Timur Khizriev

[3][4] Timur won the redoubtable ACB's Featherweight Grand Prix, defeating his Kavkaz compatriot of Circassian origin, Bibert "Headhunter" Tumenov for the title, on March 22, 2019.

[11] Rasul Dzhalakovich Chotanov himself learned Karate and Wushu Sanda from venerable Martial Arts coach Gusein Magomaev, founder of Five Directions of the World and sensei of notable combat athletes such as Zabit 'ZaBeast' Magomedsharipov, Muslim 'King of Kung Fu' Salikhov, and Magomed 'Tiger' Magomedov[13][14] Timur was juggling his priorities between freestyle wrestling and Wushu Sanda, he eventually decided to fully commit on his wrestling career alone.

[22] This positions Timur among the combat athletes who have a notable indirect connection to resplendent martial art coaches like Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov and Gusein Magomaev.

[13][19] Native of Dagestan, Timur Khizriev who is better known by his nickname "Imam," began his pro MMA career on August 30, 2014; at the young of 18 years old, where he defeated his fellow countryman, Roman Kishev at the Severo-Kavkazsky Federal Okrug - SKFO-Championships.

[24] On March 22, 2015, Timur earned bronze medal as he lost to fellow Dagestani fighter Gamzat Saidbekov in the semifinals of MMA Cup Of Dagestan.

[26] Five months later of the same year, on October 31, Timur was scheduled to face off against future top ranked UFC Lightweight fighter Arman Tsarukyan at Russian MMA Championship, in the city of Obninsk, Kaluga Oblast.

[32] At Amateur MMA Cup Of Russia, Timur was bronze medalist as he lost in the semifinal against his countryman Ivan “Killer Whale” Bondarchuk held in town of Kasimov, Ryazan Oblast.

[36] To top it off for his time at ACB, he manage to win the Grand Prix title, after defeating adroit Circassian talent, Bibert "Headhunter" Tumenov, in the final.

[59][60] On 28 June 2024 Timur was booked to fight against Peruvian veteran, Enrique "El Fuerte" Barzola on PFL 6: Loughnane vs. Gonzales card, on Sanford Pentagon Stadium, in the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States.

[63][64] On August 23, 2024, Timur was scheduled to fight against Brazilian fighter with Muay Thai background Gabriel Braga at The Anthem stadium in Washington D.C., United States.

[71] He was even fasting during the Islamic month of Ramazan, despite the fact he was scheduled to battle against the Welsh grappler, Brett "The Pikey" Johns on PFL 3: Koreshkov vs. Umalatov card.

[11] Timur is feted friends with fighter Saygid "Bengal Tiger" Abdulaev, who currently competes in Flyweight division of Europe paramount MMA promotion Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA).

[11][73] Timur grew up as a fan of mixed martial arts as he watched now defunct Pride Fighting Championships in television in Russia.

[76][77] He also has a younger brother Gamid Shamilovich Khizriev (born May 16, 2022) who has fought in MMA promotion, Fight Nights Global (FNG) of Russia.

[78][79] Gamid who himself is team member of DagFighter has earned two bronze medals in Soyuz MMA (2020 at lightweight; 2022 at welterweight) and one gold at Moscow Pankration Tournament.

[11] However he closely follows the career of Khabib "The Eagle" Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Rashid "Highlander" Magomedov, all of whom are regarded not only as accomplished athletes but also as exemplary individuals, a quality that he believes is increasingly rare in contemporary times.

[83] Early into Timur's combat sports career, he often found himself in street fights, which occurred more frequently than his official amateur and professional MMA matches.

[11] Despite this, he does not support street fighting, particularly for professional fighters as he believes that combat skills should be confined to the gym and official competitions; & should only be reserved for extreme situations where it's necessary to defend oneself or protect loved ones.