Timur Khizriev

Timur Shamilovich Khizriev (; born November 19, 1995) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist and Sanda artist who currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He previously fought at major MMA promotions like Bellator MMA, Fight Nights Global, Eagle Fighting Championship and Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB). Timur won the redoubtable ACB's Featherweight Grand Prix, defeating his Kavkaz compatriot of Circassian origin, Bibert Tumenov for the title, on March 22, 2019. As of August 21, 2026, he is #2 in the PFL featherweight rankings.

On April 1, 2025, Timur was ranked #10 in World Featherweight rankings according to the Fight Matrix website.

Background Timur was born on November 19, 1995 to a Dargin family in the state capital city of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia. Timur Khizriev or "Imam" as he is colloquially known, began his martial arts journey via freestyle wrestling at the age of nine years under the guidance of late coach Konstantin Kamilovich at Wrestling club in Makhachkala. Under Konstantin Kamilovich coaching, than undersized Timur, who weighed 64 kg back than, snagged gold in freestyle wrestling at Dagestan Championship in 71 kg weight category. Chotanov played fundamental role in establishing the foundation for Timur's striking technique.

Timur was juggling his priorities between freestyle wrestling and Wushu Sanda, he eventually decided to fully commit on his wrestling career alone. His first coach at DagFighter gym was Jamal Magomedov. Eventually, he was trained in the combat sports of MMA by DagFighter head coach Mansur Uchakaev. Masur is the younger brother of late Muslim Ibragimovich Uchakaev. Muslim Uchakaev himself was decorated combat sportsman, as he was world champion in combat sambo and Eurasian champion in Army Hand-to-Hand Combat. Like his younger brother Mansur, Muslim Uchakaev was also student of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

This positions Timur among the combat athletes who have a notable indirect connection to resplendent martial art coaches like Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and Gusein Magomaev. In that same year, he fought in the CSDF League, after which he took a hiatus from pro MMA scene for a little over two years.

Amateur MMA On March 22, 2015, Timur earned bronze medal as he lost to fellow Dagestani fighter Gamzat Saidbekov in the semifinals of MMA Cup Of Dagestan. However literally two months later on May 5, Timur managed to snag at Ural Amateur MMA Championship, by defeating his comrade Dilovar Chuponov in the finals, held in the halls of Ural Federal University, in the city of Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Oblast.

Five months later of the same year, on October 31, Timur was scheduled to face off against future top ranked UFC Lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan at Russian MMA Championship, in the city of Obninsk, Kaluga Oblast. Timur lost the fight against Tsarukyan in the semifinal. Tsarukyan himself got entirely out-fought against future WMMAA European champion Musa Kazikhanov in the finals where he lost against Kazikhanov via uncontested unanimous decision.

On April 3, 2016, Timur was silver medalist at Ural MMA Championship where he lost out to Russian fighter of Tajik origin Davlatmand Chuponov, in the final held at halls of Yunost Sport Palace stadium in the city of Chelyabinsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast. At Amateur MMA Cup Of Russia, Timur was bronze medalist as he lost in the semifinal against his countryman Ivan Bondarchuk held in town of Kasimov, Ryazan Oblast.

Return to Pro MMA Timur finally returned to pro MMA circuit at Superstar Fight 5: Meng vs. Khabibullaeva event at Beijing University Students' Gymnasium, Beijing, China, on September 23, 2016. He also took part in ACB's Grand Prix at featherweight division, where he beat Chechen grappler Yusup-Khadzhi Zubariev in semi-final. To top it off for his time at ACB, he manage to win the Grand Prix title, after defeating adroit Circassian talent, Bibert Tumenov, in the final.

Khizriev second-last fight in local Russian MMA scene came against Alexander Belikh whom he defeated via unanimous decision. His final fight in Russian MMA circuit came against Kyrgyz brawler, Ruslan Ryskul, whom the Imam finished off Ryskul via guillotine choke in the first round of the fight. After this, Timur signed for paramount combat promotion, Bellator MMA.

Bellator MMA On November 18, 2022, Khizriev made his debut for premiere combat promotion Bellator MMA, by replacing his comrade Akhmed Magomedov, against German legend Daniel Weichel, who was ranked 5th at the time, in the main card of Bellator 288: Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 at Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, United States. Timur defeated the Deutsch fighter Weichel via unanimous decision in all three judges scorecard.

In his second fight for Bellator MMA, he was scheduled to face off against Irish BJJ black belt, Richie Smullen on June 16, 2023, at Postliminary card of Bellator 297: Nemkov vs. Romero. He defeated the Irish grappler Smullen via 30-27 unanimous decision.

On November 17, 2023, Timur had the opportunity to fight in last ever Bellator event under Viacom's management, against the American Justin Gonzales on the prelims of Bellator 301: Amosov vs. Jackson card at Wintrust Arena, in the city of Chicago, Illinois. The Imam defeated the J-Train Gonzales via dominating 30-27 unanimous decision in all three judges scorecard.

Professional Fighters League (PFL) On April 19, 2024, Timur made his debut for major MMA promotion PFL against Brett Johns of Wales on the prelims of PFL 3: Koreshkov vs. Umalatov card at Wintrust Arena, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States. He defeated Johns via unanimous decision in a vying battle.

On 28 June 2024 Timur was booked to fight against Peruvian veteran, Enrique Barzola on PFL 6: Loughnane vs. Gonzales card, on Sanford Pentagon Stadium, in the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. He defeated the Peruvian martial artist Barzola via unanimous decision.

On August 23, 2024, Timur was scheduled to fight against Brazilian fighter with Muay Thai background Gabriel Braga at The Anthem stadium in Washington D.C., United States. He won the fight via split decision with 30-27 (Timur), 28-29 (Braga), 30-27 (Timur) score line.

In the final, Khizriev faced Brendan Loughnane on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10. He won the tournament and $1 million prize by unanimous decision.

Personal life Timur is a devout Muslim. He was even fasting during the Islamic month of Ramazan, despite the fact he was scheduled to battle against the Welsh grappler, Brett Johns on PFL 3: Koreshkov vs. Umalatov card.

Timur is a natural bantamweight.

Timur grew up as a fan of mixed martial arts as he watched now defunct Pride Fighting Championships in television in Russia. Both him and elder brother are part of conspicuous MMA gym ATT at Coconut Creek, Florida.

He also has a younger brother Gamid Shamilovich Khizriev who has fought in MMA promotion, Fight Nights Global (FNG) of Russia. Gamid who himself is team member of DagFighter has earned two bronze medals in Soyuz MMA (2020 at lightweight; 2022 at welterweight) and one gold at Moscow Pankration Tournament.

Before joining ATT, Timur was initially part of paramount gym Jackon Wink MMA Academy, where he had the opportunity to train with MMA veterans like Jon Jones there. Before Khizriev debut for Bellator, he also trained at page-oner MMA gym, Kill Cliff FC under the leadership of Henri Hooft.

Back at Dagestan he is part of the gym DagFighter where he is teammates with martial artist Zabit Magomedsharipov. His main coaches at DagFighter gym are Timur Valiev and Mansur Uchakaev. The origin of this nickname Imam perchance be a nod to the venerable Northeast Caucasian resistance leader, Imam Shamil. Timur began using 'Imam' as his nickname for MMA bouts because his patronymic name, Shamilovich, is derived from Imam Shamil’s name. The root of Timur's patronymic, 'Shamil,' connects him to Imam Shamil.

Championships and achievements

Wushu Sanda Gold 2x All-Russian Championship of Wushu Sanda.

Mixed martial arts Amateur MMA Bronze 2015 MMA Cup of Dagestan Featherweight Championship, Kaspiysk (−65.8 kg)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Brendan Loughnane Decision (unanimous) PFL 10 (2024)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Gabriel Alves Braga Decision (split) PFL 9 (2024)

Washington, D.C., United States Win

Enrique Barzola Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2024)

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Win

Brett Johns Decision (unanimous) PFL 3 (2024)

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Justin Gonzales Decision (unanimous) Bellator 301

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Richie Smullen Decision (unanimous) Bellator 297

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Daniel Weichel Decision (unanimous) Bellator 288

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Ruslan Ryskul Technical Submission (guillotine choke) AMC Fight Nights: Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov Memory Tournament

Moscow, Russia Win

Alexander Belikh Decision (unanimous) AMC Fight Nights 99

Moscow, Russia Win

Baish Babakulov TKO (punches) Gorilla Fighting 27

Almetyevsk, Russia Win

Bibert Tumenov Decision (unanimous) Berkut Young Eagles 8

Grozny, Russia Win

Yusup-Khadzhi Zubariev Decision (unanimous) Berkut Young Eagles 7

Tolstoy-Yurt, Russia Win

Musa Visengeriev Decision (unanimous) Berkut Young Eagles 5

Tolstoy-Yurt, Russia Win

Maxim Pugachev Decision (unanimous) Berkut Young Eagles 2

Tolstoy-Yurt, Russia Win

Martiros Grigoryan TKO (head kick and punches) Fight Nights Global 73: Aliev vs. Brandão

Kaspiysk, Russia Win

Li Bolin Decision (unanimous) Superstar Fight 5

Beijing, China Win

Zaur Asukov TKO (punches) Combat Self Defense Federation 1

Pyatigorsk, Russia Win

Roman Kishev Decision (unanimous) Severo-Kavkazsky Federal Okrug Championships

Pyatigorsk, Russia