Zelim Imadaev

Zelim Imadaev (born January 25, 1995) is a Russian mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Zelim Imadaev
Born (1995-01-25) January 25, 1995
Chechnya, Russia
NationalityRussian
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
Reach76.0 in (193 cm)
Fighting out ofChechnya, Russia
Years active2016–present
Professional boxing record
Total1
Wins0
By knockout0
Losses1
Mixed martial arts record
Total11
Wins8
By knockout8
Losses3
By knockout1
By submission1
By decision1
Other information
Boxing record from BoxRec
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Imadaev began training in combat sports when he was 14 years old - first kickboxing for one year before pursuing boxing. With boxing, he held an amateur record of 59-1. Also a lifelong street fighter, four years ago his brother told him to start MMA. From that moment, he transitioned to MMA and promised his brother that he would become champion.[1]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Before entering the UFC, Zelim fought in Russian MMA promotions, most notably Fight Nights Global, where he compiled an undefeated 8–0, all won by technical knockout or knockout.[2]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Imadaev faced Max Griffin in his UFC debut on April 13, 2019 at UFC 236.[3] He lost the fight via majority decision. Imadaev was deducted a point in the first round for grabbing the fence.[4]

Zelim faced Danny Roberts on 9 November at UFC on ESPN+ 21.[5] He lost the fight via knockout in round two.[6]

Imadaev faced Michel Pereira on September 5, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai.[7] During the weigh-in ceremony, surrounded by bodyguards from the UFC, Imadaev slapped the brazilian and right after they both were contained by the event's bodyguards.[8] He was dominated through out the fight and repeatedly slapped back, until he was taken down in the third round and lost the fight via a rear-naked choke.[9]

Following his controversial statement praising a Chechen teen responsible for the decapitation of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty, he was released from the UFC.[10]

Controversies

Imadaev sparked backlash in October 2020 for praising a Chechen teen responsible for the decapitation of French schoolteacher Samuel Paty, describing the teen as a "hero of Islam" on social media.[11][12] Imadaev's profile on the official UFC website was made unavailable following the incident.[13]

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
11 matches 8 wins 3 losses
By knockout 8 1
By submission 0 1
By decision 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 8–3 Michel Pereira Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai September 5, 2020 3 4:39 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 8–2 Danny Roberts KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar November 9, 2019 2 4:54 Moscow, Russia
Loss 8–1 Max Griffin Decision (majority) UFC 236 April 13, 2019 3 5:00 Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Win 8–0 Ivan Gluhak KO (punch) Fight Nights Global 85 March 30, 2018 1 0:13 Moscow, Russia
Win 7–0 Yuri Izotov KO (spinning back elbow) Fight Nights Global 74 September 29, 2017 1 3:17 Moscow, Russia
Win 6–0 Kenan Guliev TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 66 May 21, 2017 1 1:34 Makhachkala, Russia
Win 5–0 Chorshanbe Chorshanbiev TKO (punches) OFS 11 March 4, 2017 3 1:50 Moscow, Russia
Win 4–0 Dmitriy Tuzov TKO (punch) OFS 10: Heroes Return December 10, 2016 2 0:11 Yaroslavl, Russia
Win 3–0 Kamardin Akhmadbekov TKO (punch) OFS 9: Battle in Abkhazia October 6, 2016 1 1:03 Sukhumi, Russia
Win 2–0 Alexander Kovalenko TKO (punches) GEFC: Hammer of Thor 3 August 12, 2016 2 3:58 Shcholkine, Ukraine
Win 1–0 Stanislav Pavlenko KO (punches) Dagestan Cage Fighting Championship 2016 April 2, 2016 1 0:12 Kaspiysk, Russia

[14]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
1 fight 0 wins 1 loss
By decision 0 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Loss 0–1 Ihor Makoiedov UD 4 March 1, 2014 Spartak Gym, Kyiv, Ukraine

See also

References
  1. ufc.com. "Zelim Imadaev". ufc. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. Sherdog.com. "Zelim Imadaev". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  3. DNA, MMA. "Max Griffin treft ongeslagen nieuwkomer Zelim Imadaev tijdens UFC 236 in Atlanta". Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  4. "UFC 236 results: Max Griffin takes home hard-fought decision in Zelim Imadaev grudge match". Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  5. Redactie (2019-09-12). "Danny Roberts meets Zelim Imadaev during UFC Moscow in Welterweight clash". mmadan.nl. Retrieved 2019-09-12.(in Dutch)
  6. Anderson, Jay (2019-11-09). "UFC Moscow Results: Danny Roberts Shocks Zelim Imadaev with Crushing KO". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  7. DNA, MMA (2020-07-15). "Michel Pereira vs. Zelim Imadaev tijdens UFC evenement op 5 september". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  8. Dawson, Alan. "A Russian fighter slapped his opponent at a weigh-in ceremony, and the UFC boss Dana White blames himself". Insider. Retrieved 2020-12-28.
  9. Vreeland, Daniel (2020-09-05). "UFC Vegas 9 Results: Tamer Michel Pereira Gets Late Choke On Zelim Imadaev". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  10. Zidan, Karim (2020-10-19). "Former UFC fighter praises Chechen teen who beheaded French teacher". Bloodyelbow. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  11. themoscowtimes.com. "2 Russian MMA Fighters Praise French Teacher's Decapitation – Reports". themoscowtimes. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  12. bloodyelbow.com. "Former UFC fighter praises Chechen teen who beheaded French teacher". bloodyelbow. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  13. ufc.com. "Zelim Imadaev". ufc. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  14. Sherdog.com. "Zelim Imadaev". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
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