Shahbulat Shamhalaev

Shahbulat Shamhalaev (Шахбулат Шамхалаев; born August 27, 1983) is a Russian retired mixed martial artist and kickboxer of Dargin heritage. He competed in the featherweight division for the Bellator Fighting Championships. Shahbulat is Muay Thai World Champion and Muay Thai Republic of Dagestan Champion.

Early career
On November 3, 2009, at the M-1 Challenge – 2009 Selections event, Shamhalaev lost to the future UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov via submission (armbar) in the first round.

Before leaving for the United States, he had a record of 9–1–1.

Bellator MMA
In 2012, Shamhalaev started training in Team BombSquad with Pat Bennett, Mike Massenzio, John Franchi, Anthony Leone and Kenny Foster.

Shamhalaev faced Cody Bollinger in the opening round of the Bellator Season 7 Featherweight tournament on October 12, 2012, at Bellator 76. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Shamhalaev faced Mike Richman in Semifinal Season 7 Featherweight tournament on November 2, 2012, at Bellator 79. He won via brutal KO in the first round.

Shamhalaev eventually faced Rad Martinez in the finals of the Season Seven Featherweight Tournament on February 21, 2013, at Bellator 90. He won the fight via KO in the second round.

Shamhalaev received his title shot against Pat Curran on April 4, 2013, at Bellator 95. He lost the fight via guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Shamhalaev was expected to face Akop Stepanyan in next Featherweight tournament beginning September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99. However, on September 9, it was revealed he was forced to pull out of the tournament due to his ailing father.

Shamhalaev was expected to face Fabricio Guerreiro on May 9, 2014, at Bellator 119. The fight, however, was cancelled when Guerreiro was injured. The bout was rescheduled and took place at Bellator 120 in Southaven, Mississippi. He lost the fight via first round kimura submission.

On August 25, 2014, Shamhalaev was released from Bellator, along with former Bellator Light Heavyweight champion Attila Végh and eleven other fighters.

Post-Bellator
On June 1, 2016, over two years since his last MMA fight, Shamhalaev was shot multiple times in Makhachkala, Russia. As of September 2016, he plans to return to MMA after he recovers from his wounds. In December 2016, he announced his retirement from professional career in MMA.

Mixed martial arts

 * Bellator Fighting Championships
 * Bellator Season 7 Featherweight Tournament Winner

Muay Thai

 * WBL
 * Muay Thai World Champion (Dubai, 2007)

Kickboxing

 * Russian Kick-Boxing Federation
 * Kickboxing Russian National Champion

Sanshou

 * Russian Sanshou Federation
 * Sanshou Russian National Champion

Karate

 * Russian Karate Federation
 * Karate Russian Champion