Magomed Magomedov Bio
Magomed Zhamaludinovich Magomedov (born December 25, 1991) is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division. Known by the ring name “Tiger,” he has built a professional career that began in 2011 and currently spans promotions across Russia, Europe, and North America. Based in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Magomedov trains with DagFighter and has become recognized for his resilience and adaptability in the cage.
Early Life and Background
Magomed Magomedov was born in the city of Khasavyurt, in the Republic of Dagestan, Russia. He later moved to Makhachkala, where he attended a local school. During that period, he frequently skipped classes, eventually staying away from school for several months before his father discovered the absences. The incident led to a difficult but formative period for the young athlete.
After the episode, Magomedov was enrolled in a sports boarding school known as Five Directions of the World, where martial arts training replaced the freedom to skip classes. The early months were challenging, but he gradually adapted to the disciplined environment. It was there that he met Zabit Magomedsharipov, a future UFC standout, who inspired him to study wushu sanda and shaped his path toward combat sports.
Path to MMA
For a long stretch, Magomedov could not break into regional-level wushu tournaments, let alone dream of competing on the national stage. Training with more experienced partners under the guidance of coach Alexander Buryak, he steadily improved and began posting stronger results in competition. By 2011, he had fully retrained in mixed martial arts, influenced by friends and acquaintances who were also pursuing careers in the sport.
He captured an amateur national MMA championship in Russia and followed it with an amateur title in Europe, a run that convinced him to turn professional. That progression launched the career of a Dagestan-born fighter who would eventually face some of the top bantamweights in the world.
Magomed Magomedov Career
Early Career (2011–2014)
Magomedov’s professional journey began with M-1 Ukraine, where he defeated Ivan Prokopenko in his debut. He went on to collect wins on the regional circuit, including Legion Fight 10, SRPO Federation of Mixed Combat: Ultimatum 1, Pride of Caucasus, and Pro FC 45: Thunder in Grozny, beating opponents such as Garun Dibirov, Agil Ragimov, Kutmanbek Ashirov, and Yakub Tangiev.
The results earned him a move to M-1 Challenge, where he built a reputation as an unbeatable fighter against a variety of international opponents. He earned unanimous decision wins over Poland’s Damian Stasiak and Georgia’s Paata Robakidze, finished Brazil’s Yuri Maia by technical knockout, and submitted Ukraine’s Anton Vasiliev. Those performances established him as a bantamweight prospect to watch.
Absolute Championship Berkut Breakthrough (2015–2018)
During 2015, Magomedov added four more victories and earned a move to the Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) league. He made an immediate impact, stopping Arthur Kashcheev by technical knockout in his ACB debut at ACB 18 and outpointing Brazil’s Bruno Diaz in a difficult fight at ACB 24. The promotion’s leadership responded by giving him a shot at the bantamweight title held by Petr Yan.
Magomedov and Yan met at ACB 32 on March 26, 2016, in Moscow, in a bout that went the full five rounds. The judges were split, but Magomedov was awarded the split decision, a verdict that drew criticism and prompted ACB president Mairbek Khasiev to promise a rematch. The fight was later voted ACB’s best fight of 2016. He returned at ACB 50 to make his first title defense, submitting Oleg Borisov via guillotine choke just 10 seconds before the end of the bout, before dropping the rematch to Yan at ACB 57 on April 15, 2017, by unanimous decision. He closed the ACB chapter with wins over Dean Garnett at ACB 67, Edgars Skrivers at ACB 83, and Walter Pereira at ACB 90.
Bellator MMA Era (2020–2024)
On October 14, 2020, it was announced that Magomedov had signed with Bellator MMA. He made his promotional debut on December 10, 2020, at Bellator 254, winning a unanimous decision over Matheus Mattos. In April 2021, he stepped in on short notice against Cee Jay Hamilton at Bellator 255, winning by rear-naked choke submission in the second round. He suffered his first promotional loss at Bellator 264, dropping a unanimous decision to Raufeon Stots.
Magomedov advanced in the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix at Bellator 282, finishing Enrique Barzola by guillotine choke in the quarter-finals. He then ran into former title challenger Patchy Mix in the semi-finals at Bellator 289, where he was stopped by second-round technical submission. He bounced back at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2, submitting Danny Sabatello via guillotine choke in the first round. On May 17, 2024, at Bellator Champions Series 2, Magomedov challenged Patchy Mix again for the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship, this time losing by split decision.
Professional Fighters League (2025–Present)
On February 21, 2025, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) officially confirmed that Magomedov had joined the 2025 PFL Bantamweight Tournament. He was scheduled to face Leandro Higo in the quarter-finals at PFL 2 on April 11, 2025, but withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Josh Rettinghouse. Returning as a tournament alternate, he beat Sarvarjon Khamidov by unanimous decision at PFL 6 on June 20, 2025.
He drew a high-profile assignment at PFL Champions Series 3 on October 3, 2025, facing former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Sergio Pettis, and lost by knockout in the second round. The defeat ended his 2025 run on a difficult note heading into the off-season.
Notable Events and Milestones
Magomedov’s most celebrated night came at ACB 32, when his five-round split-decision win over Petr Yan was named ACB’s best fight of 2016. He has also produced several high-profile finishes in major promotions, including guillotine choke victories over Oleg Borisov, Enrique Barzola, and Danny Sabatello, each of which reinforced his reputation as a dangerous submission threat at bantamweight.
Magomed Magomedov Career Wins
Across his professional career, Magomedov has compiled 21 wins against 5 losses in 26 total bouts, with 3 wins by decision, 1 by knockout, and 1 by submission listed in his verified record summary. His victories have come against opponents from Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, Brazil, and beyond, reflecting a varied international schedule.
Bellator MMA Highlights
In Bellator, Magomedov has recorded wins over Matheus Mattos, Cee Jay Hamilton, Enrique Barzola, and Danny Sabatello. His Barzola finish came in the quarter-finals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix, while the Sabatello win marked a quick first-round submission return following his loss to Patchy Mix.
Other Wins & Performances
Outside Bellator, his biggest achievements came in Absolute Championship Berkut, where he captured the bantamweight title and defended it once before losing the rematch to Petr Yan. He also built a strong regional resume in M-1 Challenge and M-1 Ukraine, going unbeaten against a diverse international roster during that stretch of his career.
Magomed Magomedov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Magomedov grew up in a Dagestani family in Khasavyurt, and it was his father who, after discovering the long absence from school, redirected the teenager toward a sports boarding school. That pivotal decision, while severe, gave him the structure and environment that ultimately launched his martial arts career.
Personal Life
Magomedov continues to live and train in Makhachkala, Dagestan, where he represents the DagFighter team. He has not publicly shared details of a spouse or children, and he keeps his personal life largely out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
Magomedov’s 2025 season began with high expectations after being confirmed for the 2025 PFL Bantamweight Tournament. A pre-tournament injury forced him out of his scheduled quarter-final with Leandro Higo at PFL 2, a setback that disrupted his momentum and forced him into an alternate role.
He returned at PFL 6 on June 20, 2025, earning a unanimous decision win over Sarvarjon Khamidov in a tournament alternate bout, a result that kept him in the PFL mix. The season then closed with a tough assignment against former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Sergio Pettis at PFL Champions Series 3, where he was stopped by knockout in the second round.
Heading into the next stretch of his career, Magomedov’s PFL run, combined with his prior Bellator title shot, leaves him with a clear résumé as a top-tier bantamweight, and a win over a name like Pettis remains a primary objective for the year ahead.