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Updated 6/21/2026, 6:10:20 AMCompare ⇄
MMAhealthy
G
Russia · PFL

Gadzhi Rabadanov

ArchetypePressure Grappler

Cuts the cage, changes levels, drowns opponents in control time.

LightweightOrthodoxAge 32
Record
27-5-2
Win %
79%
KO / TKO
10
Submissions
5
Finish Rate
56%
Height
173 cm
Reach
180 cm
Fights
34
Secret Weapon

Fight Plan: Gadzhi Rabadanov

A coach-ready game plan — historical weaknesses opponents have exploited and what to drill in camp.

Historical Weaknesses
  • Can be out-pointed by high-volume technical strikers if unable to secure the takedown
  • Sometimes relies on a single-strike power approach when striking is stagnant
Camp Focus
  • Drill takedown defense and cage-wall scrambles
  • Stack southpaw sparring partners in camp
  • Underhook battles and posture work off the back
Blueprint Radar
BP 7.8/10

Fighter fingerprint

Six-axis profile — the shape tells you the style at a glance.

Aggression68Cardio84Wrestling92Fight IQ85Distance Control83Finishing56Gadzhi Rabadanov
Read the shape

Wrestling and Fight IQ are the standout edges; opponents should expect their game plan to lean on these. Finishing is the lowest axis — exploit it.

  • Aggression68
  • Cardio84
  • Wrestling92
  • Fight IQ85
  • Distance Control83
  • Finishing56
Camp Prep ReportWhat to drill this week

Prep for camp: Gadzhi Rabadanov

Recommendations a coach can act on tomorrow — opponent tendencies, drills, and the sparring styles to stack against this fight.

Most Common Tendencies
Patterns to expect in the cage
  • Utilizes a high-pressure Combat Sambo base to initiate clinch exchanges and takedowns
  • Employs heavy ground-and-pound once top control is established to force openings
  • Displays improved counter-striking as seen in quick-finish KOs of Diakiese and Lee
Training Recommendations
Drill these specific looks
  • Drill reactive sprawls — bait the shot off your right hand
  • Pad work on cutting their right-side cage exits
  • Match their pace through round 2, then turn the screws in 3
  • Win exchanges with volume, not single shots — they walk through power
  • Posture and frame drills off bottom — never give up the back
Sparring Recommendations
Stack these styles in camp
  • Southpaw pressure striker
  • Chain-wrestling D1 partner
  • High-output kickboxer with heavy leg kicks
  • Black-belt grappler comfortable on bottom
Find Footage

See it on film

Every read above should be verifiable. Jump straight to the footage on the platforms that host it legally — official channels first, archive sites second.

Striking Tape

Distance, combinations, defensive movement

Wrestling / Grappling Tape

Entries, cage control, scrambles, submissions

Recent Fights

Last 3 performances, full rounds and post-fight breakdowns

Coaches: official clip embeds per fighter are coming next — for now, deep links open searches pre-filtered to Gadzhi Rabadanov.

Fighter Evolution

How Gadzhi has changed

Trend lines across the last three years of tape.

2022
Aggression6.6
Wrestling7.8
Fight IQ6.9
2024
Aggression7.1
Wrestling8.7
Fight IQ8.0
2026
Aggression7.8
Wrestling9.2
Fight IQ8.5

Synthesized from recent fight tape · refresh to recompute

Similar Fighters

Stylistic neighbors

Closest matches across attributes, finish profile, and discipline — useful for sparring partner selection.

Status / Injuries

healthy

No recently reported injuries.

Checked 6/21/2026

Recent Form

  • W
    vs Alex Chizov
    U Dec · R3 · PFL Sioux Falls: Storley vs. Zendeli
    2026-05-02
  • L
    vs Alfie Davis
    U Dec · R5 · 2025 PFL World Championships
    2025-08-15
  • W
    vs Kevin Lee
    KO/TKO · R1 · 2025 PFL Semifinals
    2025-06-20
  • W
    vs Marc Diakiese
    KO/TKO · R1 · 2025 PFL First Round
    2025-04-18
  • W
    vs Brent Primus
    U Dec · R3 · PFL Event
    2024-11-29

Availability

active

Recently competed in May 2026.

Record

W-L-D
27-5-2
KO / TKO
10
Submissions
5
Win %
79%

Attribute Profile

Chin82
Cardio84
Fight IQ85
Striking78
Grappling88
Wrestling92

Scouting Summary

Gadzhi Rabadanov is a elite Combat Sambo-based fighter out of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, characterized by his suffocating wrestling and heavy top control. While primarily a grappler, he has developed significant knockout power in his hands, making him a dual-threat in the PFL lightweight division. He excels at dictated pacing and neutralizing his opponents' offensive weapons through physical dominance.

Primary source ↗

Tendencies

  • Utilizes a high-pressure Combat Sambo base to initiate clinch exchanges and takedowns
  • Employs heavy ground-and-pound once top control is established to force openings
  • Displays improved counter-striking as seen in quick-finish KOs of Diakiese and Lee
  • Uses a methodical pace to drain opponents' energy against the fence

Signature Moves

  • Single-leg takedown to back take
  • Overhand right counter
  • Pressure wrestling against the cage
  • Sambo-style trips and hip tosses

Weaknesses

  • Can be out-pointed by high-volume technical strikers if unable to secure the takedown
  • Sometimes relies on a single-strike power approach when striking is stagnant