Rizvan Kuniev
#8 HeavyweightRecord 13-3-1RussiaGorets Fight Team
The style
Volume Boxing Heavyweight
Jab-first combination boxing · Iron takedown defense · High work rate
GrapplingStriking
Kuniev is a Dagestan-born heavyweight who captured the Eagle FC heavyweight title before earning his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series. Unusual for the division, he fights like a big middleweight — crisp, jab-heavy boxing, steady volume, and takedown defense that has stuffed 93 percent of attempts against him. His official UFC debut was a split-decision loss to Curtis Blaydes that most media scorecards actually had him winning. He rebounded in February 2026 by out-pointing grappling ace Jailton Almeida, turning away all eight of Almeida's takedown attempts along the way.
Tale of the tape
| Record | 13-3-1 |
| Age | 34 |
| Height | 6'4" |
| Reach | 76" |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Country | Russia |
| Team | Gorets Fight Team |
The numbers
Career UFC averages.
| Sig. strikes landed / min | 3.94 |
| Striking accuracy | 54% |
| Sig. strikes absorbed / min | 2.33 |
| Striking defense | 48% |
| Takedowns / 15 min | 0.98 |
| Takedown accuracy | 75% |
| Takedown defense | 93% |
| Submission attempts / 15 min | 0 |
How they win
6 KO/TKO2 SUB5 DEC
How they lose
0 KO/TKO0 SUB3 DEC