Marat Gafurov (Russian: Марат Гафуров; born November 21, 1984) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist, who competes in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions of Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA). A professional MMA competitor for 12 years, Gafurov competed for the M-1 Global and ONE Championship, where he was the former M-1 Global Featherweight Champion and ONE Featherweight World Champion.
| Marat Gafurov | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 November 1984 Buynaksky, Dagestan ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Buynaksky, Dagestan, Russia) |
| Native name | Марат Гафуров |
| Other names | Cobra |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) |
| Division | Featherweight (2010, 2012–2017) Lightweight (2010–2012, 2018–2020)[a] Welterweight (2020–present)[b] |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Makhachkala, Russia |
| Team | Top Team Makhachkala AKA Thailand |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu[1] |
| Years active | 2010–Present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 24 |
| Wins | 20 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 13 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Gafurov made his debut at Krasnodar Challenger Cup - Mix Fight 3 on June 4, 2010, against Shamil Gadzhiev.[2] he won a fight by Submission in first round.
M-1 Global
Gafurov faced Vugar Bakhshiev for the inaugural M-1 Global Featherweight Championship at M-1 Challenge 35 on November 15, 2012, in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[3] He won by a first round Submission.[4]
ONE Championship
Gafurov made his ONE debut against Rob Lisita in the main event of ONE FC: Roar of the Tigers on October 17, 2014. He won by first-round submission.[5][6]
Gafurov faced Ev Ting at ONE: Warrior's Quest on May 22, 2015. He defeated Ting via first-round submission.[7]
ONE Featherweight World Champion
Gafurov received his first title shot when he faced Martin Nguyen for the interim ONE Featherweight World Championship at ONE: Odyssey of Champions on September 27, 2015.[8] Gafurov would set the record for fastest submission in ONE Championship history at 41 seconds and won the interim title.[9]
Gafurov would face Jadamba Narantungalag in a title unification bout at ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II) on November 21, 2015. Gafurov won by fourth-round submission via rear-naked choke to become the undisputed ONE Featherweight World Champion.[10]
Gafurov made his first title defense against Kazunori Yokota at ONE: Kingdom of Champions on March 27, 2016. He won by second-round submission via rear-naked choke to retain the ONE Featherweight World Championship.[11]
Gafurov rematched Jadamba Narantungalag in his second title defense at ONE: Defending Honor on November 11, 2016. He defeated Narantungalag by first-round technical submission via rear-naked choke to retain the title.[12]
Gafurov made his third title defense in a rematch against Martin Nguyen at ONE: Quest for Greatness on August 18, 2017. He lost the title by second-round technical knockout and suffered his first professional loss in MMA competition.[13]
Post-title reign
After losing the ONE Featherweight title, Marat Gafurov faced Emilio Urrutia at ONE: Heroes of Honor on April 20, 2018. He defeated Urrutia by first-round technical submission via arm-triangle choke.[14]
Gafurov suffered his second professional loss when he lost to Koyomi Matsushima by first-round technical knockout at ONE: Conquest of Heroes on September 22, 2018.[15]
Marat Gafurov defeated Tetsuya Yamada by unanimous decision at ONE: For Honor on May 3, 2019.[16]
Lightweight (170 lb) debut
Marat Gafurov made his Lightweight (170 lbs) debut against Iuri Lapicus at ONE: Warrior's Code on February 7, 2020, where he lost by first-round submission via rear-naked choke.[17]
Gafurov defeated Lowen Tynanes by split decision at ONE: Collision Course on December 18, 2020.[18]
Marat Gafurov lost to Ok Rae-Yoon by unanimous decision at ONE on TNT 3 on April 21, 2021.[19]
On July 22, 2022, Marat Gafurov defeated Ariel Sexton by third-round technical knockout at ONE 159.[20]
Absolute Championship Akhmat
On January 9, 2024 it was announced that Gafurov has signed a deal with Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA).
Gafurov made his ACA debut against Gábor Boráros at ACA 172 on March 9, 2024, where he won by first-round submission via armbar.[21]
Professional grappling career
Gafurov will be representing Dagestan Combat Club in the 83kg division at the AIGA Champions League qualifying round in Turkey on March 2-5, 2024.[22]
Championship and accomplishments
- ONE Championship
- ONE Featherweight World Championship (One time)
- Two successful defense
- ONE Featherweight World Championship (One time)
- M-1 Global
- M-1 Global Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Two successful defense
- M-1 Global Featherweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| 24 matches | 20 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 13 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 20–4 | Gábor Boráros | Submission (armbar) | ACA 172[broken anchor] | March 9, 2024 | 1 | 2:55 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 19–4 | Ariel Sexton | TKO (punches) | ONE 159 | July 22, 2022 | 3 | 4:15 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 18–4 | Ok Rae-yoon | Decision (unanimous) | ONE on TNT 3 | April 21, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 18–3 | Lowen Tynanes | Decision (split) | ONE: Collision Course | December 18, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 17–3 | Iuri Lapicus | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Warrior's Code | February 7, 2020 | 1 | 1:07 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Welterweight debut. |
| Win | 17–2 | Tetsuya Yamada | Decision (unanimous) | ONE: For Honor | May 3, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Loss | 16–2 | Koyomi Matsushima | TKO (punches) | ONE: Conquest of Heroes | July 22, 2018 | 1 | 2:41 | Jakarta, Indonesia | |
| Win | 16–1 | Emilio Urrutia | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | ONE: Heroes of Honor | April 20, 2018 | 1 | 2:34 | Pasay, Philippines | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 15–1 | Martin Nguyen | KO (punch) | ONE: Quest for Greatness | August 18, 2017 | 2 | 1:27 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Lost the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Win | 15–0 | Jadamba Narantungalag | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Defending Honor | November 11, 2016 | 1 | 4:51 | Kallang, Singapore | Defended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb) Broke the record for the most consecutive ONE Featherweight Championship (1555 lb) title defenses (2). |
| Win | 14–0 | Kazunori Yokota | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Kingdom of Champions | May 27, 2016 | 2 | 4:25 | Bangkok, Thailand | Defended the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Win | 13–0 | Jadamba Narantungalag | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Dynasty of Champions (Beijing II) | November 21, 2015 | 4 | 4:39 | Beijing, China | Won and unified the ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Win | 12–0 | Martin Nguyen | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Odyssey of Champions | September 27, 2015 | 1 | 0:41 | Jakarta, Indonesia | Won the interim ONE Featherweight Championship (155 lb). |
| Win | 11–0 | Ev Ting | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE: Warrior's Quest | May 22, 2015 | 1 | 4:30 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 10–0 | Rob Lisita | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ONE FC: Roar of the Tigers | October 17, 2014 | 1 | 1:08 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
| Win | 9–0 | Lee Morrison | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 47 | April 4, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Findon, Australia | Defended the M-1 Global Featherweight Championship. Later vacated title. |
| Win | 8–0 | Yuri Ivlev | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 41 | August 21, 2013 | 2 | 3:56 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Defended the M-1 Global Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–0 | Vugar Bakhshiev | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 35 | November 15, 2012 | 1 | 4:18 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Return to Featherweight. Won the inaugural M-1 Global Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Joakhim Tapi | Submission (triangle choke) | Pride of Caucasus 2012 | September 23, 2012 | 1 | 2:22 | Khasavyurt, Russia | |
| Win | 5–0 | Mairbek Taisumov | Decision (split) | M-1: Battle of The Legends 2 | June 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 4–0 | David Kozma | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 31 | March 16, 2012 | 2 | 2:10 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 3–0 | Sheikh-Magomed Arapkhanov | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 29 | November 19, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Ufa, Russia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Yuri Vlasenko | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Selection Ukraine 2010: Round 6 | November 6, 2010 | 1 | 1:18 | Kyiv, Ukraine | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Shamil Gadzhiev | Submission (armbar) | Krasnodar Challenger 3 | June 4, 2010 | 1 | 3:10 | Krasnodar, Russia | Featherweight debut. |