Rustam Khabilov

Rustam Khabilov is a Dagestani mixed martial artist and Combat Sambo World Champion who built his early UFC career on technical grappling and submission prowess. Born in the Kumyk region of Dagestan, he trained under legendary sambo coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and rose through the ranks with an explosive octagon debut: a first-round knockout of Vinc Pichel via suplex and ground-and-pound that earned him UFC Newcomer of the Year honors in 2012. Over his next five years, he accumulated wins via a diverse arsenal - submissions, knockouts, and decisions - including a memorable split-decision comeback against Kajan Johnson that drew controversy and a Fight of the Night bonus opposite rising star Jorge Masvidal.

Khabilov's fighting style reflects his sambo base: he is a skilled grappler who hunts takedowns and back control, threatening submissions from dominant positions while maintaining respectable striking across standing, clinch, and ground exchanges. Sixty-one percent of his wins come by decision, painting him as a grinder and control fighter rather than a finisher. However, his career trajectory stalled after a submission loss to former lightweight champion Benson Henderson in 2014, and he never quite broke into the elite tier of the welterweight division.

By 2019, losses to Adriano Martins and Carlos Diego Ferreira signaled his decline as a top prospect. He signed with Bellator in 2020 but has struggled to maintain a fight schedule, pulling out of bouts due to sickness and undisclosed reasons - a pattern that frustrated fans expecting consistent action. Now in his late thirties and active but without recent notable victories, Khabilov remains a respected technical fighter and a link to the Nurmagomedov coaching network, though his prime as a dangerous contender has passed.