Umar Nurmagomedov Bio
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Born on January 3, 1996, in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia, he has built a reputation as a grappler with strong combat sambo roots and an unbeaten record that lasted deep into his UFC tenure. As of October 28, 2025, he sits at number one in the official UFC bantamweight rankings. He fights out of Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy, the team closely associated with the Nurmagomedov family legacy.
Standing 173 centimeters tall with a 175-centimeter reach, Nurmagomedov has compiled a professional record of 19 wins and one loss, with victories spread across decisions, knockouts, and submissions. He has previously competed in regional Russian promotions and the Professional Fighters League (PFL) before reaching the UFC roster. He is also the older brother of former Bellator and current PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Early Life and Background
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov grew up in Kizilyurt, a town in the republic of Dagestan in southern Russia, where he began attending freestyle wrestling practice as a child alongside his younger brother Usman. The two brothers trained together in their native village before Umar transitioned to Muay Thai, with Usman soon following his lead. Their early interest in combat sports laid the foundation for what would become a family deeply tied to martial arts competition.
After the family moved to Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, Umar began training with his uncle, the renowned coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at the Eagles MMA camp. He is of Avar ethnic origin, one of the larger ethnic groups of the North Caucasus. Growing up inside a structured team environment shaped his grappling-heavy style and his disciplined approach to competition. His hometown of Kizilyurt and his family connections remain central to his identity as a fighter.
Path to MMA
Before turning professional, Umar earned a prestigious amateur title at the age of 19, capturing the -62 kg division at the WCSF World Championships in combat sambo. The following year, he added the bantamweight amateur mixed martial arts crown at the WMMAA World Championship, signaling his readiness for the professional ranks. These amateur accomplishments positioned him as one of the most decorated prospects from the Dagestan grappling circuit.
He made his professional debut on December 16, 2016, at Fight Nights Global 57 in Moscow, submitting Rishat Kharisov with a second-round guillotine choke. That victory launched a streak of early finishes and decisions across Russian regional shows, where Umar sharpened his grappling and striking combinations. His rapid rise through the domestic circuit caught the attention of international promotions and set the stage for a career on the global stage.
Umar Nurmagomedov Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Following his debut, Nurmagomedov stayed busy on the Russian circuit, picking up wins at Fight Star: Battle on Sura 6 and across multiple Fight Nights Global events. He defeated Alym Isabaev, Valisher Rakhmonov, Nauruz Dzamikhov, and Shyudi Yamauchi, mixing rear-naked chokes, technical knockouts, and decisions. On May 11, 2018, he captured the FMMAS Bantamweight Championship by beating Fatkhidin Sobirov at Battle on Volga 4 and immediately defended the title against Wagner Lima and Taras Gryckiv in 2019.
During this period, Umar also tested himself in the Professional Fighters League, going the distance with future UFC fighter Saidyokub Kakhramonov at PFL 7 and later defeating Sidemar Honorio at PFL 6. He closed 2019 with a successful title defense against Brian Gonzalez in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, cementing his status as a top bantamweight outside the UFC. These regional and international results provided a clear foundation for his move to the world’s largest MMA promotion.
UFC Breakthrough (2020–2023)
Umar’s UFC arrival was repeatedly delayed by circumstances beyond his control. He was first scheduled to face Hunter Azure at UFC 249 in April 2020, but the event was postponed. A bout with Nathaniel Wood at UFC on ESPN 14 was scrapped after the death of his uncle and longtime coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. His pairing with Sergey Morozov was rescheduled twice before finally taking place on January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny, where Umar won by second-round rear-naked choke to claim a Performance of the Night bonus.
From that point, Nurmagomedov’s UFC tenure gained momentum. He submitted Brian Kelleher in the first round at UFC 272, outpointed Nate Maness at UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot, and knocked out Raoni Barcelos at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov to earn another Performance of the Night award. A scheduled bout with Jack Shore was canceled for unknown reasons, and a meeting with Cory Sandhagen was derailed by a shoulder injury, but Umar continued to stack wins over promotional newcomers and experienced veterans alike.
UFC Title Contention Era (2024–Present)
Umar opened 2024 with a gritty decision win over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Fight Night 238, bouncing back from early trouble to dominate on the ground. His biggest career moment followed at UFC on ABC 7 on August 3, 2024, when he defeated Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision in a bantamweight title eliminator. The performance stamped him as the next top contender and set up a championship opportunity against Merab Dvalishvili.
That title shot came on January 18, 2025, at UFC 311, where Umar lost to Dvalishvili by unanimous decision, marking the first defeat of his professional career. Despite the result, the fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award and kept him near the top of the division. He returned to action on October 25, 2025, at UFC 321, beating Mario Bautista by unanimous decision in the main event and reaffirming his number-one ranking. He is scheduled to face former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo on January 24, 2026, at UFC 324.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nurmagomedov combines a combat sambo base with high-level wrestling, using a 175-centimeter reach and relentless top pressure to dictate where fights take place. His rear-naked choke is his most reliable finishing weapon, while his cardio and decision-making have allowed him to control longer bouts against elite opposition. Working alongside the coaches at Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy, he continues to refine a grappling-first style that translates well against top bantamweights.
Notable Events and Milestones
Umar’s most notable achievements include winning the FMMAS Bantamweight Championship, capturing a WCSF World Championship in combat sambo, and earning multiple UFC Performance of the Night bonuses. His Fight of the Night award in the title fight against Dvalishvili highlighted his ability to compete across all phases of a bout. A scheduled no-gi grappling match with former two-time Bellator Bantamweight World Champion Eduardo Dantas at ADXC 6 was canceled, leaving the bout on the list of matchups fans hope to see rescheduled.
Umar Nurmagomedov Career Wins
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov has built a 19-1 professional record across promotions such as Fight Nights Global, Samara MMA Federation (later Gorilla Fighting Championship), Eagle Fighting Championship, PFL, and the UFC. His finishes include two knockouts, seven submissions, and a single decision victory among the totals currently tracked, with the balance of his wins also coming by decision. The single defeat came against Merab Dvalishvili in his first UFC title opportunity.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Umar has secured wins over Sergey Morozov, Brian Kelleher, Nate Maness, Raoni Barcelos, Bekzat Almakhan, Cory Sandhagen, and Mario Bautista. Several of these victories were earned by first-round submissions, including his rear-naked chokes of Morozov and Kelleher, while his decisions over Sandhagen and Bautista demonstrated his ability to win longer championship-level fights. Multiple Performance of the Night bonuses and a Fight of the Night award reflect the impression he has made on the promotion.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Umar captured and defended the FMMAS Bantamweight Championship, going the distance with Sobirov and Lima before submitting Gryckiv with a first-round rear-naked choke. He also collected decision wins over Kakhramonov and Honorio in the Professional Fighters League and finished opponents like Rakhisov, Amanbaev, Isabaev, Rakhmonov, Dzamikhov, Yamauchi, and Gonzalez across Russian shows. These results form the foundation of his current top-ranked status.
Umar Nurmagomedov Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
The Nurmagomedov family is one of the most recognized names in modern MMA. Umar began wrestling as a child alongside his younger brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, a former Bellator and current PFL champion, and the two have followed similar developmental paths. After moving to Makhachkala, Umar trained under his uncle, the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, whose passing in 2020 forced Umar to withdraw from a scheduled UFC bout.
Personal Life
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov is of Avar ethnic origin and continues to be based in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia, where he was born and raised. He represents the broader Nurmagomedov family tradition of combat sports and trains out of the Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy. He has kept most personal details outside of fighting out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
Umar’s 2025 campaign began with the highest-profile test of his career, a UFC Bantamweight Championship showdown with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 on January 18. Although he dropped a unanimous decision in his first title opportunity, the performance earned widespread respect and his first Fight of the Night award. The defeat was a setback, but it did not knock him out of the title picture.
After recovering and regrouping with the Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy staff, Umar returned to the main event slot on October 25, 2025, at UFC 321 against Mario Bautista. He controlled the fight from bell to bell and walked away with a unanimous decision win, reinforcing his number-one spot in the bantamweight rankings. The victory also moved him past the disappointment of the title loss and set up a marquee non-title fight against former two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324 in January 2026.