Eagle Fighting Championship

Eagle Fighting Championship
Current 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

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

Weight class name	Upper limit
Weight class name	Before 2022	After 2022[8]
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

Scheduled events

Event	Date	Venue	Location
Eagle FC 54: Yamilov vs. Mamedov [10]	November 11, 2023		Almetyevsk, Russia

Past events

Event Title	Date	Arena	Location
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

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)	Vacant
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)	Vacant
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

Heavyweight Championship

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

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

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

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 on 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

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. Makkasharip Zaynukov at EFC 43 on December 10, 2021
Dakaev vacated on April 2023 when he signed with ACA. [14]

Featherweight Championship

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 on August 2023 when he signed with ACA. [15]

Bantamweight Championship

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 when Nurmagomedov signed with the UFC
2	Mansur Malachiev def. Ruslan Sariev	EFC 33 Moscow, Russia	February 9, 2021
Title was vacated on March 2021 when Malachiev moved down to Flyweight
Current	Renat Khavalov def. Sharapudin Magomedov	EFC 34 Krasnodar, Russia	March 19, 2021	1. def. Patrizio de Souza at EFC 42 on October 17, 2021 2. def. Ramazan Amaev at Eagle FC 48 & Naiza FC 41 on July 16, 2022 3. def. Renat Ondar at Eagle FC 51 on December 10, 2022

Flyweight Championship

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 for the 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 when he signed for the UFC.
3	Mansur Malachiev def. Rashid Vagabov	EFC 38 Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan	August 3, 2021
Malachiev was stripped of title due to injury.
Current	Irgit Oveenchi def. Magomedrasul Gadzhiev	Eagle FC 49 Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan	August 10, 2022

Women's Bantamweight Championship

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

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

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]

References

"Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC to land in U.S. in 2022". ESPN.com. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
Mckeever, Lewis (December 4, 2020). "Khabib launches Eagle Fighting Championships, hopes to strike deal with UFC". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
Ellis, Jordan. "REPORT | Khabib Nurmagomedov Buys Fight Promotion For $1 Million". Retrieved 2021-12-15.
"Нурмагомедов объяснил, зачем купил промоушен GFC за $ 1 млн". championat. 2 December 2020.
"Khabib Nurmagomedov bringing his Eagle FC promotion to Miami in January". MMA Junkie. 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
"Spong-Silva headlines Eagle FC's debut in U.S." ESPN.com. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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.
MMA Mania
ESPN
"11 ноября в Татарстане состоится турнир Eagle FC 54". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). September 28, 2023.
Sherdog.com. "Eagle Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
Tristen Critchfield (2022-12-06). "PFL Signs Eagle FC Heavyweight King Rizvan Kuniev, Two Other Regional Champions". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
"Чемпион Eagle FC Денис Измоденов подписал контракт с ACA". mma.metaratings.ru (in Russian). April 9, 2023.
"ЧМехди Дакаев перешел в лигу ACA". fight.ru (in Russian). April 8, 2023.
"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.
"UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez". UFC. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
"The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale". UFC. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
"KOTC 37: Unfinished Business - Results". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
Martin, Damon (2021-12-15). "Former UFC fighter Kevin Lee signs with Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
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.
"Rashad Evans to Return from retirement at Eagle FC 44". MMA Sucka. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
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.
"Junior dos Santos books May 20 Eagle FC debut". ESPN.com. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
Sherdog.com. "Ray". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
"World Combat Sambo Championship 2015. 11-12 Desember. Moscow. Results » European Combat Sambo Federation". ecsambo.org. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
"Umar Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
"Bellator MMA". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
"Usman Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
"Tagir Ulanbekov | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2020-05-22. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
"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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[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. Retrieved March 6, 2021.

[3] Ellis, Jordan. "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. Retrieved 2022-07-09.

[17] "The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale". UFC. 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.