Eagle Fighting Championship

Mixed martial arts promotion

Eagle Fighting ChampionshipCurrent season, competition or edition:
2022 in Eagle Fighting Championship

Formerly| Federation of MMA of Samara (FMMAS)
Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC)
Sport| Mixed martial arts
Founded| May 2017 (FMMAS/GFC)
Dec 2020 (EFC)
Owner(s)| Khabib Nurmagomedov
Rizvan Magomedov
Shamil Zavurov
Headquarters| Dagestan, Russia

Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC), commonly referred to as Eagle FC, is a Russian mixed martial arts promotion company established in 2020 by former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. It was renamed to Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC) after Nurmagomedov bought Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC) for $1 million.[1][2]

## History

[edit]

In November 2020, Khabib Nurmagomedov bought the Russian MMA promotion Gorilla Fighting Championship (formerly known as Federation of MMA of Samara), for $1 million and renamed it to Eagle Fighting Championship (EFC).[3][4]

GFC had been in the industry since 2017 and was on the edge of bankruptcy. When Nurmagomedov retired, he acquired the promotion and became the promoter.

EFC held their first event in the USA on January 28, 2022 in Miami, Florida.[5][6][7]

## Weight divisions

[edit]

See also: Mixed martial arts weight classes

Weight class name  | Upper limit

|

Before 2022  | After 2022[8]
Strawweight | 115 lb (52.2 kg)  | N/A
Flyweight | 125 lb (56.7 kg)  | 125 lb (56.7 kg)
Bantamweight | 135 lb (61.2 kg)  | 135 lb (61.2 kg)
Featherweight | 145 lb (65.8 kg)  | 145 lb (65.8 kg)
Lightweight | 155 lb (70.3 kg)  | 155 lb (70.3 kg)
Super lightweight | N/A  | 165 lb (74.8 kg)[9]
Welterweight | 170 lb (77.1 kg)  | 175 lb (79.4 kg)
Middleweight | 185 lb (83.9 kg)  | 185 lb (83.9 kg)
Light heavyweight | N/A  | 205 lb (93.0 kg)
Heavyweight | 265 lb (120.2 kg)  | 265 lb (120.2 kg)

## Events

[edit]

### Scheduled events

[edit]

Event  | Date  | Venue  | Location

|
|
|

### Past events

[edit]

Event Title  | Date  | Arena  | Location

|
|
|

Eagle FC 54: Yamilov vs. Mamedov [10] | November 11, 2023  |  | Almetyevsk, Russia
Eagle FC 53: Yaskovets vs. Abdurakov  | August 18, 2023  |  | Yakutsk, Russia
Eagle FC 52: Chergesov vs. Tuyakov  | June 17, 2023  |  | Dagestan, Russia
Eagle FC 51: Izmodenov vs. Mukhtarov | December 10, 2022  | KSK Zhayyk  | Atyrau, Kazakhstan
Eagle FC 50: Nurgozhay vs. Andreitsev | August 21, 2022  | Barys Arena | Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Eagle FC 49: Busurmankul vs. Magomedov | August 10, 2022  |  | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Eagle FC 48 & Naiza FC 41 | July 16, 2022  |  | Aktau, Kazakhstan
Eagle FC 47: Dos Santos vs. De Castro | May 20, 2022  | FTX Arena | Miami, Florida, U.S.
Eagle FC 46: Lee vs. Sanchez | March 11, 2022  | FTX Arena | Miami, Florida, U.S.
Eagle FC 45: Busurmankul vs. Magomedov | February 18, 2022  | Crocus Expo  | Moscow, Russia
Eagle FC 44: Spong vs. Kharitonov | January 28, 2022  | FTX Arena | Miami, Florida, U.S.
EFC 43  | December 10, 2021  |  | Moscow, Russia
EFC 42  | October 17, 2021  | WOW Arena  | Sochi, Russia
EFC 41/AMC Fight Nights | September 17, 2021  | Crocus Expo Arena  | Moscow, Russia
EFC 40  | September 4, 2021  | Sport Complex Jubilee  | Almetyevsk, Russia
EFC 39  | August 22, 2021  |  | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
EFC 38  | August 3, 2021  |  | Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan
EFC 37  | August 22, 2021  | Almaty Arena | Almaty, Kazakhstan

[11]

## Current champions

[edit]

Class | Upper weight limit | Champion | Date | Defenses

|
|
|
|

Heavyweight | 265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) |  Vacant |  |
Light heavyweight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st) |  Diyar Nurgozhay | August 21, 2022  | 0
Middleweight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) |  Dauren Ermekov | December 25, 2019  | 2
Welterweight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |  Vacant |  |
Super lightweight | 165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st) |  Vacant |  |
Lightweight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |  Ramin Sultanov | November 11, 2023  | 0
Featherweight | 145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) |  Vacant |  |
Bantamweight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |  Renat Khavalov | March 19, 2021  | 3
Flyweight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |  Irgit Oveenchi | August 10, 2022  | 0

## Championship history

[edit]

### Heavyweight Championship

[edit]

206 to 265 lb (93 to 120 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Shamil Abasov
def. Alexander Soldatkin | Battle on Volga 4
Samara, Russia | May 11, 2018  | 1. def. Yuriy Protzenko at Battle on Volga 8 on December 14, 2018
2  |  Rizvan Kuniev | GFC 16
Astrakhan, Russia | August 30, 2019  | 1. def. Vladimir Dayneko at EFC 31 on December 20, 2020
2. def. Anthony Hamilton at Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022
Kuniev vacated the title on December 6, 2022, when he signed with Professional Fighters League.[12]

### Light Heavyweight Championship

[edit]

186 to 205 lb (84 to 93 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

Current  |  Diyar Nurgozhay
def. Konstantin Andreitsev | Eagle FC 50
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan | August 21, 2022  |

### Middleweight Championship

[edit]

175 to 185 lb (79 to 84 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Rinat Fakhretdinov
def. Alberto Uda | GFC 11
Penza, Russia | May 3, 2019  |

1. def. Jhonny Carlos at GFC 16 on August 30, 2019

Fakhretdinov vacated when he chose to test free agency.
2  |  Faridun Odilov
def. Sergey Kalinin | EFC 33
Moscow, Russia | February 9, 2021  | 1. def. Enoc Solves Torres at EFC 43 on December 10, 2021
–  |  Dauren Ermekov
def. Gamzat Khiramagomedov for interim title | Eagle FC 48 & Naiza FC 41
Aktau, Kazakhstan | July 16, 2022  |
Odilov was stripped of the title due to injury. Ermekov promoted to champ
3  |  Dauren Ermekov | Eagle FC 48 & Naiza FC 41
Aktau, Kazakhstan | July 16, 2022  |
Ermekov vacated when he chose to test free agency.

### Welterweight Championship

[edit]

166 to 175 lb (75 to 79 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Magomed Umalatov
def. Aleksey Novikov | GFC 16
Astrakhan, Russia | August 30, 2019  | 1. def. Rashid Koychakaev at EFC 31 on December 20, 2020
Umalatov vacated in May 2020 when he signed with PFL
2  |  Samandar Murodov
def. Maxim Shvets | Eagle FC 41
Moscow, Russia | September 17, 2021  |
–  |  Imam-Shapi Mukhtarov
def. Azamat Dzhigkaev for interim title | Eagle FC 50
Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan | August 21, 2022  |
Murodov vacated to test free agency.
3  |  Denis Izmodenov
def. Imam-Shapi Mukhtarov | Eagle FC 51
Atyrau, Kazakhstan | December 10, 2022  |
Izmodenov vacated on April 2023 when he signed with ACA. [13]

### Lightweight Championship

[edit]

146 to 155 lb (66 to 70 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Maksim Trunov
def. Timur Gilimzyanov | Battle on Volga 10
Toliatti, Russia | April 14, 2019  |
2  |  Anvar Chergesov | GFC 18
Samara, Russia | October 6, 2019  |
\-  |  Gadzhi Rabadanov
def. João Paulo Silva | GFC 24
Samara, Russia | February 9, 2020  |
3  |  Jahongir Saidjamolov | GFC 29
Samara, Russia | October 16, 2020  |
Saidjamolov vacated when he signed with Brave Combat Federation
4  |  Gadzhi Rabadanov
promoted to undisputed champion | GFC 24
Samara, Russia | February 9, 2020  |
5  |  Mehdi Dakaev
def. Gadzhi Rabadanov | EFC 30
Moscow, Russia | December 4, 2020  |

1. def. Uzair Abdurakov at EFC 35 on April 06, 2021
2. def. Magomed Zaynukov at EFC 43 on December 10, 2021

Dakaev vacated on April 2023 when he signed with ACA. [14]
Current  |  Ramin Sultanov
def. Magomed Kurbanov | Eagle FC 54
Almetyevsk, Russia | November 11, 2023  |

### Featherweight Championship

[edit]

136 to 145 lb (61 to 66 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Abdurakhman Gitinovasov
def. Mark Volkov | Battle on Volga 6
Samara, Russia | September 23, 2018  |

1. def. Ivan Zhvirblia at Battle on Volga 8 on December 14, 2018

2  |  Jora Ayvazyan | Battle on Volga 10
Toliatti, Russia | April 14, 2019  |
3  |  Rasul Magomedov | EFC 30
Moscow, Russia | December 4, 2020  |
4  |  Ruslan Yamanbaev | EFC 35
Moscow, Russia | April 6, 2021  |
5  |  Busurmankul Abdibait Uulu | EFC 38
Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan | August 3, 2021  |
\-  |  Rasul Magomedov
def. Abdurakhman Gitinovasov for interim title | Eagle FC 45
Moscow, Russia | February 18, 2022  |
6  |  Rasul Magomedov | Eagle FC 49
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | August 10, 2022  |
Magomedov vacated in August 2023 when he signed with ACA. [15]

### Bantamweight Championship

[edit]

126 to 135 lb (57 to 61 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Umar Nurmagomedov
def. Fatkhidin Sobirov | Battle on Volga 4
Samara, Russia | May 11, 2018  | 1. def. Wagner Lima at Battle on Volga 10 on April 14, 2019
2. def. Taras Grytskiv at GFC 14 on July 13, 2019
3. def. Braian Gonzalez at GFC 20 on November 23, 2019
Title was vacated on February 27, 2020 when Nurmagomedov signed with the UFC
Current  |  Renat Khavalov
def. Khasan Esmurziev | GFC 26
Penza, Russia | July 11, 2020  | 1. def. Sharapudin Magomedov at EFC 34 on March 19, 2021
2. def. Patrizio de Souza at EFC 42 on October 17, 2021
3. def. Ramazan Amaev at Eagle FC 48 & Naiza FC 41 on July 16, 2022
4. def. Renat Ondar at Eagle FC 51 on December 10, 2022

### Flyweight Championship

[edit]

116 to 125 lb (53 to 57 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Ali Bagautinov
def. Denis Araujo | Battle on Volga 6
Samara, Russia | September 23, 2018  |
Bagautinov vacated the title when he signed with Fight Nights Global.
2  |  Tagir Ulanbekov
def. Aleksandr Podlesniy | GFC 11
Penza, Russia | May 3, 2019  | 1. def. Denis Araujo at GFC 17 on September 27, 2019
2. def. Denilson Matos at GFC 22 on December 13, 2019
Ulanbekov vacated the title in May 2020 when he signed with the UFC.
3  |  Mansur Malachiev
def. Ruslan Sariev | EFC 33
Moscow, Russia | February 9, 2021  | 1. def. Rashid Vagabov at EFC 38 on August 3, 2021
Malachiev was stripped of the title in 2022 due to injury.
Current  |  Irgit Oveenchi
def. Magomedrasul Gadzhiev | Eagle FC 49
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan | August 10, 2022  |

### Women's divisions (defunct)

[edit]

#### Women's Bantamweight Championship

[edit]

126 pounds (57 kg) to 135 pounds (61 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Marta Waliczek
def. Karina Vasilenko | Battle on Volga 4
Samara, Russia | May 11, 2018  |

1. def. Zaira Dyshekova at Battle on Volga 10 on April 14, 2019

Federation of MMA of Samara becomes GFC. The title was subsequently deactivated

#### Women's Flyweight Championship

[edit]

116 pounds (53 kg) to 125 pounds (57 kg)

No.  | Name  | Event  | Date  | Defenses

|
|
|
|

1  |  Liliya Shakirova
def. Aygul Kuzu Abduvakhid | GFC 18
Samara, Russia | October 06, 2019 |
GFC becomes EFC. The title was subsequently deactivated

## Notable athletes and alumni

[edit]

* Diego Sanchez: Former UFC Lightweight Championship Contender.[16] TUF 1 Middleweight Tournament Winner.[17] Former KOTC Welterweight Champion.[18]
* Kevin Lee: Former UFC interim Lightweight Championship Contender[19]
* Renan Barão: Former UFC Bantamweight Champion[20]
* Rashad Evans: Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion[21]
* Antônio Silva: Former UFC Heavyweight Fighter[22]
* Junior dos Santos: Former UFC Heavyweight Champion[23]
* Ray Borg: Former UFC Flyweight Title Challenger[24]
* Umar Nurmagomedov: Current UFC Bantamweight and cousin of Eagle FC founder Khabib Nurmagomedov. Ex-Combat Sambo Champion (Not FIAS)[25] & former Bantamweight Champion of GFC[26]
* Usman Nurmagomedov: Current Bellator Lightweight Champion. Cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov and younger brother of Umar Nurmagomedov.[27][28]
* Tagir Ulanbekov: Current UFC Flyweight[29] and former Flyweight Champion of GFC. Ex-World Combat Sambo Champion (Not FIAS).[30]

## See also

[edit]

* Eagles MMA

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC to land in U.S. in 2022". ESPN.com. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
2. ^ Mckeever, Lewis (December 4, 2020). "Khabib launches Eagle Fighting Championships, hopes to strike deal with UFC". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
3. ^ Ellis, Jordan (28 November 2020). "REPORT | Khabib Nurmagomedov Buys Fight Promotion For $1 Million". Retrieved 2021-12-15.
4. ^ "Нурмагомедов объяснил, зачем купил промоушен GFC за $ 1 млн". championat. 2 December 2020.
5. ^ "Khabib Nurmagomedov bringing his Eagle FC promotion to Miami in January". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
6. ^ "Spong-Silva headlines Eagle FC's debut in U.S." ESPN.com. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
7. ^ Martin, Damon (2022-01-28). "Eagle FC 44 results: Rashad Evans makes successful return from retirement with dominant win over Gabriel Checco". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-01-29.
8. ^ MMA Mania
9. ^ ESPN
10. ^ "11 ноября в Татарстане состоится турнир Eagle FC 54". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). September 28, 2023.
11. ^ Sherdog.com. "Eagle Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
12. ^ Tristen Critchfield (2022-12-06). "PFL Signs Eagle FC Heavyweight King Rizvan Kuniev, Two Other Regional Champions". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
13. ^ "Чемпион Eagle FC Денис Измоденов подписал контракт с ACA". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). April 9, 2023.
14. ^ "ЧМехди Дакаев перешел в лигу ACA". fight.ru (in Russian). April 8, 2023.
15. ^ "Бывший чемпион Eagle FC в полулегкой весовой категории Расул Магомедов подписал контракт с ACA. Об этом российская лига сообщила в своих социальных сетях". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). August 22, 2023.
16. ^ "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez". UFC. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
17. ^ "The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale". UFC. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
18. ^ "KOTC 37: Unfinished Business - Results". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
19. ^ Martin, Damon (2021-12-15). "Former UFC fighter Kevin Lee signs with Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
20. ^ Martin, Damon (2021-12-13). "Ex-UFC champ Renan Barao faces Horacio Gutierrez at Eagle FC 44 in January". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
21. ^ "Rashad Evans to Return from retirement at Eagle FC 44". MMA Sucka. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
22. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-12-16). "'Bigfoot' Silva: 'I have no idea' why I'm out of Eagle FC main event; Eagle FC issues statement". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
23. ^ "Junior dos Santos books May 20 Eagle FC debut". ESPN.com. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
24. ^ Sherdog.com. "Ray". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
25. ^ "World Combat Sambo Championship 2015. 11-12 Desember. Moscow. Results » European Combat Sambo Federation". ecsambo.org. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
26. ^ "Umar Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
27. ^ "Bellator MMA". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
28. ^ "Usman Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
29. ^ "Tagir Ulanbekov | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
30. ^ "World Combat Sambo Championship (WCSF). December 16, 2014. Moscow. Russia. Results » European Combat Sambo Federation". ecsambo.org. Retrieved 2022-06-18.

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