CAREER NOTES

Renat Khavalov is an undefeated bantamweight prospect from Dagestan, Russia, and one of the most intriguing fighters in the Bantamweight division. Khavalov trains under the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School, the same Dagestani camp that has produced some of the most dominant grapplers in modern MMA history, making him part of a pipeline that the entire sport monitors closely.

The hallmarks of the Dagestani system are written into every aspect of Khavalov's approach. His wrestling base is tight, physical, and relentless, built on the principles of control, pressure, and positional dominance that have defined Team Nurmagomedov's fighters across weight classes and promotions. But Khavalov is not simply a grinder. He finishes fights with a rate that reflects genuine finishing instinct, mixing sharp knees and ground-and-pound with his grappling control. He built his professional record through stints in Eagle FC, UAE Warriors, and Gorilla Fighting Championship, earning the Eagle FC bantamweight championship before arriving on the PFL's global stage. His PFL debut came at the PFL Champions Series Road to Dubai event in January 2025, where he earned a decision win over Cleiver Fernandes. He followed that with a first-round TKO via knee and punches over Vilson Ndregjoni at the PFL 9 Finals in August 2025, a finish that put the entire bantamweight division on notice.