Usman Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov, born on April 17, 1998, in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia, is a professional mixed martial artist competing in the Lightweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Of Avar ethnic origin, Usman hails from a family deeply rooted in combat sports, training under his late uncle, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a renowned coach who shaped the careers of multiple world-class fighters.
Usman began his martial arts journey at a young age, starting with freestyle wrestling at eight before transitioning to Thai boxing and combat sambo.
His early training took place at the Eagles MMA camp in Makhachkala alongside his cousin, former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, and UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev.
Known for his technical striking, grappling prowess, and an undefeated professional record, Usman has emerged as one of the most promising talents in MMA, often compared to his illustrious cousin Khabib.
Siblings
Usman has one sibling, his older brother Umar Nurmagomedov, born January 3, 1996, who is also a professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC’s Bantamweight division.
Umar, nicknamed “Young Eagle” in homage to his cousin Khabib’s moniker “The Eagle,” has built an impressive career in the UFC, holding a record of 18 wins and one loss as of January 2025.
His sole defeat came at UFC 311 against Merab Dvalishvili in a bantamweight title fight, a decision Umar disputed, claiming he broke his hand during the bout.
Despite not being blood-related to other prominent Dagestani fighters like Islam Makhachev, the Nurmagomedov brothers treat Makhachev as a brother due to their shared upbringing and training under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.
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Career
Nurmagomedov’s professional MMA career began on March 26, 2017, at the Moscow Pankration Federation tournament, where he defeated Imran Abdiev via a first-round armbar.
He continued to dominate in regional promotions like the Gorilla Fighting Championship (now Eagle FC) and UAE Warriors, amassing an 11-0 record with all but one victory by knockout or submission.
In 2021, Usman signed with Bellator MMA, making his debut at Bellator 255 against Mike Hamel, where he showcased his reach advantage and grappling skills to secure a unanimous decision victory.
His next fight at Bellator 263 saw him finish Luis “Manny” Muro in the first round with a knee and hammerfists.
Usman continued his finishing streak at Bellator 269, submitting Patrik Pietilä, and at Bellator 283, he secured a first-round guillotine choke against Chris Gonzalez.
His biggest achievement came at Bellator 288 on November 18, 2022, when he defeated Patricky Pitbull via unanimous decision to claim the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
Usman defended his title in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix against former WEC and UFC champion Benson Henderson at Bellator 292, winning via a first-round rear-naked choke after a question-mark kick.
Despite a no-contest against Brent Primus in 2023 due to a positive test for a banned substance, Usman rebounded with successful title defenses against Alexandr Shabliy in September 2024 and Paul Hughes in January 2025 under the PFL banner, maintaining his undefeated record of 19-0-0 (1 NC).
Accolades
Nurmagomedov is the former Bellator Lightweight World Champion, having won the title in 2022 and defended it successfully multiple times, including in the Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix, which carried a 1 million dollar prize.
His victories over high-caliber opponents like Patricky Pitbull, Benson Henderson, Alexandr Shabliy, and Paul Hughes have solidified his reputation as one of the top lightweights globally, with ESPN and Tapology ranking him among the elite in the division.
Usman’s undefeated record, with 19 wins and no losses (one no-contest), includes eight knockouts and six submissions, showcasing his ability to finish fights in multiple ways.
His technical mastery and versatility have garnered praise from coaches like Javier Mendez, who called Usman the most talented fighter he has ever trained, and from Khabib Nurmagomedov, who believes Usman could retire as one of the top five MMA fighters of all time.
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