Yusup Saadulaev

Yusup Saadulaev (born March 31, 1981) is a Russian mixed martial artist from Dagestan. He started out as a wrestler and joined Russia Top Team in 2006. Two years later he moved to the US and began to train BJJ under Christian Uflacker in Chicago.

Early career
In 2008 he won a gold medal in the featherweight division at the North American Grappling Association Illinois Grappling Championship. In 2009 he won a gold medal in the featherweight division at the Pan American Championship (Jiu Jitsu) as a blue belt.

Saadulaev made his MMA debut in 2008 and ran up a 8-0-1 record in his first nine fights which all took place in the US. With such a strong record he caught the eye of Dream in Japan who invited him to participate in the bantamweight grand prix quarter finals at Dream 17.

He took on Rodolfo Marques and lost by unanimous decision after a back and forth fight which saw both fighters exchange takedowns.

Despite the loss Dream invited Saadulaev back to fight Hideo Tokoro at Fight For Japan: Genki Desu Ka Omisoka 2011. He won by KO due to a slam in the opening round.

ONEFC
On September 22nd it was announced that he had joined the ONE Fighting Championship Bantamweight Grand Prix and would be fighting Kevin Belingon at ONE Fighting Championship: Rise of Kings on October 6th.

Championships and accomplishments
Grappling
 * NAGA Illinois Champion 2008.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
 * Blue belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan American Champion 2009.