Top 5: Shamil Musaev Knockouts

Shamil Musaev reached the seven-figure pot of gold at the end of the Professional Fighters League rainbow a little more than a year ago, and he has been bathing in his newfound riches ever since.



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The “Silent Assassin” put away Magomed Umalatov with punches in the third round of their welterweight final as part of the PFL Season Championships on Nov. 29, 2024 at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Musaev drew the curtain 1:44 into Round 3, then exited the cage with a check for $1 million. A tepid first 10 minutes—referee Derek Hickey warned the combatants for timidity on more than one occasion—gave way to the decisive third round. Musaev staggered his compatriot with a crisp counter, pressed forward, feinted an overhand right and connected with a sweeping left hook on the chin. Umalatov hit the deck, where he was met with a volley of unanswered right hands to the side of the head that necessitated the stoppage.

As Musaev prepares to face Ramazan Kuramagomedov for the inaugural Professional Fighters League welterweight championship in the PFL Dubai “Nurmagomedov vs. Davis” co-main event on Saturday at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, his finish of Umalatov stands as one of his most memorable knockouts. Four others to consider:

Shamil Musaev vs. Grzegorz Szulakowski

KSW 52
Dec. 7, 2019 | Gliwice, Poland
Musaev shined in his second assignment under the Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki flag when he cut down the Arrachion Olsztyn product with a spinning backfist in the first round of their lightweight showcase at Arena Gliwice. Szulakowski clocked out a mere 77 seconds into Round 1. Musaev operated from the center of the circular cage, then tested the waters with a few leg kicks and a spinning back kick to the body. He reset, shielded himself from a Szulakowski combination, floated to open space and uncorked another leg kick. Musaev then stepped forward with a spinning backfist that found its intended target, froze his opponent where he stood and left him defenseless against the cage. Six-plus years later, it still ranks as the second-fastest stoppage victory of his career.

Shamil Musaev vs. Alexey Kunchenko

Russian Cagefighting Championship 16
July 28, 2023 | Tyumen, Russia
Musaev disposed of the highly regarded Alexander Shlemenko protégé with a spinning back kick and follow-up punches in the first round of their main event at SK Tsentral’nyy. Finished for the first time as a pro, Kunchenko bowed out 1:26 into Round 1. The two men exchanged leg kicks and made their reads while circling each other inside the cage. Musaev forced the Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran to retreat after burying a spinning back kick into the right side of his midsection. He pinned Kunchenko to the fence with punches, mixed in a knee for good measure and left referee Vyacheslav Kiselev no choice but to intervene.

Shamil Musaev vs. Logan Storley

PFL 3
April 19, 2024 | Chicago
Musaev made the strongest of first impressions in his PFL debut when he punched out the four-time NCAA All-American wrestler in the second round of their welterweight feature at Wintrust Arena. Storley succumbed to blows 27 seconds into Round 2. Musaev turned the tide with a spinning back kick to the body in the first round. He then flurried on Storley with punches and floored him twice—once with a sharp right hand and again with a flying knee. The bell saved the American but only served to delay the inevitable. Storley emerged for the middle stanza a shell of his former self. Musaev dropped him to all fours with a ringing right uppercut, wheeled behind him and unloaded with punches until one final left hook separated the Kill Cliff Fight Club export from his senses.

Shamil Musaev vs. Murad Ramazanov

PFL 6
June 28, 2024 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Musaev secured a playoff spot when he buried the previously unbeaten ONE Championship alum with punches in the second round of their welterweight showdown at the Sanford Pentagon. Ramazanov packed his bags 1:51 into Round 2. After a closely contested and tactical first five minutes, Musaev seized the reins. He negated one takedown, sprawled on another and felled Ramazanov with a devastating left hook. Musaev pounced with follow-up punches as his dazed fellow Russian attempted to stand and continued to blast away with unabated shots to the head until referee Kevin MacDonald had seen enough.