# Rustam Khabilov
**Rustam Khabilov** (born 1986) is a Russian mixed martial artist from [Makhachkala](https://www.edgepedia.org/makhachkala) who competes at welterweight and is best known for a 13-fight UFC lightweight run in which he compiled a 10-3 record. He fights under the nickname "Tiger" and holds a professional record of 24 wins and 4 losses with no draws.[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, Makhachkala, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) |
| Professional record | 24-4-0; 4 wins by KO/TKO, 5 by submission, 15 by decision[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) |
| UFC record | 10-3-0 across 13 bouts; debut December 15, 2012, last UFC fight November 9, 2019[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) |
| Longest win streak | 6 fights (2016-2018)[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) |
| Physical | 5'8" (173 cm), 73-inch (185 cm) reach; last weighed in at 171 lbs as a welterweight[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) |
| Camp | Jackson Wink MMA Academy, Albuquerque, New Mexico[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) |
| Background | International Master of Sports in Sambo and hand-to-hand combat[3](https://www.ufc.com/news/rustam-khabilov-primetime-tiger) |
## Early career in Russia
Khabilov turned professional on August 3, 2007, submitting Bagautdin Abasov by triangle choke at the Tsumada Fighting Championship in Dagestan.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) He spent his early career largely against fellow Russians in M-1 Global and related events, winning his first eight bouts before a split-decision loss to Ruslan Khaskhanov at the M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010 finals in February 2011.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
Two early finishes stand out. In August 2009 he knocked out Akin Duran by slam just eight seconds into the first round at M-1 Challenge 18, and in 2011 he stopped Nazir Kadyzhev by punches at ProFC Grand Prix Global - Caucasus.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) After a 14-1 professional record, which included a 2012 win over Jason Dent for the US-based promotion Pure MMA, he received an invitation to the UFC.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-Rustam-Khabilov-150101)
## UFC career
**A memorable debut.** Khabilov entered the Octagon at [The Ultimate Fighter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-ultimate-fighter) 16 Finale on December 15, 2012, against Vinc Pichel, an aggressive striker and promising newcomer. Khabilov won by knockout from a suplex followed by punches 2:15 into the first round.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417) In his next bout, at UFC 159 in April 2013, he beat [Yancy Medeiros](https://www.edgepedia.org/yancy-medeiros) by TKO when Medeiros suffered a thumb injury.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417)
**Step up in competition.** In November 2013 at UFC Fight Night 31, Khabilov took a unanimous decision over Strikeforce veteran [Jorge Masvidal](https://www.edgepedia.org/jorge-masvidal), then ranked #13 at lightweight by FightMatrix, closing the fight with a spinning kick in the third round.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417) • [6](https://www.mmamania.com/2014/6/3/5774276/ufc-fight-night-42-complete-fighter-breakdown-rustam-tiger-khabilov-mma) The win set up his first main event: on June 7, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 42 in Albuquerque, he faced former UFC lightweight champion [Benson Henderson](https://www.edgepedia.org/benson-henderson), then the #2-ranked lightweight. Khabilov lost by rear-naked choke at 1:16 of the fourth round.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
**Decision run.** After a split-decision loss to [Adriano Martins](https://www.edgepedia.org/adriano-martins) in February 2015, in which he entered as a heavy favorite, Khabilov reeled off six consecutive wins between 2016 and 2018, all by decision: Norman Parke, Chris Wade, Leandro Silva, Jason Saggo, Desmond Green, and Kajan Johnson.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417) • [2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/) The streak carried him to his highest quarterly FightMatrix ranking, #17 at lightweight on January 1, 2019.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
**Departure.** Khabilov lost a unanimous decision to Diego Ferreira at UFC Fight Night 145 in February 2019, then closed his UFC tenure with a unanimous-decision win over Sergey Khandozhko at UFC Fight Night 163 in Moscow on November 9, 2019.[5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417) His 13 UFC bouts produced 10 wins and 3 losses, with 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 3 seconds of total octagon time.[2](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
## Fighting style
Khabilov's game is built on [Sambo](https://www.edgepedia.org/sambo-martial-art), the Russian grappling art whose standing component most resembles judo, and he holds the title of International Master of Sports in Sambo and hand-to-hand combat.[3](https://www.ufc.com/news/rustam-khabilov-primetime-tiger) • [6](https://www.mmamania.com/2014/6/3/5774276/ufc-fight-night-42-complete-fighter-breakdown-rustam-tiger-khabilov-mma) As a striker he covers distance quickly with lunging power shots, favoring an overhand right thrown from a range opponents misjudge, and he uses takedown feints to set it up; his clinch strength and wrestling make kicks risky for opponents.[6](https://www.mmamania.com/2014/6/3/5774276/ufc-fight-night-42-complete-fighter-breakdown-rustam-tiger-khabilov-mma) Henderson said after their 2014 fight that Khabilov was among the hardest-hitting fighters he had faced.[7](https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/thoughts-on-rustam-khabilov.4212246/)
The style produced results but few finishes at the top level: 63 percent of his career wins come by decision, and his UFC run after the Masvidal fight consisted entirely of decisions.[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) • [5](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417)
## Later career
His Bellator tenure to date has been marked by cancellations: a bout against [Andrey Koreshkov](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrey-koreshkov) at Bellator 269 in October 2021 was scrapped when Khabilov fell ill, and a March 31, 2023 bout against Jaleel Willis at Bellator 293 was canceled after Khabilov withdrew.[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov) He has not fought professionally since the November 2019 win over Khandozhko.[1](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov)
## References
1. [Rustam Khabilov ("Tiger") fighter page, Tapology](https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/20147-rustam-khabilov)
2. [Rustam Khabilov profile, FightMatrix](https://www.fightmatrix.com/fighter-profile/Rustam%20Khabilov/45538/)
3. [Rustam Khabilov: Primetime for the Tiger, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/rustam-khabilov-primetime-tiger)
4. [By the Numbers: Rustam Khabilov, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-Rustam-Khabilov-150101)
5. [Rustam "Tiger" Khabilov fighter page, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rustam-Khabilov-45417)
6. [UFC Fight Night 42 complete fighter breakdown: Rustam 'Tiger' Khabilov, MMA Mania](https://www.mmamania.com/2014/6/3/5774276/ufc-fight-night-42-complete-fighter-breakdown-rustam-tiger-khabilov-mma)
7. [Rustam Khabilov is for real, but.. / Thoughts on Rustam Khabilov, Sherdog Forums](https://forums.sherdog.com/threads/thoughts-on-rustam-khabilov.4212246/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Welterweight and middleweight fighters › Welterweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license