Said Nurmagomedov Record: 18-5-0

UFC tenure

Nurmagomedov debuted in 2018 with a split-decision win over Justin Scoggins, then announced himself with a spectacular spinning-back-kick-and-punches TKO of Ricardo Ramos in early 2019. A unanimous-decision loss to Raoni Barcelos later that year was a step back, but he rebounded with a first-round knockout of Mark Striegl in 2020.

Contender run

Nurmagomedov hit his best stretch in 2022, opening the year with a first-round guillotine of Cody Stamann at UFC 270, then outpointing the durable Douglas Silva de Andrade before submitting Saidyokub Kakhramonov with another guillotine that December. A 2023 unanimous-decision loss to Jonathan Martinez interrupted the climb, but he answered with a first-round guillotine of Muin Gafurov at UFC 294. More recently he has hit a rough patch, dropping unanimous decisions to Vinicius Oliveira in early 2025 and to Bryce Mitchell that July. He is next scheduled to face Javid Basharat in February 2026.

Fighting style

Nurmagomedov is a stylish, well-rounded bantamweight whose finish breakdown – four knockouts, six submissions and eight decisions among 18 wins, a 56% finish rate – reflects two-way danger. His striking is fluid and creative, capable of the spinning kicks that flattened Ramos, while his guillotine choke has become a signature, accounting for several of his biggest UFC wins. Notably, none of his five career losses have come by stoppage; all are decisions, underscoring his durability even when he comes up short. The pattern of those defeats – opponents who out-grapple or out-pace him over 15 minutes – points to volume and grinding pressure as his most reliable kryptonite.

Career highlights

• Guillotine specialist — submitted Cody Stamann, Saidyokub Kakhramonov and Muin Gafurov by guillotine choke, a defining UFC weapon.
• Spinning-kick KO of Ricardo Ramos — a 2019 first-round highlight-reel finish that established his elite striking creativity.
• Never finished — all five career losses came by decision, a testament to his toughness across an 18-5 run.