Umar Nurmagomedov

Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov (; born January 3, 1996) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Nurmagomedov has previously competed in the Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL). He is the first cousin of former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and the older brother of former Bellator and current PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov. As of August 29, 2026, Nurmagomedov is #5 in the Meta UFC bantamweight rankings.

Background As a child, living in his native village, with his brother Usman Nurmagomedov, he began to attend freestyle wrestling practice. Later, Nurmagomedov began practicing Thai boxing, and his brother followed suit.

At the age of 19, Nurmagomedov became a combat sambo world champion, winning the -62 kg division at the WCSF World Championships. The following year, he won the bantamweight division in amateur mixed martial arts at the WMMAA World Championship.

On August 30, 2018, Nurmagomedov fought at PFL 7 against future UFC fighter Saidyokub Kakhramonov, winning the bout by unanimous decision.

Returning to Samara MMA Federation, Nurmagomedov defended his title at Battle on the Volga 10 on April 14, 2019, where he defeated Brazilian Wagner Lima by unanimous decision. With his title once again on the line (with Samara MMA Federation changing its name to Gorilla Fighting Championship), Nurmagomedov defeated Taras Gryckiv at GFC 14 on July 13, 2019, by rear-naked choke in the first round.

On November 23, 2019, in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Nurmagomedov defended his title against Argentine fighter Brian Gonzalez, defeating his opponent via rear-naked choke at the end of the first round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Hunter Azure on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249. However, the event was then postponed.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Nathaniel Wood on 26 July 2020 at UFC on ESPN 14. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the bout due to his uncle Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov's passing.

Nurmagomedov was initially scheduled to face Sergey Morozov on October 24, 2020, at UFC 254, but Nurmagomedov pulled out due to an illness. The pairing was then rescheduled for UFC 257 on January 24, 2021. However, the bout was yet again rescheduled the second time on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20. Nurmagomedov won the bout via a rear-naked choke in the second round. This bout earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.

Nurmagomedov faced Brian Kelleher on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272. He won the fight via a rear naked choke in round one.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Jack Shore on March 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 204. However, Nurmagomedov was removed from the bout for unknown reason and he was replaced by Timur Valiev.

Nurmagomedov faced Nate Maness on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38. He won via unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov faced Raoni Barcelos on January 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 217. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Cory Sandhagen on August 5, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 50. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the event mid-July due to shoulder injury, and was replaced by Rob Font.

Nurmagomedov faced promotional newcomer Bekzat Almakhan on March 2, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 238. After being clipped early in the first round, Nurmagomedov took over and dominated the majority of the bout on the ground with strikes leading to a victory by unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov faced Cory Sandhagen on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC 7 in a bantamweight title eliminator. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Song Yadong in the main event on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. However, the bout was scrapped due to Yadong's injury.

Nurmagomedov faced champion Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC Bantamweight Championship on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. He lost the fight by unanimous decision, marking his first loss in MMA. This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Mario Bautista on October 18, 2025, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 262. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was moved to October 25, 2025 one week later at UFC 321. Nurmagomedov won the fight by unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov faced former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo on January 24, 2026 at UFC 324. Figueiredo weighed in at 138.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the bantamweight non‑title limit. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight, and Figueiredo was fined 25 percent of his purse, which was awarded to Nurmagomedov. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face David Martínez on July 25, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 282. However, Martínez withdrew from the bout due to an injury, so the bout was cancelled.

Nurmagomedov faced Song Yadong in the main event on August 29, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 286. He lost the fight via second round knockout.

Grappling career Nurmagomedov was scheduled to compete against former two-time Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Eduardo Dantas in a no-gi featherweight grappling match on October 25, 2024 in the main event at ADXC 6 but the bout was cancelled.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur mixed martial arts

World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) World Champion (2016 at bantamweight)

Professional mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) Tied (Tony Gravely) for third most takedowns landed in UFC Bantamweight division history (33) Third most takedowns landed in a UFC Bantamweight match (11) Eagle Fighting Championship GF Bantamweight Championship (One time) Three successful title defences MMA Mania 2025 #3 Ranked Fight of the Year

Sambo World Combat Sambo Federation World Champion (2015 at -62 kg)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Song Yadong KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

Shanghai, China Win

Deiveson Figueiredo Decision (unanimous) UFC 324

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mario Bautista Decision (unanimous) UFC 321

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Merab Dvalishvili Decision (unanimous) UFC 311

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Cory Sandhagen Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Bekzat Almakhan Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gaziev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Raoni Barcelos KO (body kick and punch) UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Nate Maness Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brian Kelleher Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 272

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Sergey Morozov Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Braian Gonzalez Submission (rear-naked choke) Gorilla Fighting 20

Tashkent, Uzbekistan Win

Sidemar Honorio Decision (unanimous) PFL 6 (2019)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Taras Gryckiv Submission (rear-naked choke) Gorilla Fighting 14

Kaspiysk, Russia Win

Wagner Lima Decision (unanimous) Battle on Volga 10

Toliatti, Russia Win

Saidyokub Kakhramonov Decision (unanimous) PFL 7 (2018)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Fatkhidin Sobirov Decision (unanimous) Battle on Volga 4

Samara, Russia Win

Shyudi Yamauchi Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 83

Moscow, Russia Win

Nauruz Dzamikhov Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 76

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Valisher Rakhmonov Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Nights Global 71

Moscow, Russia Win

Alym Isabaev TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 62

Moscow, Russia Win

Ulukbek Amanbaev Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Stars: Battle on Sura 6

Penza, Russia Win

Rishat Kharisov Submission (guillotine choke) Fight Nights Global 57

Moscow, Russia