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ONE Championship Signs Undefeated Prospects Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov

ONE Championship Signs Undefeated Prospects Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov

ONE Championship has added a combined 14-0 to its bantamweight MMA roster with the signings of undefeated prospects Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov.

The promotion announced both additions on September 25, giving ONE two very different prospects at different stages of their development. Israilov is a 23-year-old Dagestani grappler who has already accumulated nine professional victories and six submissions. Tabarov, a 27-year-old from Tajikistan, has a smaller 5-0 résumé but has finished every opponent he has faced since his professional debut.

Together they bring nine finishes from 14 victories, but the more interesting part is how those finishes have happened. Israilov has built his record primarily around positional grappling and submissions. Tabarov has already produced a 13-second stoppage, a spinning-wheel-kick knockout, a triangle choke and an arm-triangle finish.

ONE has confirmed both men for its bantamweight MMA division. Neither has a debut opponent or fight date announced yet.

Who is Ilmadi Israilov?

Ilmadi Israilov arrives in ONE with a 9-0 professional record despite still being only 23 years old.

The Dagestan native made his professional debut as a teenager in March 2019 and developed quickly around a submission-first style. Six of his nine victories have ended by submission, and five of those six came in the opening round.

His finishing record includes rear-naked chokes, a triangle choke and a guillotine, which tells a little more of the story than the raw submission total. Israilov isn't dependent on one position or one favorite attack once the fight reaches the ground.

That grappling-heavy approach is exactly what has attracted attention around the Russian prospect.

The social-media assessment above also points to Israilov's wrestling and continued work on his striking, but his documented MMA results already give ONE plenty to work with.

Three of his nine professional wins have gone to decision. Importantly, two of those came in his two most recent fights, showing that the early submission specialist has been able to remain effective when an opponent survives the opening exchanges.

In January 2024, Israilov went three rounds with Kulmurat Orozov and won unanimously. He followed that with another unanimous decision over Nurbolat Abu at ACA Young Eagles 49 in September 2024. Abu entered that fight with considerably more professional experience and a dangerous submission game of his own.

For a young fighter whose earlier résumé was filled with first-round chokes, consecutive 15-minute victories are useful evidence. ONE isn't simply signing a prospect who has feasted on quick finishes; Israilov has already had to manage complete fights against increasingly experienced opposition.

Ilmadi Israilov's submission record

Israilov's 9-0 record breaks down into six submissions and three decisions, with no professional knockout victories so far.

His early career was particularly ruthless. He submitted Oroza-Ali Naiypzhanov in the first round of his professional debut, followed it with another first-round choke against Zalkarbek Kayimov, and later added rear-naked choke victories along with triangle and guillotine finishes.

That makes the central question surrounding his ONE career fairly obvious: how well does the rest of his game translate when he cannot dictate the grappling?

The promotion's bantamweight roster should provide significantly different tests from the Russian regional circuit. But at 23, with nine wins already behind him, ONE is getting Israilov at an age where there is still considerable room for his striking and overall MMA game to develop.

Who is Kalandar Tabarov?

Kalandar Tabarov has taken a very different route to his unbeaten record.

The Tajik fighter is 5-0 with an 80 percent finishing rate. He went the distance in his professional debut in 2019 and hasn't needed the judges since.

His first stoppage lasted only 13 seconds. The next one was considerably more memorable.

At Open FC 39 in February 2024, Tabarov faced Mavlet Amirov, who brought far more professional experience into the cage. Tabarov set up a spinning wheel kick and landed it clean in the first round, producing the kind of knockout that immediately separates a prospect from a generic unbeaten record.

What happened afterward may be more relevant to evaluating Tabarov as a complete MMA prospect.

Rather than continuing to collect knockouts, he won his next two fights by submission. Mehraban Farhadi tapped to a triangle choke in the second round in October 2025, and Tabarov returned at JCK Fight Night 118 in April 2026 to finish Yeerdanna Ayihengnuer with a first-round arm-triangle.

That gives Tabarov four consecutive finishes: two by strikes and two by submission.

It is a small professional sample, and a 5-0 fighter still has plenty of unanswered questions. But there is already more stylistic variety here than a simple “knockout prospect” label would suggest.

Kalandar Tabarov's spinning wheel kick put him on the prospect radar

Tabarov's knockout of Amirov remains the most visually spectacular moment on his résumé.

A spinning wheel kick can sometimes look like a low-percentage technique thrown in desperation. This wasn't that. Tabarov created the opening, turned cleanly and caught Amirov before the more experienced fighter could react.

It also came against an opponent who entered with an 11-3 professional record, making it much more meaningful than a highlight accumulated against another debutant.

Since then, however, Tabarov has shown he doesn't need that type of strike to find a finish. The triangle against Farhadi and arm-triangle against Ayihengnuer demonstrated that opponents also have to respect him once the fight reaches the mat.

For ONE, that versatility may be the more important quality over the long term.

Why ONE Championship's bantamweight division fits both signings

The two signings arrive with different histories around the weight.

Israilov has already competed as a bantamweight through much of his professional career. Tabarov has spent several recent fights around the 145-pound mark, which aligns naturally with ONE's bantamweight structure.

Stylistically, they also give ONE Championship two prospects who should create very different matchmaking options.

Israilov's strongest evidence is his ability to wrestle, control positions and hunt submissions. Tabarov has shown more obvious knockout power and unpredictability on the feet, but his last two victories have come through grappling.

The similarities are mostly found in the numbers: both are undefeated, both are proven finishers and neither has yet competed under the ONE banner.

Beyond that, they are very different prospects.

When will Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov make their ONE debuts?

ONE has announced the signings but has not yet confirmed debut opponents, dates or events for either fighter.

That makes it too early to project where either man belongs inside the division. Israilov's 9-0 record gives him substantially more professional experience than Tabarov, but records alone do not determine matchmaking, particularly when fighters are arriving from different regional circuits.

The first assignments should reveal plenty.

For Israilov, the most interesting test would be an opponent capable of denying extended grappling exchanges and forcing him to strike for sustained periods. For Tabarov, it will be worth seeing whether his varied finishing game continues to work once the overall level of opposition rises.

What ONE has acquired today is simpler: two undefeated bantamweights, a combined 14-0 record and two prospects who already have enough distinct traits to be worth following before their first promotional appearances are even announced.

Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov FAQ

Did ONE Championship sign Ilmadi Israilov?

Yes. Ilmadi Israilov officially signed with ONE Championship in September 2026. He joins the promotion with a 9-0 professional MMA record.

What is Ilmadi Israilov's MMA record?

Israilov is 9-0 as a professional. Six of his victories have come by submission and three by decision.

How old is Ilmadi Israilov?

Israilov is 23 years old. He made his professional MMA debut as a teenager in 2019.

Did ONE Championship sign Kalandar Tabarov?

Yes. Kalandar Tabarov has signed with ONE Championship after beginning his professional career 5-0.

What is Kalandar Tabarov's MMA record?

Tabarov is 5-0 with four finishes. His current four-fight finishing streak consists of two KO/TKO victories and two submissions.

Who did Kalandar Tabarov knock out with a spinning wheel kick?

Tabarov knocked out Mavlet Amirov with a spinning wheel kick in the first round at Open FC 39 in February 2024.

How did Kalandar Tabarov win his most recent fight?

Tabarov defeated Yeerdanna Ayihengnuer by first-round technical submission with an arm-triangle choke at JCK Fight Night 118 in April 2026, improving to 5-0.

What division will Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov fight in ONE Championship?

ONE has announced both undefeated newcomers for its bantamweight MMA division.

When will Ilmadi Israilov and Kalandar Tabarov make their ONE Championship debuts?

No debut dates or opponents have been announced yet for either fighter.

Is his name Kalandar Tabarov or Qalandar Tabarov?

ONE Championship currently uses the spelling “Kalandar Tabarov,” while several MMA databases and records use “Qalandar Tabarov.” Both spellings refer to the same undefeated Tajik fighter.

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