Introduction
Rustam Mikailovich Khabilov (Russian: Рустам Микаилович Хабилов; Kumyk: Rustam Habil Mikailni ulanı, Рустам Гьабил Микаилны уланы; born November 4, 1986 in Dagestan) is a Russian mixed martial artist and Combat Sambo World Champion of Kumyk descent. He is a former member of the Legion Sport Club fight team in Rostov-on-Don. He fights in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mixed martial arts career
ONE Fighting Championship
In January 2012 it was announced that Khabilov had signed with ONE Fighting Championship. He made his debut at ONE Fighting Championship: Battle of Heroes at The BritAma Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia on February 11, 2012 against BJJ World Champion Rodrigo Ribeiro. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Khabilov signed a four-fight deal with the UFC in July 2012.
In his debut, Khabilov faced Vinc Pichel on December 15, 2012 at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale. He won the fight in the first round by hurting Pincel with a suplex and finishing him off with punches on the ground.
For his second fight in the organization, Khabilov faced UFC newcomer and Strikeforce veteran Yancy Medeiros at UFC 159 on April 27, 2013.The fight ended in unusual fashion as Medeiros dislocated his thumb during a takedown by Khabilov early in the first round, resulting in a TKO victory for Khabilov as Medeiros was unable to continue.
For his third UFC fight, Khabilov faced Jorge Masvidal on November 6, 2013 at UFC: Fight for the Troops 3. He won the back-and-forth bout via unanimous decision.The fight also garnered Khabilov his first Fight of the Night bonus award.
Khabilov was expected to face Rafael dos Anjos on February 22, 2014 at UFC 170.However, the bout was cancelled in the weeks leading up to the event due to an injury suffered by Khabilov.
Khabilov faced Benson Henderson on June 7, 2014 in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov. He lost the fight via rear-naked choke submission in the fourth round.
Khabilov was expected to face Danny Castillo on January 3, 2015 at UFC 182.However, Khabilov pulled out of the bout due to alleged visa issues.
Khabilov faced Adriano Martins on February 22, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 61.He lost the fight via split decision.
A rescheduled bout with Danny Castillo was expected to take place on July 25, 2015 at UFC on Fox 16.However, for a second time, Khabilov was removed from the pairing due to alleged visa issues.Castillo faced Jim Miller at the event.
Khabilov faced Norman Parke on February 27, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 84.He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Khabilov was tabbed as an injury replacement for Rashid Magomedov to face Chris Wadeon May 8, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 87. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Khabilov was expected to face Reza Madadi on September 3, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 93. However, on July 25, Madadi pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Leandro Silva. Khabilov won the fight via unanimous decision.
Khabilov next faced Jason Saggo on December 10, 2016 at UFC 206. He won the one-sided fight via unanimous decision.
Khabilov faced Desmond Green on September 2, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 115. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Khabilov was supposed to face Kajan Johnson on March 17, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 127. However, Khabilov pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Stevie Ray.
The bout with Johnson was rescheduled and eventually took place on September 15, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 136. Khabilov won the back-and-forth fight by split decision.
Khabilov faced Carlos Diego Ferreira on February 23, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 145. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Khabilov faced Sergey Khandozhko in a welterweight bout on November 9, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 21. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Personal life
Rustam has a wife. A devout Sunni Muslim. He trains under Khabib Nurmagomedov's father Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov (sambo/MMA), Anvar Magomedgadzhiev, Abdusalam Gadisov and Akhmed Gadzhimagomedov (wrestling), Mike Winkeljohn (boxing), Greg Jackson (MMA).
Championships and accomplishments
Sambo
- World Combat Sambo Federation (WCSF )
- Combat Sambo World Lightweight Champion (2007).
- Federation International Amateur de Sambo
- Combat Sambo Russian National Middleweight Champion.
- Combat Sambo Republic of Dagestan Middleweight Champion (4 Time).
Pankration
- Russian Pankration Federation
- Pankration Middleweight World Champion
- Moscow Middleweight Pankration Open 2010
Combat Jiu Jitsu
- Combat Jiu Jitsu Kiev Cup Light-Heavyweight Champion
Mixed martial arts
- M-1 Global
- M-1 Challenge 2009 Championship.
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
- SporTV.com
- 2012 Knockout of the year (2nd) .
- UFC Ultimate Insider
- UFC Debuts of All-Time (8th) .
- MMAJunkie.com
- 2018 Robbery of the Year
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 28 matches | 24 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 15 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 24–4 | Sergey Khandozhko | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar | November 9, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 23–4 | Carlos Diego Ferreira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos | February 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Prague, Czech Republic | Catchweight (157 lbs) bout; Ferreira missed weight. |
| Win | 23–3 | Kajan Johnson | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oliynyk | September 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 22–3 | Desmond Green | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve | September 2, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Win | 21–3 | Jason Saggo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 206 | December 10, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Catchweight (158 lbs) bout; Khabilov missed weight. |
| Win | 20–3 | Leandro Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Barnett | September 3, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Hamburg, Germany | |
| Win | 19–3 | Chris Wade | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Arlovski | May 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | |
| Win | 18–3 | Norman Parke | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping | February 27, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Loss | 17–3 | Adriano Martins | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir | February 22, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Porto Alegre, Brazil | |
| Loss | 17–2 | Benson Henderson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | June 7, 2014 | 4 | 1:16 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 17–1 | Jorge Masvidal | Decision (unanimous) | UFC: Fight for the Troops 3 | November 6, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 16–1 | Yancy Medeiros | TKO (thumb injury) | UFC 159 | April 27, 2013 | 1 | 2:32 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 15–1 | Vinc Pichel | KO (suplex and punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson Finale | December 15, 2012 | 1 | 2:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 14–1 | Jason Dent | Decision (unanimous) | Pure MMA: Next Episode | May 12, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States | Catchweight (160 lbs) bout. |
| Win | 13–1 | Rodrigo Ribeiro | Decision (unanimous) | ONE FC: Battle of Heroes | February 11, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Win | 12–1 | Nazir Kadyzhev | TKO (punches) | ProFC Grand Prix Global: Caucasus | September 26, 2011 | 1 | 4:58 | Derbent, Russia | Return to Welterweight. |
| Loss | 11–1 | Ruslan Khaskhanov | Decision (split) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: The Finals | February 12, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Kiev, Ukraine | |
| Win | 11–0 | Sergei Utochkin | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: Round 6 | November 6, 2010 | 1 | 1:28 | Kiev, Ukraine | |
| Win | 10–0 | Gleb Morozov | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: Clash of the Titans | September 18, 2010 | 1 | 4:46 | Kiev, Ukraine | |
| Win | 9–0 | Andrei Balakhonov | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: Round 2 | May 7, 2010 | 1 | 1:34 | Kiev, Ukraine | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 8–0 | Said Khalilov | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 8 | October 4, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 7–0 | Gasanali Gasanaliev | Decision (split) | M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 6 | September 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Makhachkala, Russia | |
| Win | 6–0 | Akin Duran | KO (suplex) | M-1 Challenge 18: Netherlands Day Two | August 16, 2009 | 1 | 0:28 | Hilversum, Netherlands | |
| Win | 5–0 | Vener Galiev | Decision (split) | M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 4 | June 24, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Vladimir Papusha | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 2 | April 19, 2009 | 1 | 2:04 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Hamiz Mamedov | Decision (unanimous) | CSFU: Champions League | September 13, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Poltava, Ukraine | |
| Win | 2–0 | Karen Grigoryan | Decision (unanimous) | CFF: International MMA Tournament | December 9, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Tyumen, Russia | |
| Win | 1–0 | Bagautdin Abasov | Submission (triangle choke) | Tsumada Fighting Championship 1 | August 3, 2007 | 2 | 2:14 | Tsumadinsky, Russia |