5 Things You Might Not Know About Islam Mamedov

One of the best-kept secrets in mixed martial arts may soon reveal himself to a much wider audience.

Islam Mamedov will take his second assignment under the Bellator MMA flag when he tackles former Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting titleholder Benson Henderson in the Bellator 273 co-main event on Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix. Mamedov, who carries an eye-popping 20-1-1 record, has rattled off three consecutive victories since he fought to a majority draw with Loik Radzhabov in the 2019 Professional Fighters League quarterfinals. He last appeared at Bellator 263, where he eked out a split decision over Brent Primus on July 31.

As Mamedov prepares for his high-stakes showdown with Henderson, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He could not have chosen a more qualified mentor.

Mamedov trains under former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and has spent time at the acclaimed American Kickboxing Academy camp in San Jose, California. Nurmagomedov vacated the UFC lightweight throne and retired in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record. He remains one of the sport’s most revered figures.

2. He excels on the ground.

The Nurmagomedov protégé knows where his strengths lie, as evidenced by the fact that he has delivered nearly half (nine) of his 20 professional victories by submission, seven of them via armbar. Mamedov’s list of victims includes two-time PFL champion Natan Schulte.

3. Remarkable consistency has defined his career.

Mamedov has not tasted defeat in 12 years, six months and 27 days. He suffered his only professional setback on July 2, 2009, when he succumbed to punches from Alexander Sarnavskiy at a regional event in his native Russia. Mamedov’s extraordinary run covers 20 unbeaten appearances: 19 wins and the aforementioned draw.

4. The hired-gun designation suits him.

The Dagestani grappler has competed in 14 different promotions across his 22-fight career. Mamedov has gone 4-0-1 in the PFL, 4-0 in the World Series of Fighting, 2-0 in the Professional Fighting Championships, 1-0 in Bellator, 1-0 in M-1 Global, 1-0 in Fight Nights Global, 1-0 in Shivirli Mixfight Tournament, 1-0 in Tsumada Fighting Championship, 1-0 in Colosseum Battles Champions, 1-0 in Nord Desant, 1-0 in Liga Kavkaz, 1-0 in Octagon Fighting Sensation, 1-0 in UAE Warriors and 0-1 in Siberian League.

5. He invites challenges.

Henderson will be the third UFC veteran Mamedov has faced. He took a unanimous decision from Jorge Patino at WSOF 25 on Nov. 20, 2015 and claimed a unanimous verdict over Thiago Tavares at PFL 9 on Oct. 13, 2018.