Bazigit Atavovich Atajev (Kumyk:Bozigit Atay Atawnu ulanı, Russian:Бозигит Атавович Атаев; born 3 December 1979) is a Russian mixed martial artist and sanshou kickboxer, who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division. A professional since 2000, he has competed in RINGS and PRIDE Fighting Championships. He is known for a fierce spinning-heel kick and Sambo style grappling.

Early life

Bozigit was born in 1979 in the village of Lower Kazanyshy to a Kumyk family. He studied in the famous Dagestan sports-dedicated boarding school "Five Directions of the World".

Mixed martial arts career

Bozigit started his MMA career in 2000 knocking out Arunas Juskevicius at RINGS Lithuania: Bushido RINGS 1. The following year he won a 16 participant tournament "IAFC Pankration Russian Championship 2001". He got knocked out Roman Zentsov by a spinning wheel kick and Aaron Brink by a spinning back kick, and defeated Tsuyoshi Kohsaka by decision in the same year.

PRIDE Fighting Championships

Atajev debuted in PRIDE in December 2002 and suffered his only loss against Dutchman Alistair Overeem at PRIDE 24. Atajev planned to make his return to PRIDE at their final event PRIDE 34 against Gilbert Yvel. However, due to a stomach illness, the bout was cancelled.

Professional Fighters League

Atajev made his debut in North America on 21 June 2018 at PFL 2 against Dan Spohn in Light heavyweight tournaments. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round.[citation needed]

In his second fight in the tournament, Atajev faced Sean O'Connell at PFL 7 on 30 August 2018. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[citation needed]

In the semifinals, Atajev faced Vinny Magalhaes, losing via first-round submission.[citation needed]

In 2019, Atajev fought Dan Spohn in a rematch at PFL 3, winning in via first-round knockout. On 8 August at PFL 6, Atajev fought Emiliano Sordi, losing via first-round knockout. He faced Sordi again in the quarterfinals of the 2019 tournament, losing via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[citation needed]

Wushu sanda

Bozigit Ataev is one of three five time Wushu Sanda world champions along with Muslim Salikhov and Mohsen Mohammadseifi. He won world championship in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2013 and earned silver medal in 2009

Kickboxing

Bozigit took part in "BARS: Heavyweight Cup Of Gold BARS 2003" kickboxing tournament. He defeated Denis Grigoriev in first round but loss to Eduard Voznovich in final. In 2008, he faced the eventual K-1 champion Remy Bonjasky in his kickboxing debut. He was defeated by knockout early in the third round.

Championships and accomplishments

  • Russian Wushu Championships Russian Wushu Champion
  • World Wushu Championships Five time World Champion
  • International Absolute Fighting Council IAFC Absolute Fighting Russian Championship Tournament Winner

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
26matches20 wins5 losses
By knockout153
By submission42
By decision10
Draws1
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss20–5–1Emiliano SordiSubmission (rear-naked choke)PFL 9 (2019)31 October 201914:26Las Vegas, Nevada, United States2019 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Draw20–4–1Viktor NemkovDraw (majority)25:002019 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Loss20–4Emiliano SordiKO (punches)PFL 6 (2019)8 August 201911:22Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win20–3Dan SpohnTKO (punches)PFL 3 (2019)6 June 201913:25Uniondale, New York, United States
Loss19–3Vinny MagalhãesSubmission (kimura)PFL 9 (2018)13 October 201811:58Long Beach, California, United States2018 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win19–2Emiliano SordiTKO (punches)11:432018 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win18–2Sean O'ConnellTKO (spinning back kick and punches)PFL 7 (2018)30 August 201813:30Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Loss17–2Dan SpohnTKO (punches)PFL 2 (2018)21 June 201834:31Chicago, Illinois, United StatesLight Heavyweight debut.
Win17–1Jeremy MayTKO (punches)Kunlun Fight MMA 106 April 201712:15Beijing, China
Win16–1Valdas PoceviciusKO (punches)Bushido FC: Hero's Lithuania 200611 November 200612:02Vilnius, Lithuania
Win15–1Beneilton Pereira da SilvaTKO (punches)RINGS Russia: CIS vs. The World20 August 200511:03Yekaterinburg, Russia
Win14–1Mindaugas KulikauskasSubmission (armbar)Shooto Lithuania: King of Bushido Stage 114 November 200311:53Vilnius, Lithuania
Loss13–1Alistair OvereemTKO (knee to the body)Pride 2423 December 200224:59Fukuoka, Japan
Win13–0Kestutis ArbociusSubmission (guillotine choke)Bushido Rings 5: Shock9 November 200222:58Vilnius, Lithuania
Win12–0Chris FrancoSubmission (neck crank)Shoot Boxing: S-Cup 20027 July 200212:31Yokohama, Japan
Win11–0Tsuyoshi KohsakaDecision (majority)Rings: World Title Series 521 December 200135:00Yokohama, Japan
Win10–0Aaron BrinkKO (spinning back kick)Rings: 10th Anniversary11 August 200111:09Tokyo, Japana
Win9–0Maynard MarcumKO (punch)Rings: World Title Series 215 June 200111:08Yokohama, Japan
Win8–0Rolandas DigrysSubmission (armbar)Rings Lithuania: Bushido Rings 28 May 200110:47Vilnius, Lithuania
Win7–0Dimitar DoichinovTKO (punches)Rings Russia: Russia vs. Bulgaria6 April 200114:12Yekaterinburg, Russia
Win6–0Islam DadalovTKO (submission to knees and punches)IAFC: Pankration Russian Championship 20018 February 200110:48Yaroslavl, RussiaWon the IAFC Russian Cup Heavyweight Tournament.
Win5–0Vitali ShkrabaTKO (corner stoppage)12:45IAFC Russian Cup Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win4–0Yuri ZhernikovTKO (submission to punches)12:26IAFC Russian Cup Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win3–0Tikhon GladkovTKO (punches)11:41IAFC Russian Cup Heavyweight Tournament Round of 16.
Win2–0Arunas JuskeviciusKO (punches)Rings Lithuania: Bushido Rings 124 October 200010:14Vilnius, Lithuania
Win1–0Vasilin BazhirovTKO (punches)Rings Russia: Russia vs. Bulgaria21 May 20001N/ATula, RussiaHeavyweight debut.

Kickboxing record (incomplete)

Professional kickboxing record
DateResultOpponentEventLocationMethodRoundTimeRecord
1 wins, 2 loss, 0 draw
2008-7-13LossRemy BonjaskyK-1 World GP 2008 in TaipeiTaipei City, TaiwanKO (jumping knee strike)32:171-2
2003-06-25LossEduard VoznovichBARS: Heavyweight Cup Of Gold BARS 2003Moscow, RussiaDecision53:001-1
2003-06-25WinDenis GrigorievBARS: Heavyweight Cup Of Gold BARS 2003Moscow, RussiaDecision53:001-0

See also

External links