The biggest mixed martial arts organization in the world is called the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The organization also produces a number of other competitions aside from its professional MMA events, including amateur fights and reality shows. Over 700 competitors are now competing in the UFC, and they are from all over the world.
Numerous Russian fighters have proven their superiority in the octagon, winning championship titles and winning the hearts of the crowd. Russian fighters are well-known for their determination, self-control, and superior skills. They have succeeded in a variety of weight classes and have been successful in MMA’s wrestling and attacking disciplines.
How many UFC fighters does Russia have?
As of June 2022, the UFC has 48 Russian fighters in its database, both active and former fighters. When compared to the quantity of African UFC fighters, this is amazing. Out of the 48 overall, 26 are listed as active, 19 are listed as not fighting at the moment (but are still under contract), and 3 have been identified as retired. Only a few of the 48 Russians connected to the UFC are female competitors.
Dagestan, a mountainous Russian region, is home to more than 11 of the 26 Russian fighters who are right now competing in the UFC, making it the nation’s most common homeland. The UFC’s Russian fighters frequently show a well-rounded skill set that includes wrestling, grappling, and striking tactics. They have a variety of martial arts backgrounds. As a result of their training and cultural upbringings, they usually bring their own distinctive techniques and approaches to the sport.
Why is Russia’s UFC win percentage so high?
Russian fighters have more experience when they compete in the UFC. Due to their amazing skills, persistence, and training regimes, Russian competitors have become more well-known in the UFC. They are known for their skill, aggressive striking, and success in a variety of weight classes. Russia at 60%, it was clear that there was a significant national difference between the nations.
The Russian edge is not a preserved historical item. Here are the results going back to 2014, which is where the number of fights in UFC history increased. The Russian advantage is slightly higher. Russia has an outstanding winning percentage against lighter opposing teams. Over 80% of these battles are won by Russian boxers.
The majority of Russian victories in matches end in clear decisions. Nearly 3 out of every 4 such fights are won by the Russians. They prevail in less than 50% of fights decided by submission and 55% of fights decided by knockout.
Who are the best Russian UFC fighters?
Some of the best Russian UFC fighters include Khabib Nurmagomedov, who had an undefeated record and dominated the lightweight division before retiring. Another notable fighter is Valentina Shevchenko, who has showcased impressive skills in her bouts. Petr Yan, the former bantamweight champion, is also recognized for his aggressive fighting style and powerful striking abilities. These fighters have made significant contributions to the sport and have established themselves as top competitors in the UFC.
Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib Nurmagomedov, well known by his ring name “the Eagle,” is without a doubt the most well-known Russian UFC fighter of all time. Khabib is the “worst [expletive] on the planet,” according to Dana White, and a glance at some of his accomplishments supports this claim.
He is regarded as one of the sport’s finest athletes.
Khabib’s professional MMA career started in 2008 and finished in 2021. He was born in Dagestan in 1988. Khabib, a lightweight fighter, kept up 29 wins and 0 losses undefeated fight record during that time.
Khabib entered the octagon with a solid foundation in Russian Sambo, Judo, and wrestling. He became a fearsome opponent thanks to this combination, overwhelming his opponents with his crushing strength and skillful grappling.
Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a highly regarded combat trainer and champion martial artist in the Soviet military, started him in martial arts training when he was a young child.
Khabib won two Russian Combat Sambo championships, two World Sambo titles, an M-1 Selection Championship, and two other Sambo championships before being signed by Dana White to the UFC in 2011.
Despite these early successes, it was Conor McGregor’s legendary rivalry that really made Khabib Nurmagomedov’s name popular. Outside the ring, the two men sparred, and things quickly got physical when Khabib assaulted Artem Lobov, a buddy of McGregor’s and a fellow Russian UFC competitor.
The Khabib vs. McGregor fight attracted a lot of interest after the Conor McGregor attack.
Khabib is no longer competing, but he is still training, and he just started his own combat promotion called Eagle Combat Championship. He has persuaded several former UFC fighters to participate in this promotion.
Petr Yan
Petr Yan, who is presently rated first in the UFC lightweight category, is the current interim lightweight champion and is also ranked #1 in Russian Fighter UFC.
He was born in the Siberian city of Dudinka in 1993 and is of mixed Russian and Chinese ancestry. He first trained in taekwondo at an early age before moving on to boxing.
He currently trains with American Top Team and Tiger Muay Thai and bases his fighting technique mostly on boxing and Muay Thai.
Dana White signed him to the UFC in 2018, and he has been competing professionally since 2014.
Valentina Shevchenko
Russian parents gave birth to the fighter Valentina Shevchenko in Kyrgyzstan. She considers herself Russian even though she currently resides in Peru and has become a citizen of that country.
She has been competing professionally in MMA since 2003, and both inside and outside of the UFC, her accomplishments are impressive. She is now the UFC Women’s Flyweight champion and the top female fighter pound-for-pound.
She has a 23-3 record in mixed martial arts matches and 17 world championship titles in Muay Thai. She has also won the Russian Amateur National Championship. Eight of her victories were knockouts, and seven of them came through submission. She finished first in six of her victories.
Seven times, she has successfully defended her title against competitors like Talia Santos, Lauren Murphy, Jessica Andrade, Jennifer Maia, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
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