WSOF Imports Trio of Russian Rising Stars
WSOF Imports Trio of Russian Rising Stars
World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion World Series of Fighting (WSOF.com) has signed three new devastating forces, two of whom have yet to be beaten, to its fast-growing roster of world-class talent.
Undefeated Vagab Vagabov (15-0) of Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia; unbeaten Magomed “Gladiator” Bibulatov (9-0) of Grozny, Chechnya, Russia; and Magomed “Tiger” Magomedov (10-1) of Khasavyurt, Dagestan, Russia have each signed an exclusive, multi-fight, multi-year agreement to compete under the WSOF banner.
Each fighter’s WSOF debut, which will be announced soon, will also represent his first start in the U.S.
“We are excited to welcome these three fast-climbing, young stars to the WSOF roster and expect them to shake things up in the world of MMA,” said WSOF President, six-time world champion and two-time Hall of Famer Ray Sefo.
“Over the last couple of years,” continued Sefo, “we have seen a tremendous amount of high-caliber talent being unearthed from Russia, and I am proud to say that WSOF has been pro-active and played a significant part in these discoveries, and will continue to search and sign the most promising talent from this part of the world as well as elsewhere around the globe.”
Vagabov, a 29-year-old middleweight (185 pounds), boasts an incredible 74 percent finish rate over the course of his 15 professional fights, with 7 of his wins having come by way of (T)KO and 4 of his victories via submission. He is coming off a second round (2:43) TKO (punches) of Chris Katanga in Moscow, Russia on April 18.
A 26-year-old flyweight (125 pounds), Bibulatov notched his 9th career win on March 14, scoring a first round (1:30) KO on Eduardo Felipe in Grozny. Bibulatov’s best accolade to date is perhaps his victory of a one-night, eight-man tournament in Lamego, Portugal on Aug. 24, 2013, when he defeated three consecutive opponents, including two by way of first round submission, to emerge the winner of the single-elimination affair.
Magomedov is a surging bantamweight (135 pounds) who will put a nine-fight win streak and an outstanding finish rate of 70 percent when he makes his WSOF debut. In his last start, Magomedov earned a unanimous decision over Paata Robakidze in Astana, Kazakhstan on May 24, 2014.
WSOF action returns to NBCSN live on Friday, June 5 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
In the main event of a world championship doubleheader, reigning WSOF world featherweight (145 pounds) champion Lance Palmer (9-1) of Sacramento, Calif. will put his title on the line for the first time when he collides with Chris Horodecki (21-5-1) of London, Ontario, Canada.
In the world heavyweight championship co-main event, Smealinho “The Prince” Rama (9-1) of Calgary, Alberta, Canada will risk his title for the first time against Blagoi Ivanov (11-1) of Sofia, Bulgaria.
