Umar Nurmagomedov Bio
Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov is a Russian professional mixed martial artist born on January 3, 1996, in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia. He currently competes in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he trains with Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy. Known for his grappling-heavy approach rooted in combat sambo, Nurmagomedov has built a reputation as one of the most dangerous submission specialists in the division. He is the older brother of former Bellator and current Professional Fighters League champion Usman Nurmagomedov.
Before arriving in the UFC, Nurmagomedov competed in Fight Nights Global, the Samara MMA Federation (later renamed Gorilla Fighting Championship and then Eagle Fighting Championship), and the Professional Fighters League. A former combat sambo world champion and amateur mixed martial arts world champion, he carries the rank of International Master of Sports in Combat Sambo. He fights out of Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia, and stands 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 69-inch reach.
Early Life and Background
Umar Nurmagomedov grew up in his native village in Dagestan alongside his younger brother Usman. As a child, the two brothers began attending freestyle wrestling practice together, giving Umar his earliest exposure to combat sports. He later transitioned into Muay Thai, and his brother followed in his footsteps.
After the family moved to Makhachkala, Umar began training under his uncle, the legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at the Eagles MMA camp. He is of Avar ethnic origin, a people native to the Caucasus region, and his upbringing in the close-knit Dagestani combat sports community shaped his early development. The values and training methods passed down by his uncle and the Eagles MMA system would become central to his fighting identity.
Path to MMA
Umar’s path toward professional fighting accelerated quickly in his late teens. At the age of 19, he became a combat sambo world champion, capturing gold in the −62 kg division at the WCSF World Championships held in Moscow in 2015. The following year, he added an amateur mixed martial arts world title, winning the bantamweight division at the WMMAA World Championships in Macau.
He made his professional mixed martial arts debut on December 16, 2016, at Fight Nights Global 57 in Moscow, where he submitted Rishat Kharisov with a second-round guillotine choke. In his second outing, he finished Ulukbek Amanbaev inside the first round by rear-naked choke at Fight Star: Battle on Sura 6. Those early finishes signaled the grappling style that would define his career.
Umar Nurmagomedov Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Nurmagomedov built his early record across Russian promotions, primarily under the Fight Nights Global banner. He defeated Alym Isabaev by second-round TKO at Fight Nights Global 62, then submitted Valisher Rakhmonov with a second-round rear-naked choke at Fight Nights Global 71. He added decision wins over Nauruz Dzamikhov at Fight Nights Global 76 and Shyudi Yamauchi at Fight Nights Global 83, showcasing both finishing ability and cardio.
On May 11, 2018, he won the FMMAS Bantamweight Championship by defeating Fatkhidin Sobirov via unanimous decision at the Battle on Volga 4. He also competed in the Professional Fighters League, picking up a unanimous decision win over Saidyokub Kakhramonov at PFL 7. He defended regional titles against Wagner Lima, Taras Gryckiv, and Brian Gonzalez, with all three bouts ending before the final bell.
UFC Breakthrough (2021–2023)
After several postponed UFC bookings, Nurmagomedov made his promotional debut against Sergey Morozov at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny in January 2021. He submitted Morozov with a second-round rear-naked choke, earning a Performance of the Night bonus in the process. In March 2022, he submitted Brian Kelleher with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 272, cementing his reputation as one of the most threatening grapplers in the bantamweight division.
He added a unanimous decision win over Nate Maness at UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot in June 2022. In January 2023, he knocked out Raoni Barcelos in the first round at UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov, a finish that earned him another Performance of the Night award. Those performances pushed him into title contention.
Title Contention and 2025 Season (2024–2025)
On March 2, 2024, Nurmagomedov outworked promotional newcomer Bekzat Almakhan over three rounds to win by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 238. He then took on Cory Sandhagen on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC 7 in a bantamweight title eliminator, and walked away with a unanimous decision victory that booked his first shot at UFC gold.
On January 18, 2025, at UFC 311, Nurmagomedov challenged Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. He lost the bout by unanimous decision, suffering the first defeat of his professional career, but the performance earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus. Later in the year, on October 25, 2025, at UFC 321, he rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Mario Bautista in the main event.
Style and Strengths
Nurmagomedov is a combat sambo stylist with a strong wrestling base and an elite submission grappling pedigree. He consistently pursues takedowns, controls opponents from top position, and hunts chokes, especially the rear-naked choke, which has accounted for several of his professional finishes. His conditioning, patience, and top-pressure have allowed him to outwork durable opponents across three rounds.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant milestones in Nurmagomedov’s career are his 2015 WCSF World Championships gold medal in combat sambo and his 2016 WMMAA amateur MMA world title. In the UFC, his first-round knockout of Raoni Barcelos, his title-eliminator win over Cory Sandhagen, and his first championship fight against Merab Dvalishvili stand out as career-defining moments. He also holds an International Master of Sports ranking in combat sambo.
Umar Nurmagomedov Career Wins
Umar Nurmagomedov has accumulated a deep list of victories across Russian regional promotions, the Professional Fighters League, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. His wins reflect a balanced finishing toolkit, with multiple submissions, knockouts, and decisions, anchored by a grappling foundation developed in combat sambo.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Nurmagomedov’s most notable finishes include a second-round rear-naked choke of Sergey Morozov, a first-round rear-naked choke of Brian Kelleher, and a first-round knockout of Raoni Barcelos. He also owns a unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagen in a bantamweight title eliminator, a unanimous decision over Nate Maness, a unanimous decision over Bekzat Almakhan, and a unanimous decision over Mario Bautista.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Nurmagomedov captured the FMMAS Bantamweight Championship and defended the regional title multiple times. He also recorded decision wins over Saidyokub Kakhramonov and Sidemar Honorio during his Professional Fighters League stint, and finished several opponents by rear-naked choke on the Russian regional circuit.
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Umar Nurmagomedov Family
Family Background and Fighting Lineage
Umar Nurmagomedov comes from a prominent Dagestani fighting family. He is the older brother of Usman Nurmagomedov, a former Bellator and current Professional Fighters League champion, and the nephew of the late Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the renowned coach who trained many of Russia’s top mixed martial artists. The family ties run deep through the Eagles MMA system, where Umar continues to develop his game.
Personal Life
Nurmagomedov currently resides in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia, where he continues to be closely connected to his family and the local training community. Publicly available details about his personal relationships, marital status, and children are not confirmed in the available verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Umar Nurmagomedov’s 2025 campaign began with the biggest fight of his career, a UFC Bantamweight Championship challenge against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 on January 18, 2025. He dropped a unanimous decision in his first professional loss, but the performance was competitive enough to earn him a Fight of the Night bonus and keep him firmly in the title picture.
He returned to action on October 25, 2025, in the main event of UFC 321, where he faced Mario Bautista. Nurmagomedov put together a composed, grinding performance and walked away with a unanimous decision victory, reestablishing his momentum in the bantamweight division.
Heading into the close of 2025, Nurmagomedov remained one of the top-ranked contenders at bantamweight, working again with the Eagles MMA American Kickboxing Academy team. With a championship-level resume and a clear grappling identity, he is positioned to remain in the title conversation heading into 2026.
