Gadzhi Rabadanov, a prominent fighter trained by Khabib Nurmagomedov and a top contender in the PFL lightweight division, has shared his thoughts on various fight rule sets. While Rabadanov recently secured a points victory over Alex Chizov at PFL Sioux Falls, his past experience in Rizin resonated with him due to its unique rules.
Rabadanov competed in the Rizin ring, specifically on the Bellator vs. Rizin crossover event on New Year’s Eve 2022, where he defeated Koji Takeda by unanimous decision. He seemed to appreciate the Rizin ruleset, which permits soccer kicks and face stomps, reminiscent of the classic Pride FC era.
“Wow, brother, I like this. It’s very good. Very good rules. Like soccer match, you know [laughs]. But little bit crazy. That’s old school. Pride time. Pride and being Japan, Tokyo is very beautiful city. I like that rules but little bit crazy. People don’t understand. It’s so dangerous for fighters. So dangerous. Maybe if they [are] going to make this tournament again, together of course, I try to get [a] fight there,” Rabadanov commented, as reported by Bowks Talking Bouts.
Despite acknowledging the inherent risks, Rabadanov expressed a willingness to compete under such rules again if the opportunity arose. He also indicated a potential interest in bare-knuckle fighting, though with significant reservations.
In contrast to the perceived danger of bare-knuckle combat, Rabadanov voiced a preference for traditional boxing. He stated his intention to pursue boxing matches but firmly rejected the idea of bare-knuckle fighting, labeling it as “a little bit crazy.” This sentiment was echoed by his thoughts on the more extreme Rizin rules, which he described as dangerous, yet still appealing due to their “old school” nature.
Rabadanov’s perspective contrasts with that of Emiliano Sordi, who also competed in a bare-knuckle contest and found the lack of gloves detrimental to his hands.
When questioned about potentially engaging in bare-knuckle bouts, Rabadanov was hesitant. “I’m not sure. But I try to fight in boxing, but bare knuckle is little bit, I don’t know. I’m not sure. Boxing. I like boxing. I will try match, get match to boxing, but not bare knuckle. This is a little bit crazy,” he concluded.