The UFC has signed M-1 Challenge light heavyweight champion Khadis Ibragimov at just 23-years-old, adding another great Russian to their roster.
Get to Know Khadis Ibragimov:
Born and currently living in St. Petersburg, Russia, Khadis Ibragimov is 23-years-old with an 8-0 record. Before coming into MMA, Ibragimov had an extensive career in combat sambo. He was the Russian Cup combat sambo champion, the European combat sambo champ, and the World Universal combat champion. He made an impact quickly in his MMA career after just going 2-0 he beat Stephan Puetz the former M-1 light-heavyweight champion. Two fights later, Ibragimov won the M-1 light heavyweight title and defended it last March. Ibragimov has beat guys with a combined record (at the time they fought) of 44-12. He trains out of Sambo-Piter with many fellow top prospects.
How Does Khadis Ibragimov Fare in the UFC:
Khadis Ibragimov has only been fighting for a little under two years but is still very deserving of the opportunity. On the feet, he has power but is very wild, throwing looping punches with a wide base. He isn’t technical, but he has the power to catch his opponents as his athleticism helps much. He’s good in the clinch, where he utilizes is judo throws and his trips to get the fight to the mat is where he is the strongest. Khadis is very strong on top with heavy top control and is very good with his ground-and-pound. The Russian has three submissions as he has a tight squeeze with all three by a choke. He’s still green especially on the feet as he lacks footwork. That being a good reason he can’t close the distance at times to get the takedown because he’s not a guy that can shoot from the outside and have success. Overall, I don’t see him as a top-15 right now but he’s young so he has a high ceiling.
