Republic of Dagestan: The exotic home of up to 12 UFC fighters

The Republic of Dagestan (Russia) has just over three million inhabitants. Still, it has 12 fighters in the UFC, the most numerous MMA national representation in the world—a legacy that undeniably Khabib Nurmagomedov started. On Saturday night, Nassourdine Imavov will face Roman Dolidze in the main event of UFC Vegas 85 to move up the middleweight ranks, and he is just one of the dozen exquisite fighting figures today in the MMA world.

Nassourdine Imavov, a French national born in the Russian republic of Dagestan, will headline the primary fight at UFC Vegas 85. He currently holds eleventh in the middleweight ranking and aims to climb higher in the division led by Dricus du Plessis. His opponent will be the Georgian Roman Dolidze, who is ranked eighth.

It all started with Khabib

Khabib Nurmagomedov has become a prominent and influential figure in the UFC and MMA, even after retiring from the octagon. His exceptional skills, raw strength in the cage, and victories against renowned fighters like Conor McGregor have propelled him into the global spotlight. Known for his courageous nature, strict training regime, and a video of him wrestling with a bear, he gained widespread attention, endearing him to fans and establishing a fighting legacy followed by 12 of his compatriots.

Dagestan currently boasts six ranked fighters, a considerable number considering its total population. However, there are no female fighters from Dagestan in the UFC.

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In an interview with MMA Fighting, fighter Daniel Cormier praised Khabib’s abilities, stating, “It is new for the world, but it is not new for us, the guys who have fought in international championships. When I got my third place medal at the world championships, Russia had five or six world champions, most of whom were from Dagestan.” Besides, even lightweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Islam Makhachev, hails from the same region in Russia.

Khabib’s father, Abdulmanap, played a crucial role in developing his son and many other fighters, including Makhachev, and built the infamous status of the Dagestani martial arts school. Dagestan, characterized by constant ethnic conflict, has molded its inhabitants into formidable individuals, specializing in combat sports such as judo, sambo, freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Imavov, Ikram Aliskerov, and Magomed Ankalaev are among the renowned figures dedicated to upholding the Nurmagomedov legacy.