Top 15 Russian MMA Fighters Ever

Mixed Martial Arts has a rich history in Russia, with several Russian MMA fighters competing at the highest level of the sport and reigning over their respective weight divisions for prolonged periods.

From the UFC's women's flyweight division in the modern day all the way to the heavyweight division of the Pride days, this list has it all. Here are the top 15 Russian MMA Fighters ever.

15. Zabit Magomedsharipov

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

From the early age of 10, Zabit Magomedsharipov began training in combat sports in his native Dagestan. After a decade of learning his craft he turned pro in MMA to put his skills to the test.

Between the years of 2012 and 2016, Magomedsharipov set a record of 12-1 and was at the time deemed the best Russian MMA fighter outside of the UFC promotion. The UFC would soon give him his debut in 2017, and from there he went 6-0. But unfortunately, the highly rated Russian fighter was forced to retire in 2019 after suffering multiple serious health issues.

14. Aleksei Oleinik

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Aleksei Oleinik might be the least famous fighter on this list, but he is definitely a worthy mention. The now retired 47-year-old holds a record of 61-18-1, 48 of those wins came via submission.

Across over twenty years as a pro, Oleinik was known for his signature Ezekiel choke - registering 14 victories via this technique. 

13. Alexander Volkov

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Volkov made his MMA debut in 2009. He quickly established himself in the sport, fighting in various Russian and European promotions. His early career saw him claim the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship.

In Bellator, he became the heavyweight champion in 2012 and then Volkov joined the UFC in 2016, where he has faced some of the best fighters in the heavyweight division. Some of his best wins came against Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem.

12. Oleg Taktarov

Image Credits: Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Oleg Taktarov made his UFC debut in 1995 during a period when the sport was still in its infancy and had few rules compared to modern MMA. He competed in the UFC 6 tournament, where he became well-known for his toughness, endurance, and submission skills.

Taktarov's most significant achievement in MMA came when he won the UFC 6 tournament on July 14, 1995. In the final, he defeated Tank Abbott in a gruelling match, securing victory by submission. This win solidified his status as one of the top fighters in the early UFC era.

11. Vadim Nemkov

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Vadim Nemkov started his professional MMA career in 2013, competing in various Russian promotions such as M-1 Global. He quickly made a name for himself with a series of impressive performances, demonstrating his powerful striking and solid grappling skills.

Nemkov's career took a major leap forward when he signed with Bellator MMA when he made his debut in 2017. The Russian then became the Bellator light heavyweight champion in August 2020, after defeating Ryan Bader via TKO in the second round.

10. Andrei Arlovski

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Andrei Arlovski has to be in the top 10; he is known for his longevity at the top echelons of the sport. Arlovski made his UFC debut on November 17, 2000, at UFC 28. The Belarusian born fighter would win UFC gold for the first time in 2005, winning the interim heavyweight title. But he would soon be elevated to the undisputed champ after Frank Mir was forced to vacate his title due to injury.

As of 2024, he holds the record for the most fights and wins in UFC heavyweight history. His ability to adapt his style over time, focusing more on strategy and durability later in his career, has allowed him to remain competitive well into his 40s.

Image Credits: Rick Dodd/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

9. Alexander Shlemenko

Making his professional MMA debut in 2004, Alexander Shlemenko was best known for his time at Bellator after debuting in 2010.

In 2013, Shlemenko won the Bellator middleweight championship by defeating Maiquel Falcao via knockout in the second round at Bellator 88. He then went on to defend the title three times.

8. Rustam Khabilov

Image Credits: Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Khabilov made his professional MMA debut in 2007. He quickly established himself as a top prospect in Russian promotions, including M-1 Global, where he became known for his wrestling and ground-and-pound abilities.

Khabilov signed with the UFC in 2012 and made an immediate impact in the lightweight division. He gained widespread attention for his UFC debut against Vinc Pichel at The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale in December 2012, where he won via knockout. His most notable victory in the UFC came against Jorge Masvidal.
 

7. Petr Yan

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Petr Yan quickly became a fan favourite in the UFC for his excellent striking techniques and his ability to overwhelm his opponents. Yan signed with the UFC in 2018 and quickly rose through the ranks with a series of impressive performances. He made his UFC debut on June 23, 2018, against Teruto Ishihara, winning by knockout in the first round.

“No Mercy” continued to build momentum with victories over top contenders, including John Dodson, Jimmie Rivera, and Urijah Faber. But his crowning achievement came in July 2020, when he won the vacant UFC bantamweight belt by defeating Jose Aldo at UFC 251 via TKO in the fifth round. 

6. Sergei Kharitonov

Image Credits: Jim Rinaldi/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kharitonov made his professional MMA debut in 2000. He initially competed in regional promotions in Russia and Europe, showcasing his striking prowess and earning a reputation for his knockout power.

Kharitonov gained international recognition through his performances in Pride Fighting Championships. Competing in Pride from 2005 to 2007, he faced several top fighters and earned notable victories over opponents like Alistair Overeem and Pedro Rizzo.

His best career wins came against Overeem, Rizzo, Fabricio Werdum and Andrei Arlovski.
 

5. Islam Makhachev

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Islam Makhachev made his UFC debut in October 2016, at UFC 204, where he defeated Leo Kuntz by submission. His UFC career began to gain momentum as he continued to deliver impressive performances, defeating opponents like Chris Wade, Gleison Tibau, and Arman Tsarukyan.

Makhachev's success in the UFC was driven by his dominant grappling and effective striking, earning him a reputation as a top contender in the lightweight division.

In October 2022, Khabib Nurmagomedov's protégé claimed the UFC lightweight title after submitting Charles Oliveira. He has since defended his belt three times.

4. Alexander Emelianenko

Image Credits: RT 

Younger brother of the great Fedor Emelianenko, Alexander himself has had a MMA career to remember. Alexander Emelianenko made his professional MMA debut in 2003. He quickly gained attention for his impressive striking and knockout power.

Emelianenko gained significant international recognition during his time with Pride Fighting Championships. He competed in Pride from 2004 to 2007, where he faced several top fighters and earned victories over notable opponents such as Pedro Rizzo and Ikuhisa Minowa. He also scored wins over Jeff Monson and Andrei Arlovski in other promotions.

3. Valentina Shevchenko

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Born in Kyrgyzstan before moving to Russia at a young age, Valentina Shevchenko is best known for her tenure in the UFC, where she became the UFC flyweight champion in December 2018 by defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk. She successfully defended the title seven times in a row and is renowned for her well-rounded skill set, including striking, grappling, and fight IQ.

In March 2023 she suffered a shock defeat to Alexa Grasso. The pair would lock horns again later that year but Grasso would retain the title via split decision draw.

2. Khabib Nurmagomedov 

Image Credits: Cole Burston/Getty Images

Khabib Nurmagomedov is known for his dominant wrestling, grappling, and relentless pressure. After claiming the UFC lightweight title in 2018 he defended the belt three times with wins over Conor McGregor, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier.

In 2020 he retired undefeated with a record of 29-0, after the death of his father and trainer Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

1. Fedor Emelianenko 

Image Credits: @MMAFighting (X Account)

Fedor Emelianenko dominated the heavyweight division in the 2000’s and is highly regarded as the greatest heavyweight MMA fighter of all time. He gained prominence with a long unbeaten streak, holding the Pride heavyweight championship and becoming a key figure for the Japanese MMA promotion.

“The Last Emperor” almost went unbeaten for a full decade during his prime years. Some of his best victories include notable wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, and Mark Coleman.