Ivan Podrugin
25-years-old
8-0-0
Welterweight
It’s been over a year since we’ve seen Ivan Podrugin compete professionally, but the undefeated 25-year-old still has all the tools to become one of the biggest superstars in MMA. Last time out, Podrugin scored his most impressive victory to date, defeating 56-19-3 Alexander “Iron Capture” Butenko, who has since gone on to record back-to-back finishes with Open Fighting Championship.
–
Standing 6-foot-3, Podrugin’s long frame offers a multitude of advantages inside the cage. He fights behind a firm jab, touching up his opponents from range before crashing in for a level change. Podrugin has also proven to be a responsible striker, rarely getting caught during heavy exchanges- he’s constantly moving off the cage and showing feints while pushing forward. While he’s yet to score a knockout finish as a professional, Podrugin is at his best when he’s keeping his opponent guessing. He possesses a beautiful spinning back kick and fast, powerful hooks that are destined to find the button in the future. However, the full extent of Ivan Podrugin’s skill set isn’t truly apparent until the fight hits the canvas.
Podrugin is a master of submission grappling, most notably possessing a rear-naked choke that serves as his go-to finish. He has an expertise in taking his opponent’s back, unleashing ground-and-pound to create opportunities to snatch the neck. When on top, he knows how to use weight distribution to maintain control and executes swift transitions as he advances to more dominant positions. Once Podrugin gets hold of his opponent’s legs, the fight tends to be over fairly quickly. Defensively, he’s equally impressive when facing grappling-heavy opponents. He can counter an incoming level change in various ways, though Podrugin particularly enjoys threatening with a guillotine submission.
Come November 7, Podrugin takes on his second high-profile opponent in a row, Gadzhi Omargadzhiev, at RCC Intro 40. Omargadzhiev, a 2021 Dana White’s Contender Series graduate, had a short stint in the UFC, losing back-to-back decisions to Caio Borralho and Abubakar Nurmagomedov before departing the promotion. Now, Omargadzhiev enters his bout with Podrugin on a two-fight winning streak, most recently defeating an 11-3-0 opponent via first-round guillotine.
Podrugin currently sits at No. 6 in the “Top 25 Prospects Worldwide” rankings, but this matchup looks to be the most meaningful opportunity of his career. A victory over former UFC talent could potentially launch him into the No. 1 spot by the start of next month and may even earn him a place on the UFC roster. Expect big things from the 25-year-old this weekend.
