Khabib Nurmagomedov has hailed his teammate for winning PFL gold in a moment that also signifies a major achievement for the MMA legend.
Gadzhi Rabadanov knocked out former Bellator champion Brent Primus on Friday night with a vicious finish to win the PFL lightweight title, as well as the $1million prize that comes with it. He joins a long line of fighters who have become champions or top contenders after training with Nurmagomedov.
Rabadanov is now one of the top 155lb fighters in the world, and is riding a ten-fight win streak into next year’s season.
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Gadzhi Rabadanov is now PFL lightweight champion
It was a Riyadh dream for Rabadanov as he landed a massive payout and became a world champion in one of MMA’s biggest promotions on Friday night. The Russian entered with a 24-4-2 record, which included a nine-fight win streak, but faced a stern test in the veteran Primus.
However, the former Bellator champion is now nearing the end of a career that has seen him share the cage with the likes of Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson. And on the night he was no match for Rabadanov, who dropped him twice before bringing their bout to a brutal end in the third frame.
The Russian connected with a flush left hook that had Primus out on his feet in the third after an impressive first few rounds. Three follow-up punches sent Rabadanov’s opponent crashing face-first to the canvas where he ate one more unnecessary punch on route to a KO of the Year contender.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team now holds the lightweight belt in all three major promotions
The victory marks a monstrous achievement for Khabib Nurmagomedov’s team. The Dagestani icon was such a dominant fighter during his famed UFC run, but retired on top of the game in 2020 after his father’s passing.
Since then, he has turned his hand to coaching, promoting and generally working with other fighters. And it has now culminated in the Nurmagomedov team becoming the rulers of the lightweight division, holding world titles in the UFC, Bellator and now PFL at 155lb.
Islam Makhachev has been UFC champion since 2022 when he dethroned Charles Oliveira in Abu Dhabi. Usman Nurmagomedov went on to win the Bellator belt a few weeks later, and now Rabadanov has claimed the PFL title.
Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev’s emotional reactions to Gadzhi Rabadanov’s victory
Taking to Instagram, Khabib Nurmagomedov emotionally declared that ‘history’ had been made with the victory. He also noted how it was special to see his teammate claim the win that earned their gym yet another world title.
“Three best organizations in the world three current champions in lightweight division,” Nurmagomedov wrote in Russian on his Instagram stories. “This is something unreal in my opinion.”
He followed that message up by adding: “You are the best, you just haved to this for a long time and prepared hard. World champion in amateurs and now world champion in pros this is history, brother.”
Islam Makhachev then chimed in, writing on Instagram: “Congratulations brother @gadzhi_rabadanov
I think in this Grand Prix you’re just beginning to reach your potential, and now a well-deserved rest.”
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