By the Numbers: Rustam Khabilov
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Rustam Khabilov’s September 2018 return failed to live up to expectations as he took a split decision that could have easily gone his opponent’s favor. That’s why the “Tiger” would want nothing less than a decisive victory when he steps inside the Octagon on Feb. 23.
Khabilov will visit Prague, Czech Republic, alongside dangerous
Brazilian Carlos
Diego Ferreira for
UFC Fight Night 145. Let these numbers show why the Russian
sambo champion remains a force at 155.
2: Fights in 2017 to start his professional career, submitting Bagautdin Abasov and decisioning Karen Grigoryan. The following year, he fought only once, and it ended in another decision win.
124: Seconds is his fastest finish to date, and it happened on his M-1 Challenge debut. Facing someone with three submissions in four victories, Khabilov knew he was in for a challenge. He nonetheless managed to turn things around by submitting Papusha by armbar in the first round.
1: Fight with One Championship, then under the name One FC. Khabilov went three full rounds with Rodrigo Ribeiro on his way to a unanimous decision victory. Then, he fought for US-based promotion Pure MMA once before getting the call from the UFC.
4: Fight deal was his original contract with the UFC. But after winning his first three and losing only to former lightweight champion Benson Henderson, his stint was extended. The upcoming event in Prague will be his 12th for the organization.
5: Takedowns scored on Vinc Pichel in his Octagon debut. One of those was a suplex that rendered his opponent unconscious, prompting referee Chris Tognoni to stop the fight.
6: Takedowns is his most in a single fight, and he did it three times against Henderson, Norman Parke and Chris Wade.
84: Takedowns attempted in the UFC, landing 35 for a 45 perecent takedown accuracy. Khabilov constantly proves his grappling dominance by imposing his will on almost every opponent he has faced.
3: Full rounds with Jorge Masvidal. Early in his UFC career, Khabilov proved that he can hang with the division’s best after pushing the former Strikeforce title challenger to his limits. Khabilov took this one by unanimous decision.
2: Losses inside the Octagon. The 11-fight UFC veteran has lost only twice in the promotion. Apart from Henderson, he also bowed to Adriano Martins via split decision in their UFC Fight Night 61 encounter.
9: Stoppages in the UFC. He knocked out Pichel, Yancy Medeiros, Akin Duran and Nazir Kadyzhev and submitted Abasov, Papusha, Andrei Balakhonov, Gleb Morosov and Sergei Utochkin.
9: Countries in which he has fought in. Having fought for various promotions, Khabilov has been in different parts of the world. Aside from Russia, he has also fought in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Brazil, England, Canada, Germany and the United States.
Rustam Khabilov’s September 2018 return failed to live up to expectations as he took a split decision that could have easily gone his opponent’s favor. That’s why the “Tiger” would want nothing less than a decisive victory when he steps inside the Octagon on Feb. 23.
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2: Fights in 2017 to start his professional career, submitting Bagautdin Abasov and decisioning Karen Grigoryan. The following year, he fought only once, and it ended in another decision win.
9: Fights for M-1
Global. Khabilov almost went undefeated during his campaign if
not for a split decision loss to Ruslan
Khaskhanov in his final fight with the promotion.
124: Seconds is his fastest finish to date, and it happened on his M-1 Challenge debut. Facing someone with three submissions in four victories, Khabilov knew he was in for a challenge. He nonetheless managed to turn things around by submitting Papusha by armbar in the first round.
1: Fight with One Championship, then under the name One FC. Khabilov went three full rounds with Rodrigo Ribeiro on his way to a unanimous decision victory. Then, he fought for US-based promotion Pure MMA once before getting the call from the UFC.
4: Fight deal was his original contract with the UFC. But after winning his first three and losing only to former lightweight champion Benson Henderson, his stint was extended. The upcoming event in Prague will be his 12th for the organization.
5: Takedowns scored on Vinc Pichel in his Octagon debut. One of those was a suplex that rendered his opponent unconscious, prompting referee Chris Tognoni to stop the fight.
6: Takedowns is his most in a single fight, and he did it three times against Henderson, Norman Parke and Chris Wade.
84: Takedowns attempted in the UFC, landing 35 for a 45 perecent takedown accuracy. Khabilov constantly proves his grappling dominance by imposing his will on almost every opponent he has faced.
3: Full rounds with Jorge Masvidal. Early in his UFC career, Khabilov proved that he can hang with the division’s best after pushing the former Strikeforce title challenger to his limits. Khabilov took this one by unanimous decision.
2: Losses inside the Octagon. The 11-fight UFC veteran has lost only twice in the promotion. Apart from Henderson, he also bowed to Adriano Martins via split decision in their UFC Fight Night 61 encounter.
9: Stoppages in the UFC. He knocked out Pichel, Yancy Medeiros, Akin Duran and Nazir Kadyzhev and submitted Abasov, Papusha, Andrei Balakhonov, Gleb Morosov and Sergei Utochkin.
9: Countries in which he has fought in. Having fought for various promotions, Khabilov has been in different parts of the world. Aside from Russia, he has also fought in Ukraine, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Brazil, England, Canada, Germany and the United States.
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