Shamil Zavurov

Early life

Zavurov attended high school in Makhachkala, the capital of Dagestan, where he began training in freestyle wrestling under Mairbek Yusupov (member of the 1977-78 USSR team who went on to coach Dagestan’s freestyle wrestling team). Post-school, he studied at the Dagestan State Pedagogical University, graduating from the Faculty of Physical Culture and Sports and also studied Law at the Dagestan Institute of Finance and Law. He continued working on his martial arts training, taking up Combat Sambo, and also started a family – he is married with two sons and a daughter. He likes to employ the techniques Georges St-Pierre, whom he is a fan of. Zavurov is undefeated in combat sambo (153-0)

Mixed martial arts career

Shamil Zavurov has achieved a great deal of success in combat sports. In addition to more than 50 victories in amateur and semi-professional MMA, he has triumphed more than 50 times in Combat Sambo bouts, in the process winning three world championships (2004, 2005, and 2007). He has also won international tournaments in Wushu Sanda (2003) and wrestling and was the 2002 Dagestani champion in Wushu Sanda in the youth division. In 2005 and 2007, he won Russian national championships and was twice the CIS champion in hand-to-hand combat.

The hardest fight in Zavurov's career was his unanimous decision victory over Seydina Seck in which his arm was broken and he sustained torn ligaments – these injuries still cause him pain. Zavurov still wonders about the only defeat of his career, a split decision loss to Rashid Magomedov, which was controversial in that commentators and viewers disagreed with the judges' decision. It was Zavurov's first fight in more than a year, his return after a serious injury he sustained after being drafted into the army.

In fighting in the Eastern European M-1 Welterweight tournament, Zavurov defeated Radik Iboyan with a second round technical knockout and won a hard-fought semi-final against Ramazan Abdulzhalilov that went the full distance. In the tournament final, Zavurov defeated Magomedrasul Khasbulaev with a "text-book rear-naked-choke submission." Since winning the tournament, Zavurov has compiled four further victories in a single three-week period, against Vladimir Katyihin, Vasily Novikov, Vener Galiev, and Jaroslav Poborsky.

M-1 Global

Shamil Zavurov was expecting to face Tom "Da Tank" Gallicchio, the Americas selection champion, for the title but Gallicchio was removed following "an infringement of contractual obligations". Gallicchio was replaced by Abner Lloveras, the Western European M-1 Global tournament victor. Zavurov defeated Lloveras via fourth-round TKO to become the inaugural M-1 Global Welterweight Champion.

In the event’s second championship bout, Russian Shamil Zavurov edged 2010 World Victory Road welterweight grand prix runner-up Yasubey Enomoto in a five-round affair.

Zavurov was scheduled to rematch his lone defeat as he was to defend his title against Rashid Magomedov at M-1 Challenge XXX on December 9, 2011. The match, however, has been postponed and Zavurov instead faced Yasubey Enomoto in a rematch. He lost the back-and-forth battle via submission in the fifth round.

Zavurov faced Alexander Yakovlev on March 16, 2012 at M-1 Challenge 31, with the fight ending in a draw (judges scorecards: 29–28 Zavurov, 28–28, 28–28)

Bellator Fighting Championships

Zavurov signed with Bellator MMA and was reported to take part in Bellator MMA: Season Eight. However, for reasons unexplained, did not take part in any event of the season.

World Fighting Championship Akhmat

Zavurov faced Brazilian Rodrigo Caporal in the quarterfinal at WFCA 16 on March 12, 2016. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Zavurov faced to Luciano Palhano at WFCA 22 on May 22, 2016. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Zavurov faced Chechen super star Khusein Khaliev at WCFA 23 Lightweight Grand Prix on October 4, 2016. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

Mixed martial arts

Sambo

Mixed martial arts record

Except where otherwise indicated, details provided in the record box are taken from Sherdog