[2] On November 3, 2009, at the M-1 Challenge – 2009 Selections event, Shamhalaev lost to the future UFC Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov via submission (armbar) in the first round.
In 2012, Shamhalaev started training in Team BombSquad with Pat Bennett, Mike Massenzio, John Franchi, Anthony Leone and Kenny Foster.
Shamhalaev faced Mike Richman in Semifinal Season 7 Featherweight tournament on November 2, 2012, at Bellator 79.
Shamhalaev eventually faced Rad Martinez in the finals of the Season Seven Featherweight Tournament on February 21, 2013, at Bellator 90.
[11] On June 1, 2016, over two years since his last MMA fight, Shamhalaev was shot multiple times in Makhachkala, Russia.