Rinat Fakhretdinov (20-2) is the first UFC fighter from The Central Russian Republic of Tatarstan. The former Gorilla FC Middleweight Champion brought home a UFC Contract from Fight Island while Dana White recorded his Looking for a Fight Series. After scoring a knockout against octagon vet Eric Spicely, “The Gladiator” rides a 14-fight win streak into his debut at UFC Vegas 56.
Fakhretdinov was born in 1995 in Almetyevsk, Russia, a three-hour drive from Tatar’s Capital Kazan (the unofficial Russian Capital of horseback riding). He still calls the same area home and trains out of fight camp Tatar Sports Union, among others. While growing up Rinat first found Kudo, a martial arts style strikingly similar to amateur MMA. He went on to practice Pankration and Sambo, capturing multiple National Titles in both. He utilizes an awkward striking style with tempo changes and lots of feints, which complement his takedown game well.
In 2021, a right overhand from Rinat knocked out UFC veteran Eric Spicely in front of Dana White and his Looking for a Fight YouTube Series friends. He was awarded the contract straight after the bout, but will ultimately take more than a year to enter the octagon for the first time. He and his foe Andreas “The Spartan” Michailidis (13-5) both are dropping fifteen lbs. looking to become mainstays in the UFC’s Welterweight division. The contest starts early at 1 PM ET but stays at Las Vegas’ Apex Center for UFC Vegas 56: Volkov vs. Rozenstruik.
Rinat “Gladiator” Fakhretdinov | 20-2 | 6’0 170 lbs. | Age 30 | Reach 74” | Orthodox Stance | Fighting Out of Almetyevsk, Russia
Check out our highlights on fellow UFC Vegas 56 fighters >
Ode “The Jamaican Sensation” Osbourne
Benoit “God of War” Saint-Denis
Erin “Cold Blooded” Blanchfield
Follow Rinat Fakhretdinov on Instagram > @Gladiator_Fakhretdinov
Follow Tap In on Twitter > @tapinufc
