Why Raimond Magomedaliev Could Be The Next Big Welterweight Star
ONE Welterweight World Champion Kiamrian “Brazen” Abbasov may be sitting comfortably on the divisional throne, but Raimond Magomedaliev is making a run at the gold.
Lately, the Russian mixed martial artist has been on fire. He holds a 7-1 professional record, owns an 86 percent finishing rate, and is riding a two-bout winning streak.
The 30-year-old Dagestan native will attempt to notch his third consecutive first-round victory when he faces former ONE World Title challenger Tyler McGuire at “ONE on TNT I,” which broadcasts live on Wednesday, 7 April.
Before the bearded fighter makes his big premiere on United States prime-time television, here’s why he could be the welterweight division’s next big star.
#1 World Champion Pedigree
During his time in the Russian military, Magomedaliev competed in several martial arts and achieved great success.
The Dagestani is a World Sambo Champion and Kung Fu World Champion. In addition to that, he is a Russian Hand-To-Hand Combat Champion.
Magomedaliev has reached the elite level in various combat sports, and he can apply those skills and his mindset to do the same in mixed martial arts.
#2 Enormous Knockout Power
Magomedaliev hasn’t showcased it too often, but he possesses one-punch knockout power.
The Russian first displayed that attribute at a regional show in March 2018. After getting his head kick caught, Magomedaliev pulled his leg back and then fired off a clean straight left that crumpled his opponent, Valdir Araujo, to the mat in just 17 seconds.
Furthermore, the Dagestani flashed that power at ONE: COLLISION COURSE II last December when he pressured then-unbeaten Edson “Panico” Marques toward the Circle Wall, feinted with a jab, and then knocked him out with a massive cross.
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#3 Trains With Russia’s Best
Magomedaliev perfects his craft with the master grapplers and strikers at Eagles MMA.
The team, which was co-founded by undefeated lightweight icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, features a who’s who in the Russian mixed martial arts scene including former ONE Featherweight World Champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov.
Not only is Magomedaliev training with other up-and-coming mixed martial arts stars, but he is sharpening his skills alongside Combat Sambo World Champions on a daily basis.
#4 Well-Rounded Skill Set
😱 WHAT A FINISH 😱Russian warrior Raimond Magomedaliev 🇷🇺 submits Joey Pierotti 🇺🇸 with a TIGHT guillotine choke in Round 1!📺: How to watch 👉 bit.ly/ONEANTWatch📱: Watch on the ONE Super App 👉 bit.ly/ONESuperApp🏷: Shop official merchandise 👉 bit.ly/ONECShop
Posted by ONE Championship on Friday, January 10, 2020
Though it was Magomedaliev’s concussive striking that earned him the victory last time out, the Russian has all bases covered in his mixed martial arts repertoire.
Like many youngsters in his native Dagestan, he started out in freestyle wrestling, before adding combat sambo to his arsenal.
Magomedaliev is certainly adept in the grappling department, something he showed in his first promotional victory against Joey “Mama’s Boy” Pierotti at ONE: A NEW TOMORROW.
He shut down the seasoned wrestling champion’s takedown attempts with ease and then sealed the victory with a guillotine choke after a one-round demolition of his American rival.
Working with grappling wizards like Nurmagomedov and ONE’s Gafurov, Magomedaliev is capable of hanging with the elite in any range of a contest.
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