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Top Russian MMA Fighters Ever – Ranked by Legacy and Achievements

In this article, we will analyse who the top 13 best Russian MMA fighters of all time are, by using data and the SportsBoom MetaScale.

Jake Staniland
Jake Staniland

Last Updated: 2024-12-04

Chad Nagel

7 minutes read

Khabib Nurmagomedov kicks Justin Gaethje

Khabib Nurmagomedov kicks Justin Gaethje//Getty Images

Russia's impact on mixed martial arts has been huge since the turn of the century. In the 2000's, Fedor Emelianenko set himself apart from the rest, going almost a full decade unbeaten, against the very best that the heavyweight division had to offer, staking his claim as the best heavyweight to ever do it.

Then, as we entered the mid-2010's, Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared on the grand stage of the UFC and dominated everybody as he rose to UFC lightweight champion and put his name in the conversation for the greatest lightweight of all time.

The elite grappling skills which Sambo fighters possess, like Emelianenko and Nurmagomedov, has now impacted how MMA as a whole has evolved. And there are many more top Russian fighters coming through with similar attributes. 

Using data-driven insights from SportsBoom’s MetaScale, we have analytically determined who the top Russian MMA fighters of all time truly are…

Methodology

To rank the Best Russian UFC Fighters of All Time, we used a two-step approach:

Critical Consensus Table

We aggregated rankings from three authoritative sources—GiveMeSport, Tapology, and Ranker. The aggregated scores were combined into the Critical Consensus Table, providing a balanced baseline ranking of each fighter's legacy.

SportsBoom MetaScale

Beyond the consensus rankings, we incorporated measurable performance metrics such as title fight wins, career wins, losses, and SERP points. These metrics were weighted as follows: 

  • Title Fight Wins (50%): Reflects dominance at the championship level. 
  • Win Percentage (30%): Measures consistency and efficiency in fights. 
  • SERP Points (20%): Indicates global popularity and recognition. 

This methodology ensures that rankings reflect both the fighters’ octagon achievements and their influence on MMA as a whole.

Top Russian MMA Fighters According to Web Critics

Based on expert rankings from GiveMeSport, Tapology, and Ranker, here’s the Critical Consensus Table:

Position FighterScore
1Khabib Nurmagomedov31
2Fedor Emelianenko28
3Islam Makhachev25
4Petr Yan 16
5Khamzat Chimaev 14
6Zabit Magomedsharipov9
7Vadim Nemkov8
8Andrei Arlovski 8
9Usman Nurmagomedov 6
10Magomed Ankalaev5
11Alexander Volkov 4
12Alexander Shlemenko2
13Oleg Taktorov2
14Alexey Oleinik 1
15Umar Nurmagomedov1
Sportsboom Event Table Logo

Data-Driven Rankings of the Best Russian UFC Fighters

The SportsBoom MetaScale refines the rankings by incorporating measurable performance metrics for a unique perspective:

Position FighterSERP PointsTotal WinsTotal LossesTitle Fights WonScore
1Khabib Nurmagomedov31290483.3
2Vadim Nemkov8172682.1
3Islam Makhachev25261478.3
4Fedor Emelianenko28407476.9
5Alexander Volkov 43810459.7
6Alexander Shlemenko26615459.1
7Usman Nurmagomedov 6170358.9
8Petr Yan16175250.2
9Andrei Arlovski 83424347.8
10Khamzat Chimaev14130039
11Zabit Magomedsharipov9181034.2
12Oleg Taktorov2175132.8
13Magomed Ankalaev5201031.8
Sportsboom Event Table Logo

1. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib Nurmagomedov kicks Justin Gaethje

Khabib Nurmagomedov kicks Justin Gaethje//Getty Images

  1. Background: Finishing his career with an unbeaten record of 29-0, Khabib Nurmagomedov retired after making three successful defences of his lightweight title, tied for most in UFC lightweight history. All three of his title defences were won via submission in large part to his excellent Sambo-style grappling.

  2. Achievements: The Russian successfully defended his UFC title three times, earning him an undefeated career. 

  3. Skill: Khabib Nurmagomedov is regarded as one of the best Sambo wrestlers in MMA history due to his knack of getting his opponents to the mat with ease, and trapping them against the cage where he would enforce brutal ground-and-pound before locking in a choke.

  4. Legacy: Since his successful career at the pinnacle of the sport using Sambo, this has led to several Dagestani fighters coming over to the UFC, and other top MMA promotions, and dominating their weight class.

2. Vadim Nemkov

Vadim Nemkov

Vadim Nemkov//Getty Images

  1. Background: Vadim Nemkov, the former Bellator light-heavyweight champion, is known for his fighting IQ which gives him an advantage against almost everybody. With only 2 losses on his record, both coming very early in his pro MMA career, Nemkov is yet to taste defeat in his Bellator career that is now seven-years-old. 

  2. Achievements: Vadim Nemkov successfully defended his Bellator light-heavyweight title five times before vacating it in June 2023, this is the promotion's record for the most consecutive title defences in that weight class.

  3. Skill: Nemkov has elite Sambo skills, but he also has some excellent striking to go with it.

  4. Legacy: Out of all the fighters on this list, Nemkov is arguably the most versatile fighter.

3. Islam Makhachev

Islam Makhachevand Dustin Poirier grapple

Islam Makhachevand Dustin Poirier grapple//Getty Images

  1. Background: The current UFC lightweight champion is following perfectly in his mentor's (Khabib Nurmagomedov), footsteps. Better yet, he is one more successful title defence away from surpassing him and becoming arguably the best lightweight fighter of all time.

  2. Achievements: Makhachev is tied for the most consecutive UFC lightweight title defences in history, four, during a time when the lightweight division is stacked with talent such as Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier. Yet, he's walked through them with ease.

  3. Skill: Islam Makhachev has decent enough striking to match together with his unbelievable Sambo skills. Islam can finish a fight from any position on the mat via submission.

  4. Legacy: He is dominating one of the best era's in lightweight history.

4. Fedor Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson

Fedor Emelianenko and Rampage Jackson//Getty Images

  1. Background: Fedor Emelianenko is the father of Russian MMA. He dominated the heavyweight division in his Pride days, against some of the biggest killers the sport has produced, making him a Russian combat sports icon.

  2. Achievements: Emelianenko once went almost a full decade without losing. He's defeated MMA legends such as Mirko Cro Cop and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

  3. Skill: Fedor Emelianenko was a well-rounded fighter with heavy power in both hands and a brilliant wrestling and grappling background.

  4. Legacy: He is widely regarded as the best MMA heavyweight fighter of all time.

5. Alexander Volkov

Alexander Volkov and Alexandr Romanov

Alexander Volkov and Alexandr Romanov//Getty Images

  1. Background: Alexander Volkov is unmistakable due to his towering presence. Standing at 6ft7, Volkov has had a long and successful career in MMA, and particularly the UFC, thanks to his size and striking ability.

  2. Achievements: Volkov has had many notable wins such as Alistair Overeem and Fabricio Werdum. He has the third-most significant strikes landed in UFC heavyweight history, highlighting both his striking precision as well as his longevity.

  3. Skill: Volkov uses his gigantic reach to his advantage by standing at range and using his versatile striking. He also has a great gas tank, allowing him to throw power in large volume.

  4. Legacy: Despite never winning the UFC heavyweight title, he has been a frequent name among the top ten across several years.

SportsBoom Suggests 

Russian fighters are so dominant because of their background in sambo, giving fighters a solid foundation to build on, by adding things like boxing or Muay Thai skills. Additionally, for Dagestani fighters, they have a huge advantage in their cardio because they've trained at extremely high altitude for their entire life.

The SportsBoom MetaScale determines that Khabib Nurmagomedov is the best Russian MMA fighter of all time, accumulating a score of 83.3. Khabib's dominance in title fights and his undefeated career will be hard to top. 

Vadim Nemkov comes a close second however. Nemkov, a protégé of Fedor Emelianenko, is arguably the most versatile fighter on this list because of his elite striking and grappling. Nemkov has the most title fight wins out of anybody on this list with six, leading him to a score of 82.1.

Islam Makhachev is third on this list, but could easily move up a place or two depending on how the rest of his career unfolds. 

Meanwhile, the same can be said for Magomed Ankalaev; if he picks up the UFC light-heavyweight title and defends it a few times, he could move from 13th up firmly into the top top.

Jake Staniland
Jake Staniland Sports Writer

Jake Staniland is a sports writer who excels in covering a wide range of sports: football, combat sports and the NFL - All three subjects are his lifelong passions.

Jake is a boyhood Sheffield United fan, which is often a curse that he thanks his family for. His favourite Blades player ever is Billy Sharp