# Muhammad Naimov

Muhammadjon Naimov (Tajik: Муҳаммад Наимов; born 7 August 1994) is a Tajik mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2018, Naimov has also competed in the Titan Fighting Championships.

## Background

Muhammad Naimov was born in Kulob on 7 August 1994. He studied at the Tajik National University. He speaks three languages.
Naimov began competing in taekwondo, where he won the Asian Junior Championships in Kazakhstan (2010), Tajikistan (2012), Bulgaria (2013) and Nepal (2014), and won a medal at the World Junior Championships in Estonia (2012) and Tajikistan (2014). He then began his amateur MMA career in 2016 before turning professional in 2018.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Naimov made his professional MMA career in on November 1, 2018, at Jonathan Ogden Foundation's 13th Annual 'An Evening Ringside' against Jernato Harris, winning the bout via second-round TKO.
Naimov made his Titan FC debut against Harrison Melendez on January 25, 2019, at Titan FC 52. He won the bout by first-round TKO.
Naimov faced Landon Quinones at Titan FC 54 on April 26, 2019. He won the bout via split decision.
Naimov faced Shawn Brown at Titan FC 58 on December 20, 2019. He won the bout via technical submission in the first round.
Naimov faced Shawn Brown at Titan FC 62 on July 23, 2020. He won the bout via second-round TKO.
Naimov faced Collin Anglin at Dana White's Contender Series 33 on September 15, 2020. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Returning to Titan FC, Naimov faced Olivier Murad for the vacant Titan FC Featherweight Championship at Titan FC 67. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his UFC debut, Naimov faced Jamie Mullarkey on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46 as a replacement for Guram Kutatuledze. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round, earning him his first Performance of the Night bonus award.
Moving down to featherweight, Naimov faced Nathaniel Wood on October 21, 2023, at UFC 294. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Naimov faced Erik Silva on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237. He won by first round technical knockout after Silva injured his leg.
Naimov was scheduled to face Melsik Baghdasaryan on June 22, 2024 at UFC on ABC 6. However, Baghdasaryan pulled out during fight week due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder and was replaced by promotional newcomer Felipe Lima. Naimov lost the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.
Naimov faced Kaan Ofli on February 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 250. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Jamie Mullarkey

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 16 matches | 13 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 0 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 5 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 12–3 | Kaan Ofli | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Imavov | February 1, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Loss | 11–3 | Felipe Lima | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov | June 22, 2024 | 3 | 1:15 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | |
| Win | 11–2 | Erik Silva | TKO (leg injury) | UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 | February 24, 2024 | 1 | 0:44 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 10–2 | Nathaniel Wood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 294 | October 21, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Return to Featherweight. |
| Win | 9–2 | Jamie Mullarkey | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi | June 3, 2023 | 2 | 2:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lightweight debut. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 8–2 | Dylan Schulte | TKO (head kick and punches) | Tuff-N-Uff 131 | March 3, 2023 | 1 | 0:34 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Sitik Muduev | Decision (split) | Tuff-N-Uff 129 | August 12, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Andres Ponce | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Titan FC 72 | September 17, 2021 | 1 | 4:53 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 5–2 | Olivier Murad | Decision (unanimous) | Titan FC 67 | February 12, 2021 | 5 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | For the vacant Titan FC Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 5–1 | Collin Anglin | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 33 | September 15, 2020 | 2 | 2:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Josh Augustine | TKO (submission to leg kick) | Titan FC 62 | July 23, 2020 | 2 | 0:22 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Shawn Brown | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | Titan FC 58 | December 20, 2019 | 1 | 4:41 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Landon Quiñones | Decision (split) | Titan FC 54 | April 26, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Harrison Melendez | TKO (retirement) | Titan FC 52 | January 25, 2019 | 1 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Jernato Harris | TKO (punches) | The Jonathan Ogden Foundation: Charity MMA Event | November 1, 2018 | 2 | 1:18 | Hunt Valley, Maryland, United States | Featherweight debut. |