Remember the name: Abdurakhman Bilarov from Dagestan. He made a huge impression a few weeks ago in Chechnya at the Berkut challenge where he beat three black belts, submitting the ultra heavyweight Mauricio Cristo from Cicero Costha and deafeating multiple world and Pan champion Claudio Calasans.
Dagestan is a republic of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea. Dagestan has a strong combat and grappling sport culture. Wrestling and Sambo are very popular sports trhere among the youth. Khabib Nurmagomedov the UFC fighter in the lightweight division is from Dagestan.
People all over the world were asking what had happened and who was this fighter from the Caucasus? Could he be the next big thing in Jiu-Jitsu?
Abdulrakhman from his exclusive interview with BJJ Eastern Europe:
I want to thank all those who congratulated me and those who were rooting for me.
I began to train in BJJ four years ago in Dagestan , gradually moved from wrestling to jiu-jitsu and started under my current coach (Rafael Haubert) two years ago.
I mainly train and teach in Dagestan with my friends and often go to Dubai with my coach Rafael Haubert. Now I am brown belt and double World Pro champion at purple belt and blue belt.
I am from Dagestan. I come from wrestling and my friends asked to try Jiu-Jitsu and I realized that this sport suited me in style and stayed to train Jiu-Jitsu.
Check out his highlight:
