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Here is the Full List of Russian UFC Fighters.
Recognizing this as evidence, the lightweight division is primarily controlled by Nurmagomedov. These fighters have a notable advantage over their peers, as they have all been trained in these disciplines throughout their lives. The majority of the top Russians in MMA originate from backgrounds in combat sambo and wrestling.
With that being said, here are the top five Russian fighters currently participating in the UFC.
Askar Askarov is currently ranked in the top five of the flyweight division, competing among the elite fighters at 125 pounds, just a couple of wins away from fighting for the belt.
He came into the UFC with a perfect professional record of 11-0, defending and winning the ACB flyweight title in his native Russia. After his promotional debut, Brandon Moreno and Askarov fought their way to a split-draw, putting an end to his three-win streak.
In the upcoming future, anticipate this Russian flyweight to once again join the race for the title. At only 29 years old and having sustained minimal injuries in his career thus far, his remarkable streak came to a conclusion when Kai Kara-France defeated Askarov by outscoring him and securing a unanimous decision victory in March.
Having finished half of his career, he possesses excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling skills. Askarov is a tough matchup for any 125-pound fighter.
Since his entrance into the UFC, he has faced difficulties in defeating his adversaries, for reasons unknown. The scorecards of the judges have been utilized in all of his bouts within the world’s top MMA organization. Previously, Askarov has faced allegations of being cautious and seemingly satisfied with winning by decision. Moving ahead, it is possible that the defeat against Kara-France will encourage him to embrace a more assertive strategy.
#4. Umar Nurmagomedov (14-0 in total, 2-0 in the UFC)
Umar Nurmagomedov, a highly skilled bantamweight fighter, is on his way to becoming a future UFC champion. Umar, who is the cousin of the former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, is following in his footsteps and showing great potential.
Brian Kelleher secured a dominant first-round victory in the octagon, picking up his second win at the recently concluded UFC 272 pay-per-view event. The undefeated phenom from Dagestan is currently a formidable presence in the bantamweight division.
In the upcoming years, Nurmagomedov is bound to make his way into the upper echelon of the 135-pound division. At only 26 years old, he has already showcased an exceptionally developed set of skills and currently holds a flawless professional record of 14-0, with six of his victories achieved through submission. Despite not having a ranking yet, Nurmagomedov will be aiming for a ranked adversary in his next fight.
Furthermore, his cousin may eventually advocate for more formidable adversaries. Additionally, Dana White maintains a positive rapport with the previous lightweight champion. The young Russian will possess a profound understanding of the requirements to attain the status of a world champion, particularly with the guidance of the highly experienced Khabib Nurmagomedov. Moreover,
#3. Magomed Ankalaev (17-1 in total, 8-1 in the UFC)
Ankalaev was touted as a real threat in the 205-pound division, thanks to his background in sambo combat. The towering Russian, with a perfect 9-0 professional record, joined the America-based promotion as a light heavyweight. To say the least, Magomed Ankalaev had a rocky start to his UFC career.
Ankalaev, who has put together an eight-fight win streak, finds himself in the top five division. Since his loss, he has dominated the Scottish heavyweight light Paul Craig, catching him in a perfectly executed triangle choke with just one second left on the clock, for almost 15 straight minutes, in his promotional debut.
Thiago Santos is a legitimate contender in the light heavyweight division, with his power and pedigree in wrestling making him a force to be reckoned with. He currently occupies the No.4 spot in the rankings and is likely to be a strong contender for the title. In his recent outing, Ankalaev comfortably defeated a former title challenger, securing a unanimous decision win.
Set to take place later this year between divisional champion Glover Teixeira and the second-ranked Jiri Prochazka, the 205-pound title will be contested. When he eventually faces Ankalaev, the champion will face a highly challenging task, regardless of who comes out as the winner.
#2. Petr Yan (16-3 in total, 8-2 in the UFC)
Petr Yan is also considered one of the most entertaining fighters in the UFC. He is regarded as one of the most exciting fighters to watch, with a savage mentality and an all-action approach. Petr Yan is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters.
Yan, with a professional MMA record of 16-3, has a few factors to consider when looking at his career. Despite avenging his loss to Magomedov a year later, he was deducted a point due to a headbutt, resulting in a questionable split-decision defeat in 2016.
During the evening, it is widely believed that the ex-bantamweight titleholder performed satisfactorily to secure a triumph. At UFC 273, Sterling emerged as the winner through a split-decision in a rematch where the bantamweight pair subsequently clashed. A disqualification resulting in a loss to Aljamain Sterling marks Yan’s second setback.
Yan is a stylistic nightmare for anyone he faces. He has an excellent defense and his nickname ‘No Mercy’ guarantees that most of his fights remain standing. He systematically dismantles his opponents with his precise boxing skills, surpassing his peers and those above him in striking abilities.
It is incredible what Yan is about fights in an extremely mature manner. He has the skills to reclaim his belt and he will soon be back in the title mix. He hasn’t even reached his peak yet. As the fight wears on, his output increases seemingly and he never seems to run out of gas.
#1. Islam Makhachev (22-1 in total, 11-1 in the UFC)
With a mere 30 years on his side, Islam Makhachev possesses an ample amount of time to attain that objective. Numerous individuals are of the opinion that it is simply a question of time before the ascending Dagestani sensation clinches the 155-pound championship, thereby potentially solidifying his status as the top contender in the UFC lightweight division presently. Presently, his professional record stands at an impressive 22-1.
Dan Hooker and Moises Thiago, both top contenders in the lightweight division, showcased their skills by securing three impressive submission victories. Meanwhile, Makhachev, an unranked fighter at the start of 2021, has been tearing through the lightweight ranks in a dominant fashion over the past 18 months.
Watch a compilation of the top finishes by Islam Makhachev below:
Instead, Makhachev faced off against an unrated experienced Bobby Green. Regrettably, Dariush encountered an injury a week prior to the bout. A victory for either combatant would have nearly assured them a chance at the championship. He was scheduled to compete against the leading challenger, Beneil Dariush, in a high-stakes main event confrontation earlier this year.
It seems that Makhachev has the answer in the lightweight division, as he is likely to win over a top contender-ranked opponent to earn his shot at the title. He sailed to a dominant first-round victory over Green, but nobody appears to have the answer for him. His submission skills have turned him into a lethal finisher, and his wrestling prowess seems to overwhelm his opponents.
In the years ahead, he has the potential to dominate the lightweight category, given his ability to avoid injuries and the relative ease with which Makhachev defeats his adversaries. Moreover, he continuously introduces new elements to his striking technique in each successive bout, making him even more formidable.