Eagle Fighting Championship

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

Eagle Fighting Championship
Current season, competition or edition:
2022 in Eagle Fighting Championship
FormerlyFederation of MMA of Samara (FMMAS)
Gorilla Fighting Championship (GFC)
SportMixed martial arts
FoundedMay 2017 (FMMAS/GFC)
Dec 2020 (EFC)
Owner(s)Khabib Nurmagomedov
Rizvan Magomedov
Shamil Zavurov

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
See also: Mixed martial arts weight classes
Weight class name Upper limit
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 Country
Eagle FC 47: Dos Santos vs. De Castro May 20, 2022 FLX Arena Miami, Florida U.S

Past events
Event Title Date Arena Location
Eagle FC 46: Lee vs. Sanchez March 11, 2022 FLX 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 FLX 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 04, 2021 Sport Complex Jubilee Almetyevsk, Russia
EFC 39 August 22, 2021 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
EFC 38 August 03, 2021 Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan
EFC 37 August 22, 2021 Almaty Arena Almaty, Kazakhstan

[10]

EFC champions
ClassUpper weight limitChampionDateDefenses
Heavyweight265 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) Rizvan KunievDecember 20, 2020 2
Light heavyweight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)Vacant
Middleweight185 lb (84 kg; 13.2 st) Faridun OdilovFebruary 09, 2021 1
Welterweight175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) Samandar MurodovSeptember 17, 2021 0
Super lightweight165 lb (75 kg; 11.8 st)Vacant
Lightweight155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) Mehdi DakaevDecember 04, 2020 2
Featherweight145 lb (66 kg; 10.4 st) Busurmankul Abdibait UuluAugust 3, 2021 0
Bantamweight135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) Renat KhavalovMarch 19, 2021 1
Flyweight125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) Mansur MalachievAugust 03, 2021 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

Current 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

Middleweight Championship

171 to 185 lb (77 to 84 kg)

No. Name Event Date Defenses
1 Rinat Fakhretdinov
def. Alberto Uda		 GFC 11
Penza, Russia		 May 03, 2019

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

Fakhretdinov vacated when he chose to test the free agency
Current Faridun Odilov
def. Sergey Kalinin		 EFC 33
Moscow, Russia		 February 09, 2021 1. def. Enoc Solves Torres at EFC 43 on December 10, 2021

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
Current Samandar Murodov
def. Maxim Shvets		 EFC 41
Moscow, Russia		 September 17, 2021

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 06, 2019
3 Jahongir Saidjamolov GFC 29
Samara, Russia		 October 16, 2020
Saidjamolov vacated when he signed with Brave Combat Federation
Current Mehdi Dakaev
def. Gadzhi Rabadanov		 EFC 30
Moscow, Russia		 December 04, 2020

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

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 06, 2021
Current Busurmankul Abdibait Uulu EFC 38
Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan		 August 3, 2021
- Rasul Magomedov
def. Abdurakhman Gitinovasov for Interim Title		 EFC 45
Moscow, Russia		 February 18, 2022

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 09, 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

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 03, 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.
Current Mansur Malachiev
def. Rashid Vagabov		 EFC 38
Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan		 August 03, 2021

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

Reference
  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. Sherdog.com. "Eagle Fighting Championship Fights, Fight Cards, Videos, Pictures, Events and more". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  11. Martin, Damon (2021-12-15). "Former UFC fighter Kevin Lee signs with Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagle FC". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-12-15.
  12. 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.
  13. "Rashad Evans to Return from retirement at Eagle FC 44". MMA Sucka. 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  14. 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.
  15. "Junior dos Santos books May 20 Eagle FC debut". ESPN.com. 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
  16. Sherdog.com. "Ray". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  17. "Umar Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  18. "Bellator MMA". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
  19. "Usman Nurmagomedov | MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
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