Muhammad Naimov

Muhammadjon Naimov ( tg, Муҳаммад Наимов; born 7 August 1994) is a Tajik mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional mixed martial artist since 2018, Naimov has also competed in the Titan Fighting Championships.

Background

Muhammad Naimov was born in Kulob on 7 August 1994. He studied at the Tajik National University. He also speaks in three languages.

Naimov began competing in taekwondo, where he won the Asian Junior Championships in Kazakhstan (2010), Tajikistan (2012), Bulgaria (2013) and Nepal (2014), and won a medal at the World Junior Championships in Estonia (2012) and Tajikistan (2014). He then began his amateur MMA career in 2016 before turning professional in 2018.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Naimov made his professional MMA career in on November 1, 2018, at Jonathan Ogden Foundation's 13th Annual 'An Evening Ringside' against Jernato Harris, winning the bout via second-round TKO.

Naimov made his Titan FC debut against Harrison Melendez on January 25, 2019, at Titan FC 52. He won the bout by first-round TKO.

Naimov faced Landon Quinones at Titan FC 54 on April 26, 2019. He won the bout via split decision.

Naimov faced Shawn Brown at Titan FC 58 on December 20, 2019. He won the bout via technical submission in the first round.

Naimov faced Shawn Brown at Titan FC 62 on July 23, 2020. He won the bout via second-round TKO.

Naimov faced Collin Anglin at Dana White's Contender Series 33 on September 15, 2020. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Returning to Titan FC, Naimov faced Olivier Murad for the vacant Titan FC Featherweight Championship at Titan FC 67. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In his UFC debut, Naimov faced Jamie Mullarkey on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46 as a replacement for Guram Kutatuledze. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round, earning him his first ''Performance of the Night'' bonus award.

Moving down to featherweight, Naimov faced Nathaniel Wood on October 21, 2023, at UFC 294. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Naimov faced Erik Silva on February 24, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 237. He won by first round technical knockout after Silva injured his leg.

Naimov was scheduled to face Melsik Baghdasaryan on June 22, 2024 at UFC on ABC 6. However, Baghdasaryan pulled out during fight week due to a torn labrum in his left shoulder and was replaced by promotional newcomer Felipe Lima. Naimov lost the fight by a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Performance of the Night (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, -
, Loss
, align=center, 11–3
, Felipe Lima
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
, UFC on ABC: Whittaker vs. Aliskerov
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 1:15
, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 11–2
, Erik Silva
, TKO (leg injury)
, UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:44
, Mexico City, Mexico
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 10–2
, Nathaniel Wood
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 294
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–2
, Jamie Mullarkey
, TKO (punches)
, UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:59
, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–2
, Dylan Schulte
, TKO (head kick and punches)
, Tuff-N-Uff 131
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:34
, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–2
, Sitik Muduev
, Decision (split)
, Tuff-N-Uff 129
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–2
, Andres Ponce
, Submission (arm-triangle choke)
, Titan FC 72
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:53
, Miami, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 5–2
, Olivier Murad
, Decision (unanimous)
, Titan FC 67
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
, Miami, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 5–1
, Collin Anglin
, Decision (unanimous)
, Dana White's Contender Series 33
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:23
, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–0
, Josh Augustine
, TKO (submission to leg kick)
, Titan FC 62
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 0:22
, Miami, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–0
, Shawn Brown
, Technical Submission (rear-naked choke)
, Titan FC 58
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:41
, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–0
, Landon Quiñones
, Decision (split)
, Titan FC 54
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, Harrison Melendez
, TKO (retirement)
, Titan FC 52
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 5:00
, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Jernato Harris
, TKO (punches)
, The Jonathan Ogden Foundation: Charity MMA Event
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:18
, Hunt Valley, Maryland, United States
,

See also

* List of current UFC fighters
* List of male mixed martial artists

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Naimov, Muhammad
1994 births
Living people
People from Khatlon Region
Tajikistani male mixed martial artists
Tajikistani male taekwondo practitioners
Featherweight mixed martial artists
Lightweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing taekwondo
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters