Magomed Magomedov Bio
Magomed Zhamaludinovich Magomedov, born on December 25, 1991, is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of Professional Fighters League. Known by the ring name Tiger, he fights out of Makhachkala, Dagestan, and represents the DagFighter team. Over a professional career that began in 2011, Magomedov has built a reputation for resilience, grappling skill, and the willingness to face top-tier opposition across multiple major promotions.
Originally from Khasavyurt in the Republic of Dagestan, Magomedov rose through regional and European circuits before reaching global stages in Absolute Championship Berkut, Bellator MMA, and the Professional Fighters League. His career has included a former ACB title reign, deep runs in tournament brackets, and bouts against several of the bantamweight division’s most recognized names.
Early Life and Background
Magomedov was born in the city of Khasavyurt in Dagestan, Russia. During his teenage years he attended a school in Makhachkala, although he frequently skipped classes with friends. To avoid discovery, he forged teacher signatures in his diary, a routine that continued until his father visited the school and learned his son had been absent for roughly four months.
The episode proved pivotal. His father enrolled him in the sports boarding school Five Directions of the World, where structured training replaced his freedom to roam. The early weeks were difficult, but the disciplined environment introduced him to martial arts and to training partners who would shape his future, including Zabit Magomedsharipov, who inspired him to take up wushu sanda.
For years, Magomedov competed at the regional level and did not imagine reaching a national stage. Training under coach Alexander Buryak alongside more experienced partners, he slowly sharpened his skills. By 2011 he had fully transitioned to mixed martial arts, won a national amateur championship, and represented Russia in Europe before turning professional.
Path to MMA
Magomedov’s professional journey began with M-1 Ukraine, where he stopped Ivan Prokopenko in his debut. He followed that win with successful appearances on Legion Fight 10, SRPO Federation of Mixed Combat: Ultimatum 1, Pride of Caucasus, and Pro FC 45: Thunder in Grozny, defeating opponents such as Garun Dibirov, Agil Ragimov, Kutmanbek Ashirov, and Yakub Tangiev.
Those regional victories earned him a place on the M-1 Challenge roster, where he built a reputation as an unbeatable fighter against international opposition. Notable wins included unanimous decisions over Poland’s Damian Stasiak and Georgia’s Paata Robakidze, a technical knockout of Brazil’s Yuri Maia, and a submission of Ukraine’s Anton Vasiliev, results that opened the door to a larger platform.
Magomed Magomedov Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Between 2011 and 2015, Magomedov established himself as one of the most consistent prospects in the regional and European scene. Moving from M-1 Ukraine to M-1 Challenge, he strung together victories over opponents from multiple countries and steadily climbed the bantamweight rankings in Eastern European MMA.
By the end of 2015, he had built a record marked by finishes and decisions, demonstrating an evolving skill set that combined wrestling-based grappling with improving striking. The performances drew the attention of major promotions and set the stage for his move to Absolute Championship Berkut.
Absolute Championship Berkut Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Magomedov joined Absolute Championship Berkut and announced himself immediately. At ACB 18 he earned a technical knockout of Arthur Kashcheev, and at ACB 24 he outpointed Brazil’s Bruno Diaz in a difficult, hard-fought contest. Those wins placed him in line for the ACB bantamweight title, then held by Petr Yan.
Their championship meeting took place on March 26, 2016, at ACB 32 in Moscow and went the full five rounds. The fight was so closely contested that the judges delivered a split decision in favor of Magomedov, a verdict that sparked debate but earned the bout recognition as ACB’s fight of the year for 2016.
Magomedov made his first title defense at ACB 50, catching Oleg Borisov in a guillotine choke ten seconds before the final bell. A planned rematch with Petr Yan finally took place on April 15 at ACB 57 in Moscow, where Yan took the belt back by unanimous decision. Magomedov returned in the summer of 2017 with a win over Dean Garnett at ACB 67, then in 2018 added victories over Edgars Skrivers at ACB 83 and Walter Pereira at ACB 90.
Bellator MMA Era (2020–2024)
On October 14, 2020, Magomedov signed with Bellator MMA. In his promotional debut he faced Matheus Mattos at Bellator 254 on December 10, 2020, earning a unanimous decision victory. A scheduled bout with Jared Scoggins at Bellator 255 fell through when Scoggins withdrew, and Cee Jay Hamilton stepped in, only to be finished by Magomedov via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Magomedov’s first setback inside the Bellator cage came against Raufeon Stots at Bellator 264, where he dropped a unanimous decision. He rebounded in the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix quarterfinals at Bellator 282, submitting Enrique Barzola with a fourth-round guillotine choke. The run ended in the semifinals, as former title challenger Patchy Mix handed him a second-round technical submission loss at Bellator 289.
In his next outing, Magomedov stopped Danny Sabatello via first-round guillotine choke at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2. He earned a second opportunity at the Bellator Bantamweight World Championship on May 17, 2024, at Bellator Champions Series 2, facing Patchy Mix in a rematch, but came up short again on the judges’ scorecards via split decision.
Professional Fighters League Era (2025–Present)
On February 21, 2025, the Professional Fighters League officially confirmed that Magomedov had joined the 2025 PFL Bantamweight Tournament. He was originally booked to face Leandro Higo in the quarterfinals at PFL 2 on April 11, 2025, but was forced to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Josh Rettinghouse.
Returning in a tournament alternate bout, Magomedov outpointed Sarvarjon Khamidov via unanimous decision at PFL 6 on June 20, 2025. He was then matched with former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Sergio Pettis at PFL Champions Series 3 on October 3, 2025, where he suffered a second-round knockout loss.
Magomedov closed the season with a bout against Leandro Higo at PFL Sioux Falls on May 2, 2026. After weighing in at 136.8 pounds, 0.8 pounds over the bantamweight non-title limit, he was fined a percentage of his purse, which was awarded to Higo. Magomedov then won the fight itself via split decision.
Style and Strengths
Magomedov is known for his grappling-heavy style, anchored by a dangerous guillotine choke that has finished multiple opponents across promotions. He pairs his submission threat with disciplined wrestling, durable cardio, and a willingness to engage in extended five-round battles, qualities that have made him a difficult out in tournament formats.
Notable Events and Milestones
His split-decision capture of the ACB bantamweight title from Petr Yan in 2016, later named ACB fight of the year, stands as a defining career moment. Other milestones include his deep run to the semifinals of the Bellator Bantamweight World Grand Prix, his title shot against Patchy Mix, and a 2026 PFL Sioux Falls win over Leandro Higo that reaffirmed his place among the division’s top contenders.
Magomed Magomedov Career Wins
Across his professional career spanning more than a decade, Magomedov has compiled a record built on decisions and submission finishes, with most of his victories coming in the bantamweight division. He has recorded notable wins over international opposition in M-1 Challenge, ACB, Bellator MMA, and the Professional Fighters League.
ACB Highlights
During his Absolute Championship Berkut run, Magomedov captured the ACB bantamweight title with a split decision over Petr Yan in March 2016 and defended it once with a late guillotine choke of Oleg Borisov. He later added wins over Dean Garnett, Edgars Skrivers, and Walter Pereira to cement his status as one of the promotion’s premier 135-pound talents.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside his ACB tenure, Magomedov has earned victories over Matheus Mattos, Cee Jay Hamilton, Enrique Barzola, Danny Sabatello, and Sarvarjon Khamidov, performances that have kept him ranked among the top bantamweights globally and led to his appearance in the Professional Fighters League tournament field.
Magomed Magomedov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Magomedov was raised in Khasavyurt, Dagestan, in a family that emphasized discipline and accountability, as illustrated by his father’s decisive response to his early school truancy. Limited public information is available about other members of his family or any extended sporting lineage beyond his own career.
Personal Life
Magomedov currently resides in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, where he trains with the DagFighter team. He has kept his personal relationships largely private, and there is no publicly confirmed information regarding a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
Magomedov’s 2025 campaign with the Professional Fighters League began with momentum, as he was announced as part of the 2025 PFL Bantamweight Tournament field on February 21, 2025. An injury forced him out of the quarterfinals against Leandro Higo, replacing him with Josh Rettinghouse, but he returned to action later in the year.
He rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Sarvarjon Khamidov in a tournament alternate bout at PFL 6, then faced former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Sergio Pettis at PFL Champions Series 3 on October 3, 2025. The bout ended in a second-round knockout loss for Magomedov, ending his run in the tournament bracket.
Looking ahead, Magomedov closed the chapter with a hard-fought split decision win over Leandro Higo at PFL Sioux Falls on May 2, 2026, after a weigh-in that saw him miss the bantamweight non-title limit by 0.8 pounds. The performance reaffirmed his competitive standing inside the PFL bantamweight division and set the stage for his next booking.
