5 Things You Might Not Know About Said Nurmagomedov

Difficulties abound in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s deep 135-pound weight class, and Said Nurmagomedov has thus far shown the skills necessary to navigate them.

The seasoned and well-traveled Dagestani bantamweight will look to creep ever closer to contention when he squares off with Dana White’s Contender Series graduate Vinicius Oliveira in a compelling UFC Fight Night 250 showcase this Saturday at anb Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Nurmagomedov has won seven of his nine bouts since he joined the UFC roster in 2018. He last suited up at UFC 294, where he put away Muin Gafurov with a guillotine choke 73 seconds into the first round of their encounter on Oct. 21, 2023. It was the ninth first-round finish of his career.

As Nurmagomedov approaches his first assignment in nearly 500 days, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. His handlers have always pushed the envelope.

Nurmagomedov made his professional mixed martial arts debut as a 17-year-old when he submitted Oscar Nave with an armbar in the first round of their confrontation under the World Ultimate Full Contact banner on Aug. 22, 2009. He went on to win his first six bouts, four of them by knockout, technical knockout or submission.

2. He maximized his time on the regional scene.

The Makhachkala, Russia, native captured the World Fighting Championship Akhmat bantamweight title with a five-round unanimous decision over Abdul-Rakhman Dudaev in October 2016. Nurmagomedov arrived the UFC less than two years later.

3. Durability has become a selling point.

Nurmagomedov has suffered three defeats as a pro, all three on the scorecards. He lost unanimous decisions to Magomed Bibulatov, Raoni Barcelos and Jonathan Martinez. Those three men carry a combined record of 59-15.

4. Questionable alliances cloud his past.

The 32-year-old bantamweight has trained out of the Fight Club Akhmat camp owned by notorious Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov and fronted by coach Murad Bichuev. Fabricio Werdum, Khamzat Chimaev and Magomed Ankalaev are among those who have been linked to the controversial gym at one time or another.

5. He racks up the frequent-flier miles.

Nurmagomedov has already competed in seven different countries during his 21-fight career. In addition to his native Russia, he has fought in Portugal, Kazakhstan, the United States, Brazil, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.