Ranking the PFL Fighters: Featherweights

4. Movlid Khaybulaev

Khaybulaev joins the PFL with a perfect 13-0 record. A veteran of the One Championship and Fights Night Global promotions, the 28-year-old Dagestani has not been challenged in a match yet. The decorated combat sambo stylist has shown tremendous improvement in his striking over the course of his career, though he has many areas of growth. Khaybulaev has decent punching power in his jab and overhand right, though he tends to throw only a single shot at a time; plus, he can get a little wild when drawn into a brawl. He favors flashy attacks like spinning attacks and flying strikes. His bread-and-butter skill is his elite wrestling. In fact, his wrestling is so good that it might match Season 1 winner Lance Palmer. He likes to set up takedowns by backing up and catching his opponent overextending on a strike while trying to reach his chin. Once he closes the distance around his counterpart’s hips or finds his way into the clinch, the fight can hit the ground in seconds. Khaybulaev favors top control and ground-and-pound over searching for a fight-ending submission. Due to his focus on a heavy wrestling game and spinning attacks, he drains a lot of energy, leaving him vulnerable to fatigue if the fight drifts into deeper waters.

Continue Reading » Alexandre Bezerra