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Dagestan was finest recognized for its rugged terrain and difficult wrestlers, however nowadays, the Russian republic’s combined martial arts stars are representing their nation in entrance of a worldwide viewers.
Regardless of having a inhabitants of simply 3.1 million, the North Caucasian area punches above its weight with regards to fight sports activities.
Lots of its athletes have already discovered success on the worldwide stage of ONE Championship — together with former ONE World Champions Marat “Cobra” Gafurov and Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov.
Nevertheless, the long run seems simply as brilliant. Listed below are 5 extra Dagestani phenoms who’ve World Title hopes in The House of Martial Arts.
#1 Yusup Saadulaev
Third-ranked bantamweight contender Yusup “Maestro” Saadulaev is likely one of the pioneering athletes from Dagestan in ONE.
Born in Khasavyurt, he began wrestling on the age of 12 and found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at 19 when he moved to the USA to check.
He began his skilled combined martial arts profession in North America, competed in Japan, after which signed with ONE in 2012.
“Maestro” has been a perennial prime contender ever since, even incomes a win over future ONE Flyweight World Champion Adriano “Mikinho” Moraes again at ONE: WARRIOR SPIRIT in November 2013.
At the moment using a three-fight profitable streak, Saadulaev will face debuting Crew Lakay rising star Stephen “The Sniper” Loman at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II on Friday, 17 December.
With a win, he would possibly simply earn a World Title shot in 2022.
#2 Dagi Arslanaliev
With a sensational stoppage win in his epic rematch with Timofey Nastyukhin earlier this month, Dagi Arslanaliev took an enormous step towards difficult for the ONE Light-weight World Title.
The division’s #3-ranked contender misplaced to then-titleholder Christian “The Warrior” Lee within the 2019 ONE Light-weight World Grand Prix Championship Ultimate, however his return to type at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS confirmed that he’s nonetheless a drive to be reckoned with.
Arslanaliev — who was born in Buynaksk — credit his upbringing for forging his warrior spirit and proudly carries the identify “Dagi” as a tribute to his homeland.
Bringing a ONE World Title to Dagestan would make Arslanaliev’s folks immensely proud, and the 27-year-old dynamo has newly topped light-weight king Okay Rae Yoon in his sights.
#3 Murad Ramazanov
Unbeaten welterweight combined martial artist Murad Ramazanov exploded onto the worldwide stage with back-to-back wins in 2020, and he can add to his tally in opposition to his hardest foe so far at ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II.
The Dagestan Fighter consultant will sq. off in opposition to former ONE Welterweight World Champion Zebaztian “The Bandit” Kadestam in an important contest that might see him enter the division’s higher echelon.
Ramazanov completed “Wolverine” Bae Myung Ho in his promotional debut again in February 2020 after which improved his general document to 10-0 by dominating Hiroyuki “Japanese Beast” Tetsuka at ONE: INSIDE THE MATRIX III.
If he can take out a former ONE World Champion in Kadestam, the 26-year-old Makhachkala native will mark himself out as one of many largest threats to reigning welterweight kingpin Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov.
#4 Gadjimurad Abdulaev
Gadzhimurad Abdulaev is one other unbeaten welterweight who put himself on the map with a debut victory over Kadestam at ONE: UNBREAKABLE in January.
After defeating Carlos Prates at ONE Warrior Sequence 6 in June 2019, Abdulaev accepted a late-notice name to combat the Swede, and it paid off when he submitted him within the opening body.
Towards Kadestam, the Dagestani showcased the formidable wrestling his area is understood for, however he additionally skilled extensively in sanda when he lived in China – a talent set he can make the most of in future bouts on the worldwide stage.
With a professional document of 6-0, Abdulaev has already made an impression that goes past his expertise on paper, and he’ll be seeking to proceed ascending when he returns to the Circle.
#5 Saygid Izagakhmaev
Although he’s but to compete on the worldwide stage, Saygid Izagakhmaev has already captured the eye of the worldwide fan base.
That’s as a result of he comes with excessive reward from one of many best combined martial artists in historical past, Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Actually, the now-retired World Champion was the one who formally introduced that his buddy and coaching associate had signed with ONE this previous October.
The signing was an enormous deal, as Izagakhmaev boasts a formidable 19-2 document with 14 wins inside the space. Though no date has been set for his promotional debut, count on him to make a direct affect when that point comes.
Learn extra: How To Watch ONE: WINTER WARRIORS II On 17 December
