Maxim Grishin

Maxim Gennadievich Grishin (born 2 May 1984) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer who competes in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional since 2008, he has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was the former M-1 Global Eastern Europe Heavyweight Champion.

Mixed martial arts career

Background

Grishin competes in the heavyweight division, despite weighing around 220 lb, a mere 15 lb over the light heavyweight weight limit. Grishin, therefore, is regarded as a small heavyweight, though he has fast striking ability. As part of the Red Devil Sport Club, Grishin has also trained in Stary Oskol at the St. Alexander Nevsky Sport Palace. In the build-up for his intended M-1 Global title fight against Guram Gugenishvili, Grishin trained with Kirill Sidelnikov, Dmitry Samoilov, Viktor Nemkov and Alexei Nazarov.

Early career

Grishin made his professional mixed martial arts debut against Gela Getsadze at the World Pankration Championship. After going the two-round distance, Grishin was declared the winner via unanimous decision. used an armbar to force Grishin to submit just 47 seconds into their match. in Brazil soon after, but lost via north-south choke. Grishin suffered a further loss at the hands of Shane del Rosario in South Korea, defeated by TKO in just 21 seconds.

After a further two wins in the M-1 Global organisation, Baziak defeated Grishin via unanimous decision. Returning to M-1 organisation, Grishin joined their Eastern European tournament. His opening round fight was against Gadzhimurad Nurmagomedov, which Grishin won via TKO in round 1 to progress to the semi-final. There, Grishin met Arsen Abdulkerimov, again winning via TKO to reach the final.

In the final, Grishin had to face his training partner Alexander Volkov. Consequently, Grishin became the M-1 Global Eastern European Heavyweight Champion. As Eastern European Champion, Grishin was scheduled to face Guram Gugenishvili, the Western European Champion, for the inaugural M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship. He won via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–27). and was due to face Western Europe Champion Guram Gugenishvili

Grishin faced Trevor Prangley, gilling in for an injured Mike Kyle, at Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 17 on 30 September 2014. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Professional Fighters League

2018 Season Grishin made his PFL debut on June 21, 2018 at PFL 2 (2018 season) against Jason Butcher. Grishin won the fight in the first round after Butcher injured his ankle and foot after falling down.

Grishin then faced Rakim Cleveland on August 2, 2018 at PFL 5 (2018 season). He won the bout via rear-naked choke in the second round.

Having won both of his bouts, Grishin advanced to the Quarter-Finals, where he faced Smealinho Rama on October 13, 2018 at PFL 9 (2018 season). The bout ended in a majority draw after two rounds. However Rama advanced further in the tournament via first round tiebreaker, wherein the winner of the first round advances further.

2019 Season

Grishin appeared on the next season, marking the occasion by facing former UFC fighter Jordan Johnson on June 6, 2019 at PFL 3 (2019 season). Grishin won the fight via unanimous decision.

Grishin faced Mikhail Mokhnatkin on August 8, 2019 at PFL 6 (2019 season). He won the fight with ease, knocking Mikhail out early in the first round.

Having won the first two bouts of this season like last one, Grishin would rematch against Jordan Johnson in the Quarterfinals on October 31, 2019 at PFL 9 (2019 season). Just like last season, he would draw with his opponent and be eliminated via the first round tiebreaker.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Grishin made his UFC debut as a replacement for Alexander Romanov against Marcin Tybura on July 11, 2020 at UFC 251. Grishin lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Grishin faced Gadzhimurad Antigulov on October 18, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Grishin faced Dustin Jacoby on February 27, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane. At the weigh-ins, Maxim Grishin weighed in at 210.5 pounds, four and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit of 206 pounds. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and Grishin was fined 30% of his individual purse, which went to Jacoby. He lost a close bout via unanimous decision.

Grishin was scheduled to face Ovince Saint Preux on June 26, 2021 at UFC Fight Night 190. However, Grishin withdrew from the bout due to visa issues and was replaced by Tanner Boser in a heavyweight bout.

Grishin was expected to face Ed Herman on February 12, 2022 at UFC 271. However, Herman pulled out off the bout and was replaced by William Knight. At the weigh-ins, Knight weighed in at 218 pounds, 12 pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit, marking the biggest weight miss in UFC history. As a result, the bout was shifted to heavyweight and Knight was fined 40% of his purse, which went to Grishin. Grishin won the bout via unanimous decision.

Grishin was scheduled to face Jailton Almeida on May 21, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 206. However, Grishin pulled out due to undisclosed reasons in late April. Almeida decided to move up to heavyweight and will face Parker Porter.

Grishin was scheduled to face Philipe Lins on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 211. Despite both men weighing in successfully, the bout was cancelled while the event was in progress due to an undisclosed medical issue.

The bout between Grishin and Jailton Almeida was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 214 on November 5, 2022. On the Monday of fight week, the bout was reported scrapped from this card for unknown reasons.

Grishin faced Philipe Lins on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

On June 7, it was announced that Grishin was not extended a new contract and no longer on the UFC roster.

Post UFC In his first performance after leaving the UFC, Grishin faced Asylzhan Bakhytzhanuly on December 15, 2023 at RCC 17, winning a controversial unanimous decision.

Championships and Accomplishments

Mixed Martial Arts World Fighting Championship Akhmat WCFA Light Heavyweight Champion (one time) M-1 Global M-1 Selection 2010 Eastern Europe Championships.

Hand-to-hand combat Russian Union of Martial Arts Hand-to-hand combat Russian National Champion.

Kickboxing record

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Asylzhan Bakhytzhanuly Decision (unanimous) ACA 202

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Alexey Butorin KO (punches) ACA 195

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Evgeny Egemberdiev TKO (arm injury) ACA 186

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Oleg Olenichev Decision (unanimous) ACA 182

Moscow, Russia Win

Asylzhan Bakhytzhanuly Decision (unanimous) RCC 17

Yekaterinburg, Russia Loss

Philipe Lins Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

William Knight Decision (unanimous) UFC 271

Houston, Texas, United States Loss

Dustin Jacoby Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Gadzhimurad Antigulov TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Ortega vs. The Korean Zombie

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Marcin Tybura Decision (unanimous) UFC 251

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Draw

Jordan Johnson Draw (majority) PFL 9 (2019)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mikhail Mokhnatkin KO (punch) PFL 6 (2019)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jordan Johnson Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2019)

Long Island, New York, United States Draw

Smealinho Rama Draw (majority) PFL 9 (2018)

Long Beach, California, United States Win

Rakim Cleveland Submission (rear-naked choke) PFL 5 (2018)

Long Island, New York, United States Win

Jason Butcher TKO (leg injury) PFL 2 (2018)

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Leonardo Guimarães Decision (unanimous) WFCA 45

Grozny, Russia Win

Dirlei Broenstrup Decision (unanimous) WFCA 42: Malyutin vs Jacarezinho

Moscow, Russia Win

Matej Batinić KO (head kick) Akhmat Fight Show 34: Battle in Moscow

Moscow, Russia Loss

Magomed Ankalaev TKO (punches) Akhmat Fight Show 30: Grand Prix Akhmat 2016 Finals

Grozny, Russia Win

Maxim Futin Decision (unanimous) Akhmat Fight Show 23: Grand Prix Akhmat 2016

Grozny, Russia Win

Marcin Łazarz Decision (unanimous) Akhmat Fight Show 18: Grand Prix Akhmat 2016

Grozny, Russia Win

Joaquim Ferreira TKO (punches) WFCA 9: Grozny Battle 6

Grozny, Russia Win

Malik Merad Submission (rear-naked choke) WFCA 3: Grozny Battle 3

Grozny, Russia Win

Dorian Ilić Submission (arm-triangle choke) WFCA 1: Grozny Battle 1

Grozny, Russia Win

Trevor Prangley TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 27: Battle Of Moscow 17

Moscow, Russia Win

Rodney Wallace Decision (split) Driven MMA: One

Canton, Ohio, United States Win

Mário Miranda Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 20: Battle Of Moscow 13

Moscow, Russia Win

Ray Lopez Submission (rear-naked choke) NAAFS: Fight Night in the Flats 9

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

William Hill TKO (punches) NAAFS: Caged Vengeance 12

Streetsboro, Ohio, United States Win

Joachim Christensen Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 32

Moscow, Russia Loss

Kenny Garner TKO (submission to punches) M-1 Challenge 27

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

Júlio Cézar de Lima TKO (punches) League S-70: Russia vs. Brazil

Sochi, Russia Win

Alan Sobanov KO (punch) SMMAI: Tornado

Sochi, Russia Win

Samir Akhmetov TKO (punches) Sochi MMA International

Sochi, Russia Win

Stanislav Mirzamagomedov Submission (arm-triangle choke) MFT: Fedor Emelianenko Cup

Nizhny Novgorod, Russia Win

Vladimir Kuchenko TKO (leg kick and punches) M-1 Challenge 25

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Guram Gugenishvili Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 23

Moscow, Russia Win

Alexander Volkov Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Selection 2010: Eastern Europe Finals

Moscow, Russia Win

Arsen Abdulkerimov TKO (punches) M-1 Selection 2010: Eastern Europe Round 3

Kyiv, Ukraine Win

Gadzhimurad Nurmagomedov TKO (punches) M-1 Selection 2010: Eastern Europe Round 2

Kyiv, Ukraine Loss

Dawid Baziak Decision (unanimous) KSW 12

Warsaw, Poland Win

Levan Persaev TKO (knee) M-1 Challenge 20: 2009 Finals

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Dmitry Zabolotny TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 7

Moscow, Russia Loss

Shane del Rosario TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 17

Seoul, South Korea Loss

Joaquim Ferreira Submission (north-south choke) M-1 Challenge 15

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Magomed Umarov TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 1

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Baga Agaev Submission (armbar)

Win

Gela Getsadze Decision (unanimous)