# Ismail Naurdiev

Ismail Naurdiev (born August 18, 1996) is an Austrian and Moroccan mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He formerly competed in the Super Welterweight division of Brave Combat Federation and Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB).

## Early life

Naurdiev was born in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia and his family left the war-torn city and moved to Austria in 2004 when he was nine years old for a safe and better life. He started training in wrestling and transitioned to MMA when he was a teenager. At the beginning of his MMA professional career, Naurdiev did not have any trainers or sparring partners but would accept every fight offered to him for experience.
   Yes, [I have] only Austrian [citizenship]. I speak to the UFC only to fight under the flag of Austria, because this country has given me everything. I give them credit. I feel good in Austria, but I do not forget my roots.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Naurdiev fought in the European-based promotions, notably Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), formally known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), and amassed a record of 17–2 prior to joining UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Naurdiev made his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos on February 23, 2019. He faced Michel Prazeres, replacing injured Ramazan Emeev, and won the fight by unanimous decision.
On July 6, 2019, Naurdiev faced Chance Rencountre at UFC 239. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev next faced Siyar Bahadurzada at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier on September 28, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev faced Sean Brady on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On March 19, 2020, it was reported that Naurdiev parted way with UFC. Later, Naurdiev elaborated that after fighting out his four-fight rookie contract with a record of 2–2, the organization was not interested in re-signing him.

### Post-UFC career

On August 24, 2020, news surfaced that Naurdiev had signed with Elite MMA Championship and was expected to make his promotional debut in the promotion's welterweight grand prix at EMC 5 on September 5, 2020. He faced Tymoteusz Łopaczyk and won the fight via unanimous decision, advancing to the grand prix final.
In the final, Naurdiev was expected to face Amiran Gogoladze at EMC 6 on October 31, 2020. However, Naurdiev withdrew from the bout due to an injury prior to the whole event being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

### Brave Combat Federation

On February 26, 2021, Naurdiev announced that he signed a multi-fight contract with Brave Combat Federation. Subsequently, it was announced that Naurdiev will be challenging Jarrah Al-Silawi for the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight Championship at Brave CF 50 on April 1, 2021. He lost in the second round after he injured his leg from a kick.
Naurdiev faced Olli Santalahti on September 25, 2021, at Brave CF 54. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev faced Bekten Zheenbekov on June 18, 2022 at Brave CF 59. He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.
Naurdiev faced Marcin Bandel for the vacant Brave CF Super Welterweight Championship at Brave CF 63. He lost the bout in the first round after being dropped by Bandel and submitted with an armbar.
Naurdiev looked to rebound against Vadim Kutsy on December 17, 2022 at Brave CF 68, however he lost the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.
Naurdiev moved up to Middleweight and faced Tahar Hadbi on December 8, 2023 at Brave CF 79, winning the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.

### Return to UFC

Naurdiev faced Bruno Silva on October 26, 2024 at UFC 308. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Naurdiev is scheduled to face Jun Yong Park on May 17, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 257.

## Personal life

Naurdiev earned his moniker "The Austrian Wonderboy" due to his flashy, stylist and wild spinning kicks skills.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2019: Ranked #6 Newcomer of the Year & Ranked #7 Upset of the Year vs. Michel Prazeres
* Absolute Championship Berkut
** Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Andrei Vasinca
* Aggrelin
** AG Welterweight Championship (One time)
* World Freefight Challenge
** Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Daniel Skibiński

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 31 matches | 24 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 12 | 2 |
| By submission | 6 | 2 |
| By decision | 6 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 24–7 | Bruno Silva | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 308 | October 26, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 23–7 | Tahar Hadbi | Submission (guillotine choke) | Brave CF 79 | December 8, 2023 | 1 | 1:10 | Isa Town, Bahrain | Middleweight debut. |
| Loss | 22–7 | Vadym Kutsyi | TKO (punches) | Brave CF 68 | December 17, 2022 | 1 | 3:23 | Düsseldorf, Germany | |
| Loss | 22–6 | Marcin Bandel | Submission (armbar) | Brave CF 63 | October 19, 2022 | 1 | 1:20 | Isa Town, Bahrain | For the vacant BRAVE CF Super Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 22–5 | Bekten Zheenbekov | TKO (punches) | Brave CF 59 | June 18, 2022 | 1 | 2:26 | Bukhara, Uzbekistan | |
| Win | 21–5 | Olli Santalahti | Decision (unanimous) | Brave CF 54 | September 25, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Konin, Poland | |
| Loss | 20–5 | Jarrah Al-Silawi | TKO (leg kicks) | Brave CF 50 | April 1, 2021 | 2 | 1:19 | Arad, Bahrain | Super Welterweight (175 lb) debut. For the Brave CF Super Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 20–4 | Tymoteusz Łopaczyk | Decision (unanimous) | EMC 5 | September 5, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Düsseldorf, Germany | EMC Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinal. |
| Loss | 19–4 | Sean Brady | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Benavidez vs. Figueiredo | February 29, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |
| Win | 19–3 | Siyar Bahadurzada | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier | September 28, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Copenhagen, Denmark | |
| Loss | 18–3 | Chance Rencountre | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 239 | July 6, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 18–2 | Michel Prazeres | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Santos | February 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Prague, Czech Republic | |
| Win | 17–2 | Paulistenio Rocha | TKO (punches) | X Fight Nights 16 | February 2, 2019 | 1 | 0:36 | Wien, Austria | |
| Win | 16–2 | Georgi Valentinov | KO (spinning wheel kick and punches) | ACB 74 | November 18, 2017 | 1 | 3:10 | Vienna, Austria | |
| Loss | 15–2 | Ismael de Jesus | Decision (unanimous) | ACB 70 | September 23, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Sheffield, England | |
| Win | 15–1 | Ben Alloway | KO (kick to the body) | ACB 60 | May 13, 2017 | 1 | 2:24 | Vienna, Austria | |
| Win | 14–1 | Andrei Vasinca | TKO (knee and punches) | ACB 52 | January 21, 2017 | 1 | 1:28 | Vienna, Austria | Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 13–1 | Lászlò Szögyényi | TKO (punches) | WFC 21 | December 17, 2016 | 2 | 1:49 | Bad Voeslau, Austria | |
| Win | 12–1 | Garik Shahbabyan | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Aggrelin 14 | October 16, 2016 | 2 | 2:41 | Salzburg, Austria | Won the AG Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–1 | Daniel Skibiński | KO (knee) | WFC 20 | August 27, 2016 | 1 | 0:40 | Bad Vöslau, Austria | Knockout of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 | David Mate | TKO (punches) | KraftHerr Fight Night | February 27, 2016 | 1 | 1:15 | St. Polten, Austria | |
| Win | 9–1 | Leonardo D'Auria | TKO (punches) | Austrian Fight Challenge 2 | December 12, 2015 | 1 | N/A | Vienna, Austria | |
| Win | 8–1 | Asmir Sadiković | Submission (triangle choke) | NAAFS: Europe | December 6, 2015 | 2 | 1:03 | Split, Croatia | |
| Win | 7–1 | Mikko Ahmala | TKO (punches and elbows) | Cage 30 | May 16, 2015 | 1 | 2:27 | Leonding, Austria | |
| Win | 6–1 | Adnan Hadzic | Submission | Fight Night Leonding | April 11, 2015 | 1 | 1:28 | Leonding, Austria | |
| Win | 5–1 | Ibo Can | TKO (punches) | Charity Fight Night 2 | September 20, 2014 | 1 | 2:00 | Dornbirn, Austria | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Cem Kaya | Submission (triangle choke) | GMC 5 | December 9, 2012 | 1 | 0:40 | Castrop-Rauxel, Germany | Catchweight (176 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Uros Pavlovic | TKO (punches) | Cage Fight Events Europe: Salzburger MMA Challenge | April 26, 2014 | 1 | N/A | Salzburg, Austria | |
| Win | 3–0 | Robert Oganesyan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | TKB: Fight Night Linz | December 9, 2014 | 1 | 4:26 | Leonding, Austria | |
| Win | 2–0 | Abdul Shaliqhi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Respect Austria 1 | February 2, 2013 | 1 | 3:00 | Freistadt, Austria | |
| Win | 1–0 | Alic Eldridz | Decision (unanimous) | KOTR Austria | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Salzburg, Austria | Welterweight debut. |