Rabadanov was born in the city of Makhachkala, in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia, on January 1, 1993, of Dargin ethnicity. He currently resides in Chelyabinsk. In his childhood, he played football and was passionate about freestyle wrestling. Rabadanov eventually switched to combat sambo at the age of 17 years old, where he came under the tutelage of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

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

In the semifinals, Rabadanov was scheduled to face Jay-Jay Wilson on June 20, 2025, at PFL 6. However, Wilson withdrew and was replaced by Kevin Lee. Rabadanov won the fight via TKO in the first round.

In the final, Rabadanov faced Alfie Davis on August 15, 2025, at PFL 9. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

2026 Rabadanov faced Alexandr Chizov on May 2, 2026, at PFL Sioux Falls. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Rabadanov was scheduled to face Jakub Kaszuba on August 22, 2026, at PFL Tampa. However, Kaszuba pulled out from the event and was replaced by Tracy Reeder. Rabadanov won the bout via TKO in the first round.

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

World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA)

Professional mixed martial arts

Professional Fighters League 2024 PFL Lightweight Championship Eagle Fighting Championship/Gorilla Fighting Championship

Mixed martial arts record Win

Tracy Reeder TKO (punches) PFL Tampa: Cyborg vs. Vieira

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Aleksandr Chizov Decision (unanimous) PFL Sioux Falls: Storley vs. Zendeli

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Loss

Alfie Davis Decision (unanimous) PFL 9 (2025)

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Win

Kevin Lee TKO (punches) PFL 6 (2025)

Wichita, Kansas, United States Win

Marc Diakiese KO (punches) PFL 3 (2025)

Orlando, Florida, United States Win

Brent Primus KO (punches) PFL 10 (2024)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Michael Dufort KO (punches) PFL 8 (2024)

Hollywood, Florida, United States

Elvin Espinoza Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2024)

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States

Solomon Renfro Decision (unanimous) PFL 2 (2024)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Pieter Buist Decision (unanimous) Bellator 297

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Koji Takeda Decision (unanimous) Bellator MMA vs. Rizin

Saitama, Japan Win

Bobby King Decision (unanimous) Bellator 283

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

Jay-Jay Wilson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 276

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Daniel Carey KO (punch) Bellator 263

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Valery Gritsutin Decision (unanimous) Eagle FC 33

Moscow, Russia Loss

Mehdi Dakaev Decision (unanimous) Eagle FC 30

Moscow, Russia | Win

Joao Paulo de Moura e Silva Decision (unanimous) Gorilla Fighting 24

Saratov, Russia Win

Oton Jasse TKO (punches) Gorilla Fighting 22

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Steven Siler Decision (unanimous) PFL 2 (2019)

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Bekbolot Abdylda Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 90

Moscow, Russia Win

Igor Tarytsa Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 83

Moscow, Russia Win

Turganally Abdullaev TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 74

Moscow, Russia Draw

Evgeniy Ignatiev Draw (overturned by Russian MMA Union) Fight Nights Global 61

Bryansk, Russia Loss

Kuat Khamitov Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) Fight Nights Global 57

Moscow, Russia Win

Ruslan Yamanbaev Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Nights Global 51

Dagestan, Russia Win

Vadim Kharin TKO (punches) Altay League: Siberian Battle

Kemerovo, Russia Win

Viskhan Magomadov TKO (doctor stoppage) Liga Kavkaz: Battle in Khiv 2

Dagestan, Russia Loss

Gusein Esenbaev TKO (punches) I.D MMA 6

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Asalbek Kalandarov Submission (rear-naked choke) Open Dag FC 5

Dagestan, Russia Win

Arslan Zagirov TKO (punches) Open Dag FC 3

Dagestan, Russia Draw

Islam Kamaev Draw Liga Kavkaz: Grand Umakhan Battle

Khunzakh, Russia Win

Rustam Khasanov Submission (triangle choke)

Loss

Gusein Esenbaev TKO (punches)

Win

Zagir Kazakov Submission (triangle choke)

Win

Evgeny Sokha Submission (kimura) Octagon MMA Warriors 2013

Zhukovsky, Russia