Shamil Gaziev Bio
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev (born February 10, 1990) is a Russian and Bahraini professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is widely regarded as one of the division’s most exciting prospects. Gaziev was the first fighter to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain inside the UFC octagon. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall with a 78.5-inch reach, he combines size, technical skill, and finishing instincts to overwhelm his opponents.
Early Life and Background
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev was born on February 10, 1990, in the mountain village of Khunzakh, located in the Dagestan ASSR of the Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. Growing up in Dagestan, a region renowned globally for producing elite combat sports athletes, Gaziev was exposed to wrestling and martial arts from an early age. The area’s deep cultural ties to combat sports helped shape his physical and mental approach to fighting.
In 2017, Gaziev was recruited by his childhood friend Eldar Eldarov, a decorated mixed martial artist, to move from Dagestan to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The relocation marked a major turning point in his personal and professional life, offering him access to world-class training facilities and a new national identity. He currently resides in Manama, Bahrain, where he trains and represents his adopted country.
Path to MMA
Gaziev began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2020, stepping onto the regional circuit in Russia and Belarus. Competing exclusively on these local shows, he built an unblemished 7-0 record, winning all seven of his bouts by stoppage inside two rounds. The streak established him as a dangerous finisher and a heavyweight prospect to watch.
His international breakthrough came when he faced fellow undefeated prospect Kirill Kornilov at Ares FC 7 in Paris, France. Gaziev won the closely contested bout via split decision, gaining valuable experience against high-level opposition. The victory helped open the door to bigger stages and global mixed martial arts promotions.
Shamil Gaziev Career
Early Career (2020-2022)
Between 2020 and 2022, Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev focused his efforts on the regional Russian and Belarusian circuits. He built a perfect 7-0 record during this period, finishing every opponent inside two rounds. The run demonstrated his versatility as a finisher, mixing knockouts and submissions to overwhelm his opposition.
BRAVE CF Breakthrough (2022-2023)
Gaziev then moved to the Brave Combat Federation banner, where he began facing international competition. At Brave CF 65 on October 28, 2022, he defeated Pavel Dailidko via second round knockout. He followed that performance by stopping UFC veteran Darko Stošić in the first round of the Brave CF 69 co-main event on February 18, 2023, earning a technical knockout victory.
UFC Breakthrough (2023-Present)
On September 19, 2023, Gaziev was booked to compete on Week 7 of Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series against fellow undefeated prospect Greg Velasco. He won the fight via first round submission and was awarded a UFC contract by Dana White. The performance marked his official arrival on the sport’s biggest stage.
Gaziev made his UFC debut at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023, against Martin Buday. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round and earned the Performance of the Night bonus. The victory announced him as a serious contender in the heavyweight division.
His first UFC main event came at UFC Fight Night 238 on March 2, 2024, against Jairzinho Rozenstruik. Gaziev suffered the first professional loss of his career, with his corner retiring him at the end of the fourth round. He rebounded at UFC on ABC 7 on August 3, 2024, defeating Don’tale Mayes by unanimous decision, and then stopped Thomas Petersen via first round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 250 on February 1, 2025.
KHK MMA Team Era (2017-Present)
Since relocating to Bahrain, Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev has trained out of the renowned KHK MMA Team in Manama. The team, founded by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, is widely recognized as one of the premier combat sports academies in the Middle East. Training alongside elite wrestlers and strikers has helped Gaziev refine his hybrid skill set.
Style and Strengths
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev is known for his aggressive pressure style, powerful striking, and opportunistic grappling. His 78.5-inch reach allows him to control distance against larger heavyweights, while his finishing instincts make him dangerous in every phase of the fight. Working with the coaching staff at KHK MMA Team, he has developed into a well-rounded heavyweight capable of ending bouts both on the feet and on the ground.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of the signature moments of Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev’s career include earning a UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, capturing a Performance of the Night bonus in his UFC debut, and becoming the first fighter ever to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain in the UFC. These milestones underline both his finishing ability and his historic role in Bahraini combat sports.
Shamil Gaziev Career Wins
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev has compiled a verified professional record of 14 wins against 2 losses, with finishes split across knockouts, submissions, and decisions. His wins have come across the regional circuit, Brave Combat Federation, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, demonstrating a steady rise through every level of the sport.
UFC Highlights
Within the UFC, Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev has recorded several notable victories. He stopped Martin Buday via second round technical knockout at UFC 296, earned a unanimous decision over Don’tale Mayes at UFC on ABC 7, and finished Thomas Petersen with a first round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 250. He also picked up a Performance of the Night bonus for his debut performance against Buday.
Other Wins and Performations
Outside the UFC, Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev stopped Pavel Dailidko via second round knockout at Brave CF 65 and finished UFC veteran Darko Stošić in the first round at Brave CF 69. Earlier, he built a 7-0 streak on the Russian and Belarusian regional circuit, winning every bout by stoppage inside two rounds.
Shamil Gaziev Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev was born in Khunzakh, a village in the Dagestan ASSR known for producing elite combat sports athletes. His childhood friend Eldar Eldarov, a decorated mixed martial artist, played a pivotal role in his career by recruiting him to Bahrain in 2017.
Personal Life
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev currently resides in Manama, Bahrain, where he trains with the KHK MMA Team. He represents the Kingdom of Bahrain in his professional career, making him the first fighter from that nation to compete in the UFC.
2025 Season Performance
Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev entered 2025 as a ranked UFC heavyweight coming off a first round technical knockout of Thomas Petersen at UFC Fight Night 250 on February 1, 2025. The victory pushed his momentum forward and kept him in the mix among the division’s rising contenders.
Gaziev was then scheduled to face Serghei Spivac at UFC Fight Night 256 on May 17, 2025, but the bout was pushed to UFC 316. He later withdrew from that card due to a broken finger sustained in training and was replaced by Waldo Cortes-Acosta. A new booking against Spivac was scheduled for UFC Fight Night 265 on November 22, 2025, but Spivac withdrew and was also replaced by Waldo Cortes-Acosta. Gaziev went on to lose the bout by knockout in the first round.
Despite the late result, Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev remains a dangerous presence in the UFC heavyweight division, with the tools and experience to rebound quickly. As of October 28, 2025, he holds the No. 11 spot in the official UFC Heavyweight rankings, underlining his status as a top-tier contender with room to climb.