Omari Akhmedov

Omari Akhmedov (born October 12, 1987) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division. He previously fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Professional Fighters League (PFL).

Background
Akhmedov was born on October 12, 1987, in the town of Kizlyar in modern-day Dagestan, Russia, in a Lak family and is a devout Sunni Muslim. Like many children in Dagestan, Akhmedov engaged in freestyle wrestling from a young age and would go on to hold an accomplished career in the sport before transitioning to MMA. Before his career in MMA, Akhmedov also had accomplished careers in combat sambo, as well as Russian hand-to-hand combat and Russian pankration.

Early career
Akhmedov made his professional MMA debut on January 30, 2010, when he faced Iskhan Zakharian at ProFC: Fight Night 2. He won the fight via rear-naked choke. Following this, Akhmedov would compile a professional record of 12–1 before being signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in September 2013.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Akhmedov signed a four-fight deal with the UFC in September 2013.

In his promotional debut, Akhmedov faced Thiago Perpétuo on November 9, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 32. It was a back-and-forth fight that saw both men rocked by punches before Akhmedov won the fight via knockout. The win also earned him his first Fight of the Night bonus award. After the fight, Akhmedov expressed a desire to move down to welterweight.

In his welterweight debut, Akhmedov faced Gunnar Nelson on March 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Manuwa. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Akhmedov faced Mats Nilsson on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Brian Ebersole on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68, replacing an injured Alan Jouban. He won the fight via TKO after Ebersole was unable to continue after the first round due to a knee injury sustained from a kick by Akhmedov.

Akhmedov was expected to face Lyman Good on December 10, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 80. However, Good was pulled from the bout in late October and was replaced by Sérgio Moraes.

Akhmedov next faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santosi on April 16, 2016, at UFC on Fox 19. After arguably winning the first two rounds, Akhmedov was stopped via TKO in the third round. The back and forth action earned both participants Fight of the Night honors.

Akhmedov was tabbed as a short notice replacement for Dominique Steele and faced Kyle Noke on November 27, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 101. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Abdul Razak Alhassan on May 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 109. He won the fight by split decision.

Akhmedov faced Marvin Vettori on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. The back-and-forth fight ended in a majority draw.

Akhmedov was expected to face CB Dollaway on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 136. However, Akhmedov pulled out of the fight in early September and was replaced by promotional newcomer Artem Frolov.

Akhmedov faced Tim Boetsch on March 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 147. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Zak Cummings on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Ian Heinisch on December 14, 2019, at UFC 245. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Chris Weidman on August 8, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 174. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Akhmedov was briefly linked to a rematch with Marvin Vettori on December 12, 2020, at UFC  256. However, Akhmedov was removed from the bout in mid-October for undisclosed reasons.

Akhmedov was expected to face Tom Breese on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1. During fight week, the UFC opted to move the bout to UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny. He won the bout via second round arm triangle submission.

Akhmedov faced Brad Tavares on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264. He lost the fight via split decision.

After his bout with Tavares, it was announced on July 15, that Akhmedov was released from the UFC.

Professional Fighters League
Akhmedov faced Jordan Young on October 27, 2021, at PFL 10. He lost the bout via TKO in the third round.

2022 season
Akhmedov faced Viktor Pešta on April 23, 2022, at PFL 1. He won the bout after knocking Pešta out in first round.

Akhmedov faced Teodoras Aukštuolis on June 17, 2022, at PFL 4. He won the bout after choking out Teodoras in the second round via arm-triangle choke.

Akhmedov was scheduled to face Antônio Carlos Júnior in the Semifinals off the Light Heavyweight tournament on August 5, 2022, at PFL 7. However, Antonio suffered an ACL injury requiring surgery, being replaced by Josh Silveira for the playoffs. Akhmedov won the bout via unanimous decision.

Akhmedov faced Rob Wilkinson in the finals of the Light Heavyweight tournament on November 25, 2022, at PFL 10. He lost the bout after the fight was stopped by the doctor due to a cut after the second round.

2023 season
Akhmedov was set to start the 2023 season against Will Fleury on April 1, 2023, at PFL 1. However, Akhmedov was forced to withdraw due to suffering an injury and was replaced by Krzysztof Jotko.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Thiago Perpétuo and Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Pankration

 * Pankration Federation Russia
 * Russian National Pankration Champion (Two times)

Hand-to-hand combat

 * Russian Union of Martial Arts
 * Russian National Hand-to-Hand Combat Champion (Two times)

Sambo

 * Combat Sambo Federation of Russia
 * Dagestan Combat Sambo Champion