Ismail Naurdiev (born August 18, 1996) is an Austrian and Moroccan mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He formerly competed in the Super Welterweight division of Brave Combat Federation and Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB).
Naurdiev was born in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia and his family left the war-torn city and moved to Austria in 2004 for a safe and better life. He started training in wrestling and transitioned to MMA when he was a teenager. At the beginning of his MMA professional career, Naurdiev did not have any trainers or sparring partners but would accept every fight offered to him for experience.
Naurdiev fought in the European-based promotions, notably Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA), formally known as Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB), and amassed a record of 17âÂÂ2 prior to joining UFC.
Naurdiev made his promotional debut at on February 23, 2019. He faced Michel Prazeres, replacing injured Ramazan Emeev, and won the fight by unanimous decision.
On July 6, 2019, Naurdiev faced Chance Rencountre at UFC 239. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev next faced Siyar Bahadurzada at on September 28, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev faced Sean Brady on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
On March 19, 2020, it was reported that Naurdiev parted way with UFC. Later, Naurdiev elaborated that after fighting out his four-fight rookie contract with a record of 2âÂÂ2, the organization was not interested in re-signing him.
On August 24, 2020, news surfaced that Naurdiev had signed with Elite MMA Championship and was expected to make his promotional debut in the promotion's welterweight grand prix at EMC 5 on September 5, 2020. He faced Tymoteusz à Âopaczyk and won the fight via unanimous decision, advancing to the grand prix final.
In the final, Naurdiev was expected to face Amiran Gogoladze at EMC 6 on October 31, 2020. However, Naurdiev withdrew from the bout due to an injury prior to the whole event being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 26, 2021, Naurdiev announced that he signed a multi-fight contract with Brave Combat Federation. Subsequently, it was announced that Naurdiev will be challenging Jarrah Al-Silawi for the BRAVE CF Super Welterweight Championship at Brave CF 50 on April 1, 2021. He lost in the second round after he injured his leg from a kick.
Naurdiev faced Olli Santalahti on September 25, 2021, at Brave CF 54. He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Naurdiev faced Bekten Zheenbekov on June 18, 2022 at Brave CF 59. He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.
Naurdiev faced Marcin Bandel for the vacant Brave CF Super Welterweight Championship at Brave CF 63. He lost the bout in the first round after being dropped by Bandel and submitted with an armbar.
Naurdiev looked to rebound against Vadim Kutsy on December 17, 2022 at Brave CF 68, however he lost the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.
Naurdiev moved up to Middleweight and faced Tahar Hadbi on December 8, 2023 at Brave CF 79, winning the bout via guillotine choke in the first round.
Naurdiev faced Bruno Silva on October 26, 2024, at UFC 308. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Naurdiev was scheduled to face Jun Yong Park on May 17, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 256. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was rescheduled to UFC on ABC 8 which took place on June 21. After Naurdiev was deduced two points due to an illegal knee, he lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Naurdiev faced Ryan Loder on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265. He won the fight by knockout in the first round.
Naurdiev is scheduled to face Marvin Vettori on June 27, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 280.
Naurdiev earned his moniker "The Austrian Wonderboy" due to his flashy, stylist and wild spinning kicks skills.
|- |Win |align=center|25âÂÂ8 |Ryan Loder |KO (punch) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:26 |Al Rayyan, Qatar | |- |Loss |align=center|24âÂÂ8 |Park Jun-yong |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Baku, Azerbaijan | |- |Win |align=center|24âÂÂ7 |Bruno Silva |Decision (unanimous) |UFC 308 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |- |Win |align=center|23âÂÂ7 |Tahar Hadbi |Submission (guillotine choke) |Brave CF 79 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:10 |Isa Town, Bahrain | |- |Loss |align=center|22âÂÂ7 |Vadym Kutsyi |TKO (punches) |Brave CF 68 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:23 |Düsseldorf, Germany | |- |Loss |align=center|22âÂÂ6 |Marcin Bandel |Submission (armbar) |Brave CF 63 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:20 |Isa Town, Bahrain | |- |Win |align=center|22âÂÂ5 |Bekten Zheenbekov |TKO (punches) |Brave CF 59 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:26 |Bukhara, Uzbekistan | |- |Win |align=center|21âÂÂ5 |Olli Santalahti |Decision (unanimous) |Brave CF 54 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Konin, Poland | |- |Loss |align=center|20âÂÂ5 |Jarrah Al-Silawi |TKO (leg kicks) |Brave CF 50 | |align=center|2 |align=center|1:19 |Arad, Bahrain | |- |Win |align=center|20âÂÂ4 |Tymoteusz à Âopaczyk |Decision (unanimous) |Elite MMA Championship 5 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Düsseldorf, Germany | |- |Loss |align=center|19âÂÂ4 |Sean Brady |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Norfolk, Virginia, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 19âÂÂ3 |Siyar Bahadurzada |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Copenhagen, Denmark | |- | Loss | align=center| 18âÂÂ3 | Chance Rencountre | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 239 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 18âÂÂ2 | Michel Prazeres | Decision (unanimous) | | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Prague, Czech Republic | |- | Win | align=center| 17âÂÂ2 | Paulistenio Rocha | TKO (punches) | X Fight Nights 16 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:36 | Wien, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 16âÂÂ2 | Georgi Valentinov | KO (spinning wheel kick and punches) | | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:10 | Vienna, Austria | |- | Loss | align=center| 15âÂÂ2 | Ismael de Jesus | Decision (unanimous) | | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Sheffield, England | |- | Win | align=center| 15âÂÂ1 | Ben Alloway | KO (kick to the body) | | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:24 | Vienna, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 14âÂÂ1 | Andrei Vasinca | TKO (knee and punches) | | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:28 | Vienna, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 13âÂÂ1 | Lászlò Szögyényi | TKO (punches) | World Freefight Challenge 21 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 1:49 | Bad Voeslau, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 12âÂÂ1 | Garik Shahbabyan | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Aggrelin 14 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:41 | Salzburg, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 11âÂÂ1 | Daniel Skibià Âski | KO (knee) | World Freefight Challenge 20 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:40 | Bad Vöslau, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 10âÂÂ1 | David Mate | TKO (punches) | KraftHerr Fight Night 1 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:15 | St. Polten, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 9âÂÂ1 | Leonardo D'Auria | TKO (punches) | Austrian Fight Challenge 2 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Vienna, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 8âÂÂ1 | Asmir Sadikovià| Submission (triangle choke) | NAAFS: Europe | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 1:03 | Split, Croatia | |- | Win | align=center| 7âÂÂ1 | Mikko Ahmala | TKO (punches and elbows) | CAGE 30 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:27 | Leonding, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 6âÂÂ1 | Adnan Hadzic | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight Night Leonding 3 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:28 | Leonding, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 5âÂÂ1 | Ibo Can | TKO (punches) | Charity Fight Night 2 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:00 | Dornbirn, Austria | |- | Loss | align=center| 4âÂÂ1 | Cem Kaya | Submission (triangle choke) | German MMA Championship 5 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:40 | Castrop-Rauxel, Germany | |- | Win | align=center| 4âÂÂ0 | Uros Pavlovic | TKO (punches) | Salzburger MMA Challenge 2 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| N/A | Salzburg, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 3âÂÂ0 | Robert Oganesyan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight Night Linz 4 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 4:26 | Leonding, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 2âÂÂ0 | Abdul Shaliqhi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Respect Austria 1 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:00 | Freistadt, Austria | |- | Win | align=center| 1âÂÂ0 | Alic Eldridz | Decision (unanimous) | King of the Ring: Austria | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Salzburg, Austria | |-