Shamil Gaziev

Shamil Gaziev is a 36-year-old Russian heavyweight who represents Bahrain in the UFC. Once a national volleyball player in Dagestan, Gaziev was recruited into MMA by legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and quickly established himself as one of the most devastating finishers on the regional circuit. Over his early career, he ran up a perfect 7-0 record on the Russian and Belarusian scenes, with every victory coming by stoppage inside two rounds, then extended his undefeated streak through the Brave Combat Federation before earning a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2023 via first-round submission.

Gaziev's Octagon debut at UFC 296 in December 2023 set the tone for his raw power and aggression: he stopped Martin Buday in the second round with strikes for a Performance of the Night bonus. His knockout finishing rate sits at 64% of his wins, and he has notched nine first-round finishes as a pro, making him a genuine highlight-reel threat every time he steps into the cage. He also possesses underrated submission skills, with all three of his submission victories coming by rear-naked choke, rounding out a versatile arsenal for a heavyweight prospect.

However, Gaziev has faced stiff headwinds at the UFC level. A first-round-submission loss to Jairzinho Rozenstruik in March 2024, where his corner retired him at the end of the fourth round, marked his first professional defeat and raised questions about his composure under elite pressure. He rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Don'Tale Mayes in August 2024 and a first-round knockout of Thomas Petersen in February 2025, but consecutive knockout losses to Waldo Cortes-Acosta and Brando Pericic in late 2025 and mid-2026 suggest he may be learning the hard way that elite heavyweight wrestling and conditioning can neutralize his power. The Pericic fight did earn Fight of the Night honors, signaling that even in defeat, Gaziev brings the kind of violent action fans crave. At 14-3, he remains a fixture in the division but will need to recalibrate his approach against top-tier competition to reclaim momentum.