CAREER NOTES

Gadzhi Kadiomarovich Rabadanov is a professional mixed martial artist competing in the lightweight division for the Professional Fighters League. Born and raised in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, Rabadanov comes from the same combat-rich region that has produced some of the sport's most decorated grapplers. 

Of Dargin ethnicity, he stands 5'8" with a 71-inch reach and fights out of the orthodox stance. He trains under the Nurmagomedov coaching system, the same program that shaped Khabib and continues to produce elite Dagestani grapplers. Khabib Nurmagomedov has publicly praised Rabadanov as one of the top five lightweights in the world, a designation that underscores the respect he has earned across the sport's elite circles. 

Rabadanov's foundation was built in combat sambo, where he claimed a WMMAA World Championship title in 2015, establishing himself as one of the most technically complete grapplers before ever fighting professionally. His amateur career included a finish recorded at just 18 seconds, setting a mark for the fastest amateur MMA finish. He turned professional in 2013 and steadily built his reputation on the regional circuit. That regional dominance earned him a call to Bellator in 2021, where he proceeded to run off five consecutive victories. The Bellator run showcased a fighter who could grind opponents into submission on the mat as effectively as he could close distance and finish on the feet. 

Rabadanov brought that same relentless Dagestani pressure into the PFL and delivered results immediately. He won the 2024 PFL Lightweight Championship, cementing his place among the promotion's elite and proving his grappling-heavy style translates at the highest level of the organization. In his 2025 PFL campaign, he recorded first-round finishes of both Marc Diakiese and Kevin Lee before losing via unanimous decision in the final. That setback is the lone blemish on an otherwise dominant PFL tenure and left Rabadanov with plenty of motivation heading into his next assignment.