Ramazan Kuramagomedov

Ramazan Ramazanovich Kuramagomedov (Рамазан Рамазанович Курамагомедов; born August 23, 1996) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist, who competes in the Welterweight division of Bellator MMA, where he is the current Bellator Welterweight Champion. He has previously fought for major MMA promotions like ACA, PFL, UAE Warriors, CFFC & Eagle FC.

Background
Kuramagomedov was born in the Dagestani capital of Makhachkala, on August 23, 1996. His first love was football which he played with his friends either in backyard or in beaches of Makhachkala.

He like all the youths in Dagestan, grew up doing freestyle wrestling. He would join his friends when they signed up for wrestling camp. Kurmagomedov did freestyle wrestling for five years.

At the age of 15 years, he dabbled hard into world of mixed martial arts, after hearing the new that his compatriot Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rustam Khabilov and Ali Bagautinov were all signed by major MMA promotion, UFC.

Kuramagomedov is 2-time Russian MMA Cup winner. He was a regular training partner of notable MMA fighters like Carlos Condit, Donald Cerrone & former UFC champion, Chris Weidman, at Jackson Wink MMA Academy. He would even give Weidman a tough time in sparring matches, despite not having Pro MMA experience.

Early career
Kuramagomedov of Russia has been dabbling in the world of pro mixed martial arts since 2014. He made his pro MMA debut in August 2014 at the Severo-Kavkazsky Federal Okrug tournament, where he defeated fellow Kavkaz fighter Khasan Masheev via submission in the first round of the fight. After his successful debut, he took 3-year hiatus from his pro MMA, as he became fully engrossed in Soyuz MMA scene.

Amateur MMA
On April 5, 2015, Kuramagomedov became runner-up at "Qualifying Club Championship of Stavropol Krai in SBE (MMA)". Few weeks later, on April 21st, he again became runner-up at "North Caucasus Federal District Championship in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)", held in the Chechen city of Grozny. However, on October 28th of the same year, Kuramagomedov finally won gold at "Russian MMA Cup" in Volgograd, Volgograd Oblast.

Few months later, on May 28, 2016, Kuramagomedov shared bronze medals with future One Championship lightweight contender, Saygid Izagakhmaev at WMMAA All-Russian MMA Championship, in the Russian city of Orenburg. However, October 3rd of the same year, Kuramagomedov representing Ural Federal District won gold at All-Russian MMA Cup, in the city of Volgograd.

Return to pro MMA
On November 27, 2017, Kuramagomedov finally to returned to pro MMA scene, where he had his second fight against the Japanese grappler Yukinori "Akilyu 2" Akazawa at ACB 57: Magomedov vs. Yan card, which was decided in two minutes, when a sharp direct kick from Kuramagomedov hit the Japanese fighter in the liver, forcing the bout to be stopped as KO win for the Dagestani. Other MMA fighters, the Dagestani has defeated during his time at ACB/ACA promotion are Mindaugas Verzbickas of Lithuania & Georgi Valentinov of Bulgaria.

Professional Fighters League (PFL)
On August 30, 2018, Kuramagomedov was scheduled to face-off against American adversary Robert Hale at PFL 7: 2018 Regular Season card at Ocean Resort Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He defeats the "The Blue King" via unanimous decision with 30-27 scorecard from all three judges.

Dana White's Contender Series
Nearly one year later, on July 23, 2019, Kuramagomedov was booked in main event fight, against the future UFC fighter Jordan "Bomaye" Williams on season 3 of DWCS at middleweight. In an all-action fight that went the distance Kuramagomedov defeated Bomaye via split-decision in the eyes of the judges. Despite the win, Dana White decided against giving the UFC contract to Kuramagomedov.

Krepost Fight Club
After his ventures at DWCS, Kuramagomedov fought one more time in 2019 where he defeated Kyrgyz fighter Melisbek Abdrakhmanov via arm-triangle choke in round one of the fight.

Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC)
On September 18, 2020 he was booked to fight against the American Kung-Fu specialist Trevor Ollison at CFFC 85: Hill vs. Lee card at Fitz Hotel & Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, United States. He defeated the American Kung-Fu brawler via arm-triangle choke in round two of the fight.

UFC
On February 27, 2021, Kuramagomedov agreed to fight in as replacement for Jamaican fighter Randy Brown against Alex Oliveira, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane card in less than a week's notice. However, the Dagestani fighter was forced to withdraw from the bout due contracting illness during the fight camp.

UAE Warriors
On September 4, 2021, Kuramagomedov made debut for notable middle east MMA promotion UAE Warriors, against the Argentine Matias Juarez, who replaced the Brazilian fighter William Macario, at their UAE Warriors 22: Saadeh vs. Bunch card at Jiu-Jitsu Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; in which the Dagestani fighter submitted Juarez via rear-naked choke in round one of the fight. This was Kuramagomedov third submission victory in a row after his escapades in the DWCS.

Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC)
On January 28, 2022, Kuramagomedov was set to face-off against the American grappler John Howard at EFC 44: Spong vs. Kharitonov card at FLXcast Arena in Miami, Florida, USA. The fight went the distance as Kuramagomedov defeated his American adversary via unanimous decision.

Bellator MMA
Kuragmagomedov was finally set to make his debut for premiere MMA promotion Bellator against Jaleel Willis at Bellator 297. He KO'd his opponent via knee and punches.

On November 17, 2023, Kuramagomedov's second bout for Bellator MMA was booked against Randall Wallace at Bellator 301. He submitted Wallace via rear-naked choke in round two of the bout.

Bellator Welterweight champion
On June 22, 2024, Kuramagomedov faced Jason Jackson for Bellator Welterweight Championship at Bellator Champions Series 3. He won the championship by unanimous decision.

Personal life
The surname Kuramagomedov is a combination of the  names like "Kuras", "Magomed", & the Slavic suffix "ov". These name have significant meaning in the history of Islam. "Kuras" is the Avarian counterpart of the Arabic proper noun, Quraish, the name of the tribe from which the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born to. "Magomed" is the Avarian or Kavkaz equivalent of "Muhammad", and the suffix "ov" means "belonging to" or "affiliation". Thus, the surname Kuramagomedov can be translated as "House dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad of the Quraish tribe".

He consider Khabib "The Eagle" Nurmagomedov as his idol. At ATT, his favourite sparring partners are Johnny "Pressure" Eblen & Magmomed "Maga Million" Magomedkerimov.

On April 25, 2016, Kuramagomedov was conferred the title of "Master of Sport" in MMA by then Minister of Sport, Vitaly Leontiyevich Mutko at a awarding ceremony. November 22, of the same year, he rejected the opportunity to participate in edition of Russian MMA Super Cup, as he decided to relocate in America for long-term and train in Ricardo Almeida BJJ in New Jersey. Kuramagomedov was promptly replaced with 2016 Volgograd MMA Cup finalist Yunus Akhmedov.

Kuramagomedov seems to have tendency of moving from one gym to another. He was member of Ricardo Almeida BJJ from 2016 to 2017. He trained at  Jackson Wink MMA Academy from 2017 to 2019 as per records. He then hopped to Xtreme Couture gym (2021 to December 2022). Finally, Kurmagomedov seems to have settled in American Top Team gym (2023-present).

When he was at Ricardo Almeida BBJ gym at New Jersey City, he along with Zabit participated and won gold medals in a local grappling competition somewhere in 2017, after being tired of not getting MMA fight at regional American promotions.

However, when Kuramagomedov is in Dagestan, he usually trains in the paramount gym, DagFighter. Even than, he hops from one gym to another in his homeplace. For sparring matches he trains at Premimum Gym because it has a octagon cage for sparring fights. For grappling he trains with fighters from Eagles MMA/Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, especially with Raimond Magomedaleiv; who is 2-times Wushu Sanda World Champion & 1-time Combat Sambo World Champion).

Among the International Dagestani fighters, he mentored in the sports by the likes of Zabit "ZaBeast" Magomedsharipov and Magomed "Tiger" Magomedov, who are also his teammates at DagFighter gym.

Mixed martial arts

 * Bellator MMA
 * Bellator Welterweight World Championship (One time; current)

Amateurs MMA

 * Simple silver cup.svg 2015 Qualifying Club Championship of Stavropol Krai in SBE (MMA), Stavropol (−77 kg)
 * Simple silver cup.svg 2015 North Caucasus Federal District Championship in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Grozny (−77 kg)
 * Simple gold cup.svg 2015 All-Russian MMA Cup, Volgograd (−77 kg)
 * Simple silver cup.svg 2015 Russian MMA Super Cup, Chelyabinsk (−77 kg)
 * Simple bronze cup.svg 2016 WMMAA All-Russian MMA Championship, Orenburg (−77 kg)
 * Simple gold cup.svg 2016 All-Russian MMA Cup, Volgograd (−77 kg)