Mukhamed Berkhamov Bio
Mukhamed Berkhamov is a Russian professional mixed martial artist born on January 27, 1994, in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. Competing in the welterweight division, he has built a reputation as a grappling-heavy fighter with a background in combat sambo, Russian catch wrestling, and army hand-to-hand combat. Berkhamov is widely recognized as a former ACB Welterweight World Champion, and he has also competed in Bellator MMA and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Known in the cage by the nicknames “Cherkes” and “The Red Devil,” he remains active on the international MMA scene and trains with Kill Cliff FC in Florida.
Early Life and Background
Mukhamed Berkhamov was born in the city of Baksan in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and is of Kabardian ethnicity, an eastern branch of the Circassian nation. He completed his secondary education at the Municipal State General Educational Institution Secondary General Educational School No. 4 of the Baksan Urban District before going on to study at the Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University.
During his academic years, Berkhamov simultaneously trained in combat sambo and hand-to-hand combat, building the foundation for his professional career. He began with boxing and Russian catch wrestling, and his dedication quickly produced results. He became a National Champion in Russian Catch Wrestling, a Republican Champion in hand-to-hand combat, and a North Caucasian Federal District Champion in both hand-to-hand combat and grappling. Berkhamov also won republican boxing tournaments and two all-Russian class “B” boxing tournaments.
Path to MMA
Berkhamov’s amateur mixed martial arts journey began in 2011, when he captured the FCF Absolute Cup Welterweight Tournament Championship in Nalchik. Over the next several years he collected titles at the amateur level, including a gold medal at the 2015 Amateur MMA Cup of Nalchik in the welterweight division, and bronze medals at both the 2015 North Caucasus MMA Championship in Grozny and the 2015 Russian Amateur MMA Championship in Volgograd.
He also posted strong results on the international amateur stage, winning the WCSF Combat Sambo International Tournament in the junior category in Sochi and the Tatarstan President’s Sambo Cup in Kazan, while also winning the Russian Open Grappling Cup in Novosibirsk. In 2014 he competed in the Cup of Russia in Mytishchi, defeating future PFL fighter Magomed Umalatov by rear-naked choke. These accomplishments established him as one of the top amateur welterweight prospects in Russia.
Mukhamed Berkhamov Career
Early Career (2013-2015)
Mukhamed Berkhamov made his professional MMA debut on January 19, 2013, at the Oplot Challenge 28 tournament, defeating Artem Shokalo by unanimous decision. On May 26, 2013, at Emperor Fighting Championship 3 in Yaroslavl, he earned his first professional submission win, finishing Nver Kagramalyan with an anaconda choke in the opening round. He suffered his first professional loss later that year, dropping a unanimous decision to Marif Piraev at Ahimas Promotion SPB Fighter 5 in St. Petersburg.
In November 2013, Berkhamov added another first-round anaconda choke win over Tofiq Musayev at Oplot Challenge 90 in Kharkov. After a five-match winning streak in 2015 under the banners of ACB and Tech-Krep FC, he finished four of those opponents by submission. He also won the 2015 Tech-KREP FC Welterweight Grand Prix, which cemented his status as a rising welterweight contender.
ACB / ACA Breakthrough (2016-2019)
Berkhamov’s ACB career began with a third-round armbar submission of Ronny Alexander Landaeta Utrera in the main event of ACB 28. On May 20, 2016, at ACB 38 in Rostov-on-Don, he earned his first professional knockout, stopping pankration world champion Stanislav Vlasenko in 25 seconds, an effort that brought him his first Performance of the Night award. He followed that win with a first-round armbar of Jesse Taylor at ACB 48, earning another Performance of the Night bonus.
On March 24, 2017, Berkhamov submitted undefeated Sharaf Davlatmurodov by armbar in the second round of the ACB 55 main event, securing his third Performance of the Night award. On August 19, 2017, he captured the ACB Welterweight World Championship at ACB 67, knocking out Brett Fudoshin Cooper in 32 seconds of the second round to become the youngest active champion in the promotion. He was awarded a Mercedes-Benz car for the title victory.
His reign was interrupted by a string of injuries in 2018, including a broken left hand, a follow-up arm injury that required a stabilizing plate, and finally a torn knee ligament. The knee injury forced him to vacate the ACB World Welterweight title. Returning on August 19, 2019, at ACA 97, he outpointed Ciro Rodrigues by unanimous decision, improving his record to 13-0 with eight submission wins, two knockouts, and three decisions. He then departed ACA to pursue opportunities in the American market, eventually signing with Bellator MMA.
Bellator MMA Era (2021-2023)
Berkhamov’s first Bellator booking against Herman Terrado at Bellator 255 was scrapped after he missed weight by 2.8 pounds. He made his official Bellator debut on October 16, 2021, at Bellator 268, where he submitted tenth-ranked Jaleel Willis via guillotine choke in the first round, extending his unbeaten streak to 14-0.
At Bellator 283, his bout with Lorenz Larkin ended in a no contest after an inadvertent elbow to the back of his head during a takedown attempt. The rematch came at Bellator 290 on February 4, 2023, where Larkin knocked him out in the first round with a clinch elbow, handing Berkhamov the first KO loss of his career. On October 7, 2023, at Bellator 300, he closed his Bellator run with a dominant 30-27 unanimous decision win over Herman Terrado.
Professional Fighters League Era (2024-Present)
Berkhamov debuted in the PFL on August 23, 2024, at PFL 9 in Washington, D.C., defeating two-time PFL Welterweight World Champion Ray Cooper III by split decision in a fight the media scored 30-27 in his favor. On April 3, 2025, at PFL World Tournament 1 in Orlando, he was knocked out in the first round by Thad Jean via punches. On June 12, 2025, at PFL 5 in Nashville, he started strong against Kendly St. Louis before being submitted via rear-naked choke at 3:21 of the third round, suffering the first submission loss of his career and being eliminated from the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament.
Notable Events and Milestones
Berkhamov’s career-defining moments include his 32-second knockout of Brett Fudoshin Cooper to claim the ACB Welterweight World Championship, his three ACB Performance of the Night awards, and his split-decision upset of two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III. He holds the rank of Master of Sport in both Combat Sambo and Army Hand-to-Hand Combat, reflecting his deep amateur pedigree. His 2018 trilogy of injuries, which forced him to vacate a world title, and his rebound through Bellator and the PFL underline his resilience as a professional fighter.
Mukhamed Berkhamov Career Wins
Mukhamed Berkhamov has compiled 16 professional wins against 5 losses, with finishes coming by way of 2 knockouts, 1 submission, 2 decisions, and 1 disqualification across his career in promotions such as Oplot Challenge, ACB/ACA, Tech-KREP FC, Bellator MMA, and the PFL.
ACB / ACA Highlights
Within the ACB/ACA organization, Berkhamov posted six wins, five of which were finishes, and he became the youngest active champion in the promotion after his 2017 second-round knockout of Brett Fudoshin Cooper. His first ACB knockout came against Stanislav Vlasenko in 25 seconds, and he also submitted Ronny Alexander Landaeta Utrera, Jesse Taylor, and Sharaf Davlatmurodov in ACB main-card appearances. He closed his ACB/ACA run with a unanimous decision over Ciro Rodrigues at ACA 97.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the ACB/ACA cage, Berkhamov captured the 2015 Tech-KREP FC Welterweight Grand Prix, added a Bellator debut submission of Jaleel Willis at Bellator 268, and closed his Bellator tenure with a unanimous decision over Herman Terrado at Bellator 300. He opened his PFL career with a split-decision victory over two-time champion Ray Cooper III, underscoring his ability to compete against established welterweight names.
| Promotion | Wins | Top Finishes | Notable Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACB / ACA | 6 | 5 finishes | ACB Welterweight World Champion |
| Bellator MMA | 2 | 1 submission, 1 decision | Submission of Jaleel Willis |
| PFL | 1 | 1 decision | Decision over Ray Cooper III |
Mukhamed Berkhamov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mukhamed Berkhamov comes from the city of Baksan in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and is of Kabardian ethnicity, an eastern branch of the Circassian nation. He trains in his home region with the Baksan Fighting Club and Team Alligator Nalchik under fellow Circassian coach Beslan Zhamurzov, reflecting the strong regional ties that have shaped his fighting career.
Personal Life
Berkhamov is known by the nicknames “Cherkes” (meaning Circassian in Russian) and “The Red Devil,” the latter inspired by his distinctive ginger hair and beard. He holds dual training residences, splitting his camps between Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria and Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he works with Kill Cliff FC alongside fighters such as Kamaru Usman and Shavkat Rakhmonov.
2025 Season Performance
Mukhamed Berkhamov entered the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament looking to build on his upset win over Ray Cooper III from the previous season. His first outing came on April 3, 2025, at PFL World Tournament 1 in Orlando, where he was knocked out in the first round by Thad Jean via punches, halting any early momentum in the season format.
On June 12, 2025, at PFL 5: Clash of the Caribbean in Nashville, Berkhamov started sharp against Kendly St. Louis, landing counters, low kicks, and a flying knee. However, St. Louis reversed position in the third round and locked in a rear-naked choke at 3:21, handing Berkhamov the first submission loss of his career and eliminating him from the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament.
With his tournament run over, Berkhamov’s 2025 outlook shifts toward recovery, rebuilding, and preparing for his next assignment under the Kill Cliff FC banner. The season underscored both the gap he still has to close against top PFL welterweights and the resilience that has defined his path from Kabardino-Balkaria to the global MMA stage.