Rinat Fakhretdinov
Rinat Ryashitovich Fakhretdinov (Russian: Ринат Ряшитович Фахретдинов; Tatar: Ринат Рәшит улы Фәхретдинов; pronounced [Reenat Fahretdeenoff]; born 29 September 1991) is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of October 24, 2023, he is #15 in the UFC welterweight rankings.[9]
| Rinat Fakhretdinov | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rinat Ryashitovich Fakhretdinov 28 September 1991 Belozere village, Romodanovsky District, Mordovian ASSR, Soviet Union |
| Native name | Ринат Фахретдинов |
| Nickname | Gladiator[1] |
| Residence | Moscow, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) [2] |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) [2] |
| Division | Welterweight (2022—present) Middleweight (2013—2021) |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm)[2] |
| Style | Combat Sambo |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Saransk, Mordovia, Russia Coconut Creek, Florida, United States |
| Team | American Top Team[3] Evolve Gym[1] Gold Star Fit[4] |
| Trainer | Marat Kapkaev[5] Marcos DaMatta[6] |
| Rank | Master of Sport in Combat Sambo[7][8] |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 22 |
| Wins | 21 |
| By knockout | 11 |
| By submission | 6 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Losses | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Early life
Rinat Ryashitovich Fakhretdinov was born to a Volga Tatar family on 29 September 1991, in the village of Belozere in the Romodanovsky District of the Mordovian ASSR, an autonomous republic within the Russian SFSR, Soviet Union.[10][11] He started freestyle wrestling and Kūdō at the age of 13. In 2011, he moved from Saransk, Mordovia to Moscow and jointed the "sparta combat sambo club".[8]
Rinat Fakhretdinov's journey to the UFC is an inspiring story of rising from humble beginnings. Hailing from Saransk in a financially constrained Tatar family, he moved to Moscow at the age of 20 to seek better opportunities. To support himself, he held multiple jobs while studying law at Mordovia State University through correspondence.[12][13][14]
His introduction to combat sports began as a way to add excitement to his daily routine, where he started training in combat sambo. Success in this discipline led him to competitions, victories, and recognition. Rinat juggled his coaching work, teaching sambo in multiple gyms, with a job as a legal assistant in an office.[12][15]
Mixed martial arts career
In his early 20s, he transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA), participating in amateur tournaments and gaining experience. He secured the SFC championship and later received an invitation to compete in the GFC, a prominent MMA league in Russia. On 3 May 2019 he became the Gorilla Fighting Championship champion in middleweight division after over Alberto Pereira.[16]
At the UAE Warriors 15 tournament,[17] his knockout victory over Eric Spicely caught the attention of UFC president Dana White, who offered him a contract to join the UFC. This made Fakhretdinov the first Tatar fighter to compete in a Western MMA promotion.[18]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Fakhretdinov made his UFC debut on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207 in a welterweight bout against Andreas Michailidis.[19] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[20]
Fakhretdinov was expected to face Michael Morales on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216.[21] However, Morales pulled out fractured toe and was replaced by Bryan Battle.[22][23] Fakhretdinov won the one-sided fight by unanimous decision.[24]
Fakhretdinov faced Kevin Lee on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48.[25] He won the fight via technical submission due to a guillotine choke with in the opening minute.[26]
Fakhretdinov is scheduled to face Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on November 4, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 231.[27]
Championships and accomplishments
- Eagle Fighting Championship (Then Gorilla Fighting Championship)
- GF Middleweight Championship (One time)
- One successful title defence
- GF Middleweight Championship (One time)
- Russian combat sambo championships — 2nd[8]
- Moscow combat sambo championships — 1st[8]
Mixed martial arts record
| 22 matches | 21 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 11 | 0 |
| By submission | 6 | 0 |
| By decision | 4 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 21–1 | Kevin Lee | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov | July 1, 2023 | 1 | 0:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–1 | Bryan Battle | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–1 | Andreas Michailidis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik | June 4, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 18–1 | Eric Spicely | KO (punch) | UAE Warriors 15 | January 15, 2021 | 1 | 0:55 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 17–1 | Jhonny Carlos | Decision (unanimous) | GFC 16 | August 30, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Astrakhan, Russia | Defended the GFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 16–1 | Alberto Emiliano Pereira | Submission (guillotine choke) | GFC 11 | May 3, 2019 | 1 | 4:13 | Penza, Russia | Won the GFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 15–1 | Vladimir Migovich | TKO (punches) | Battle on Volga 9: Vitasovic vs. Teregulov | February 17, 2019 | 1 | 1:09 | Kazan, Russia | |
| Win | 14–1 | Viktor Shabalov | Submission (guillotine choke) | Samara MMA Federation: Battle on the Volga 7 | November 4, 2018 | 2 | 3:15 | Samara, Russia | |
| Win | 13–1 | Bayram Mamedov | TKO (punches) | Samara MMA Federation: Battle on the Volga 4 | May 11, 2018 | 1 | N/A | Samara, Russia | Return to Middleweight. |
| Win | 12–1 | Kevin Oliver | TKO (punches) | Prosperity Fight Promo: Battle for Samara | February 2, 2018 | 1 | 4:13 | Samara, Russia | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 11–1 | Nurgazy Kaldar | TKO (punches) | SFC: Legacy of Sparta 3 | August 12, 2017 | 1 | 0:50 | Botlikhsky, Russia | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 10–1 | Emin Agaev | KO (punches) | SFC: Legacy of Sparta 2 | August 14, 2016 | 1 | 0:10 | Botlikhsky, Russia | |
| Win | 9–1 | Denis Gunich | Decision (unanimous) | Octagon Fighting Sensation 8 | May 8, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 8–1 | Melis Joldoshev | Submission (guillotine choke) | World Ertaymash Federation 2 | March 15, 2015 | 2 | 2:04 | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | |
| Win | 7–1 | Yuri Ilyin | TKO (punches) | SFC: Legacy of Sparta 1 | September 14, 2014 | 1 | 2:15 | Zelenograd, Russia | |
| Win | 6–1 | Erikson Betao | Submission (guillotine choke) | Fight Star - Saransk vs. Penza | September 5, 2014 | 1 | 2:05 | Saransk, Russia | |
| Win | 5–1 | Ravshan Akhmedov | TKO (corner stoppage) | No. 1 Martial Arts Club - Beginning of the Road: Finals | November 30, 2013 | 2 | 4:33 | Moscow, Russia | Won the Middleweight Tournament. |
| Win | 4–1 | Magomed Isaev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | No. 1 Martial Arts Club - Beginning of the Road: Semifinals | October 27, 2013 | 1 | 2:22 | Moscow, Russia | Middleweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 3–1 | Marat Bekmuratov | TKO (punches) | No. 1 Martial Arts Club - Beginning of the Road: Quarterfinals | September 22, 2013 | 1 | 0:30 | Moscow, Russia | Middleweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 2–1 | Pavel Bodrov | TKO (punches) | Razdolie Cup 2 | June 30, 2013 | 1 | 2:30 | Zelenograd, Russia | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Aigun Akhmedov | Decision (unanimous) | Igor Vovchanchyn Cup 3 | June 5, 2013 | 2 | 5:00 | Kharkiv, Ukraine | |
| Win | 1–0 | Aleksandr Svirid | TKO (punches) | 2 | 0:41 |
References
- "RINAT FAKHRETDINOV HOPES TO INSPIRE HIS PEOPLE". ufc.ru. Retrieved 2022-12-14.
- "Rinat Fakhretdinov - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ""До сих пор не верится, что дерусь в UFC". Ринат Фахретдинов — о дебюте, тренировках в Америке и ксенофобии". mma.metaratings.ru. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- "Прогноз на бой Ринат Фахретдинов – Кевин Ли". mma.metaratings.ru. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- "Ринат Фахретдинов и Марат Капкаев — о силе духа, спортивном союзе и развитии татарской нации". avtonomiya.tatar. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "Захватывающе: как Ринат Фахретдинов выиграл третий бой в UFC". iz.ru. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- "Эксклюзив от ГТРК "Мордовия" Ринат Фахретдинов". mordoviatv.ru. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- "Защитил чемпионский пояс". moyaokruga.ru. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
- "UFC Rankings | UFC.com". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
- "Сенсация в UFC: уроженец Мордовии вырубил американца за 55 секунд!". stolica-s.su. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ""Моя жена — дагестанка, но первое, что я сказал, — дети должны знать татарский". Интервью с Ринатом Фахретдиновым". sport-express.ru. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
- "Ринат Фахретдинов (Rinat Fakhretdinov): биография и лучшие бои средневеса UFC - MMAExpress". mma.express. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- "«Спасибо всем причастным, квест пройден!»". Stolica-s.su.
- "The first Tatar man in the UFC — RealnoeVremya.com". realnoevremya.com. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- "Татарстанский боец будет выступать в UFC". БИЗНЕС Online (in Russian). 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
- ""Пускали слухи, что мне после победы подарили гелик, 30 млн, квартиру". Большое интервью первого татарина в UFC". sport.business-gazeta.ru. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
- "Full fight card released for UAE Warriors 15". asianmma.com. January 6, 2021.
- Andrew Whitelaw (January 16, 2021). "Bruno Machado beats Mickael Lebout at UAE Warriors 15". asianmma.com.
- "Ринат Фахретдинов дебютирует в UFC 4 июня". sport-express.ru (in Russian). 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
- Bitter, Shawn (2022-06-03). "UFC Vegas 56: Rinat Fakhretdinov Dominates Michailidis, Wins Bloody Decision". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
- Nolan King (2022-10-03). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Sept. 26-Oct. 2)". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- Danny Segura (2022-11-30). "Unbeaten Michael Morales injured, out of UFC Fight Night 216 vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
- Arshad (2022-12-02). "UFC Vegas 66: Bryan Battle Replaced Morales Against Rinat Fakhretdinov". itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- "Rinat Fakhretdinov wants to clean out welterweight of any gatekeepers after UFC Fight Night 216". MMA Junkie. 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
- "Kevin Lee gets first assignment in UFC return, meets Rinat Fakhretdinov July 1". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- Martin, Damon (2023-07-01). "UFC Vegas 76 video: Rinat Fakhretdinov spoils Kevin Lee's return, sleeps him with nasty guillotine in just 55 seconds, subsequently he was released from UFC again". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2023-07-02.
- Zubkiewicz, Bartłomiej (2023-08-22). "Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos kontra Rinat Fakhretdinov na UFC Sao Paulo | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-08-29.
- "Rinat". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-04-07.