UFCShamil Gaziev Record: 14-3-0
HeavyweightRecord14-3-0
Age36
DivisionHeavyweight · #31
Combat Edge Elo1708
Next fightAug 22 2026
Shamil Gaziev has a 14-3-0 professional record and is 36 years old in the Heavyweight division, representing KHK MMA Team. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jul 8, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Shamil Gaziev bio
Personal background
Shamil Gaziev is a UFC heavyweight who competes under the flag of Bahrain, the first fighter to represent the nation in the promotion. Born February 10, 1990, in Khunzakh, in the Russian republic of Dagestan, he was a Dagestani national volleyball player before crossing over to combat sports, reportedly introduced to MMA by the late legendary coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. He later relocated to Manama and settled in with the KHK MMA Team in Bahrain, the camp he represents today. A towering 6'3" with a 78-inch reach, Gaziev pairs prototypical heavyweight size with the grappling pedigree of the Dagestani fight culture.
Path to the UFC
Gaziev turned professional in 2020 and immediately looked like a finisher, rattling off a long unbeaten run across Russian and international regional promotions. He blended bludgeoning ground-and-pound stoppages with submissions, and crucially picked up scalps against established names: a 2022 split-decision win over the unbeaten Kirill Kornilov and a 2023 first-round TKO of veteran Darko Stošić showed he could beat experienced heavyweights, not just pad a record. That body of work earned him a Contender Series spot in September 2023, where he choked out the undefeated Greg Velasco with a first-round rear-naked choke to secure his UFC contract.
Rising through the heavyweight ranks
Gaziev wasted no time in the Octagon. In December 2023 at UFC 296 he overwhelmed the previously unbeaten-in-the-UFC Martin Buday, scoring a second-round TKO that announced him as a genuine prospect. His undefeated streak finally ended in March 2024 against the experienced Jairzinho Rozenstruik, who weathered the early storm and forced a fourth-round retirement stoppage as Gaziev faded. He showed his resilience by grinding out a unanimous decision over Don'Tale Mayes in August 2024, then returned to his finishing ways with a first-round TKO of Thomas Petersen in February 2025.
Recent setbacks
The back end of his run grew tougher. In November 2025, Gaziev was knocked out in the first round by Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and in May 2026 he was stopped again, dropping a second-round knockout to Brando Peričić. The consecutive finishes highlighted the central question of his game: whether his cardio and chin can hold up over championship rounds against the division's heaviest hitters.
Fighting style
Gaziev is a finisher first, carrying a 14-3 record and an 86% finish rate built on nine knockouts and three submissions against just two decisions. He uses his size and pressure to corner opponents and unload heavy ground-and-pound, while his Dagestani grappling base gives him a credible submission threat when fights hit the mat. His honest vulnerability is in the later rounds: each of his three losses has come by stoppage, and as the volleyball-player-turned-heavyweight has climbed in competition, opponents have learned to drag him into deep water where his gas tank is tested.
Career highlights
- Bahrain's UFC pioneer — the first fighter to represent the nation in the Octagon, carrying the KHK MMA banner onto the global stage.
- Contender Series breakthrough — submitted the unbeaten Greg Velasco in the first round to earn his UFC contract.
- UFC 296 statement — stopped Martin Buday by second-round TKO to open his Octagon run and mark himself as a heavyweight prospect.
Career snapshot
Shamil Gaziev career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1708Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#348
Heavyweight#31of 108 active
Peak1751
Last move-25
Opponent quality1641avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1751 Elo after defeating Thomas Petersen (2025-02-01)
Similar Elo in Heavyweight
Shamil Gaziev quick answers
What is Shamil Gaziev's record?
Shamil Gaziev's professional MMA record is 14-3-0.
How old is Shamil Gaziev?
Shamil Gaziev is 36 years old.
What weight class is Shamil Gaziev?
Shamil Gaziev fights at Heavyweight in UFC.
How tall is Shamil Gaziev?
Shamil Gaziev is 6'3" tall with a 78" reach.
How much does Shamil Gaziev weigh?
Shamil Gaziev competes at Heavyweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 261 lbs.
What is Shamil Gaziev's Combat Edge Elo?
Shamil Gaziev's Combat Edge Elo is 1708, with a peak Elo of 1751.
How strong is Shamil Gaziev's recent opposition?
Shamil Gaziev's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1641 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Shamil Gaziev's last fight?
Shamil Gaziev's latest tracked pro fight was against Brando Peričić at UFC Fight Night on May 2 2026.
What is Shamil Gaziev's recent form?
Shamil Gaziev's recent tracked pro form is L-L-W-W-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Shamil Gaziev usually win?
Shamil Gaziev's 14 recorded wins include 9 knockouts, 3 submissions, and 2 decisions, with 86% ending before the final bell.
9Wins by knockout
3Wins by submission
2Wins by decision
3Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
0Loss by decision
Shamil Gaziev stats
Record : 14 / 3 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
2.94Fighter2.81Division average
Significant striking accuracy
46%Fighter47%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
4.92Fighter4.44Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
45%Fighter48%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
1.06Fighter1.38Division average
Takedown accuracy
0%Fighter37%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
83%Fighter48%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0.26Fighter0.60Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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