Issue 161
December 2017
Eldar Eldarov
- Age: 28
- From: Makhachkai, Dagestan
- Weight: 155lb
- Record: 11-1-0
- Team: KHK MMA
“In Dagestan, if you’re born a boy, you have to be a sportsman. If you’re a father, no one will ask you, ‘Will you send him to the gym?’ No, they will ask, ‘What martial art will you send him to?’” That’s the philosophy that has made Eldar Eldarov into one of the leading candidates to follow his countryman and training partner, Khabib Nurmagomedov, to international MMA success. “In other places, there is basketball and football, but in Dagestan it’s all about wrestling and fighting,” he adds. “We have more than 10 Olympic champions in this small republic.
Before I go to school, I was in the gym. It was karate and after I came to my coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the famous coach of combat sambo.”
Under the tutelage of his coach – Khabib’s father – Eldarov had more than 200 amateur fights in sambo. He was Russian national champion and a finalist in the world cup, so had a mountain of experience before he became an MMA professional. Though he lost his second fight, which was the final of a four-man tournament where his opponent was his friend Khabib, he has been flawless ever since. He looks good on the feet, but his real strength is on the ground.
He’s built like a tank and has the same high level of control and ability to deal damage from top position as the very best of his countrymen you’ll be familiar with.
His latest victory, a first-round TKO of experienced Brazilian Henrique Gomes, was a masterclass in offense from the guard. This had all caught the eye of the UFC before, as ‘Khan’ was booked to compete on season 21 of The Ultimate Fighter, but visa issues prevented him from adding some fight-finishing flair to the underwhelming Blackzilians vs. American Top Team tournament.
Since then, he hasn’t been as active you might want from a promising fighter, due to several injuries, as well as coaching commitments for the Dagestan sambo team and the Bahrain national MMA amateur team. But Eldarov is set to compete again at the end of this year for the Brave Combat Federation title. If he’s not already in line to make the jump to the Octagon, another impressive win might just seal the deal. “I’m sure, if I want, I can be in the UFC,” he says. “They have a problem with good Russian fighters, but they don’t speak English. It’s hard for them to promote themselves in the media with interviews and press conferences, but I can give interviews in English or go on The Ultimate Fighter and show our culture. It will be interesting for them.
“If you show the UFC I have 10 wins with nine finishes and a record with international fights against tough fighters – all victories – why not? I think I can go to any organization if I decide to do this.”
THREE MORE TO WATCH
Mukhomad Vakhaev - Russia
- Despite being a +350 underdog, this young Russian took one of the most promising heavyweight fighters in the world, Denis Goltsov, and made him tap to strikes after four rounds to take the ACB heavyweight title.
Gustavo Balart - Cuba
- At 4’ 11”, he’s tiny, even for 125lb, but world class wrestling makes up for his small stature. The Pan American Games Greco gold medalist could use a killer instinct and better tank, but four wins in Titan FC are a good start to his career.
Livia Renata Souza - Brazil
- The former Invicta 115lb champion is on her way back to up. She’s still only 26, but has added powerful striking and fi ght IQ to her BJJ black belt submission skills on the way to becoming a complete package. She could jump to the UFC right now.
