Karimula Barkalaev

Karimula Magomedovich Barkalaev (born 23 January 1973) is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist (MMA) and sanda practitioner. He is the first and only Russian national to have won the ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship.^[2] According to Sport Express, on American forums, he was called the "most mysterious fighter in the history of MMA".^[2] On the MMA ranking system portal Fight Matrix, Barkalaev reached a peak ranking of No. 3 Light Heavyweight in 1999.^[5]

Karimula Barkalaev
Born	Karimula Magomedovich Barkalaev (1973-01-23) 23 January 1973 (age 51)[1][2][3][4] Tivi, Qvareli, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union[1][2][3]
Native name	Каримула Магомедович Баркалаев[1][2][3]
Other names	Kareem Barkalaev
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight	90.72 kg (200 lb; 14 st 4 lb)
Division	Light Heavyweight Heavyweight
Fighting out of	Russia
Team	Russian Top Team
Trainer	Volk Han
Rank	International Master of Sports in Sanda[1]
Years active	1997–2001[2][3]
Mixed martial arts record
Total	12
Wins	11
By knockout	5
By submission	1
By decision	1
By disqualification	1
Unknown	3
Losses	1
By decision	1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record Representing  Russia Submission wrestling ADCC World Championships 1999 Abu Dhabi -88 kg[3] 1998 Abu Dhabi -88 kg[3] Wushu sanda European Wushu Championships 1996 Rome [1]

Background

Barkalaev was born on 23 January 1973, in the village of Tivi, Qvareli, Georgian SSR.^[1][2][3][4] He is of Avar descent.^[2][3]

After sixth grade, he moved to Kaspiysk, Dagestan where he attended a sports boarding school for Judo and graduated in 1990.^[1][2][3] He trained with his cousin, Dzhabrail Barkalaev who later became a silver medalist at the 1996 Russian Judo Championship.^[2][3][6]

In 1993, Barkalaev started training in sanda.^[2][3] He was winner of the 1995 and 1996 Russian Wushu Championships.^[2][3][7] He was also a silver medalist in the 1996 European Wushu Championship in Rome.^[2][7]

In 1997, Barkalaev met Volk Han and would train under him to participate in mixed martial arts.^[2][3]

Mixed martial arts career

Barkalaev spent his early career fighting under the International Absolute Fighting Council (IAFC) promotion in Russia.

On 23 May 1998, he fought against Gilbert Yvel.^[2][3][8] Yvel was disqualified after Barkalaev's coach Volk Han noted the referee Yvel had illegally bitten his fighter^[2][3][8]

On 8 February 2001, Barkalaev competed in the Shidokan Jitsu – Warriors 1 Tournament in Kuwait.^[2][3][7][9] He faced Dave Menne in the finals and lost by unanimous decision after referee, John McCarthy deducted a point for grabbing the cage.^[2][3][7][9] After the fight, he complained how the event was unfair since the referee, as well as all three judges were from the U.S.^[2][3][7][9]

Since that tournament, Barkalaev has not participated in any MMA bouts.^[2][3] He has stated there was a lack of financial incentive and interest in continuing.^[3]

Professional grappling career

In 1998, Barkalaev competed in the inaugural tournament of the ADCC World Championship.^[3][10][11] He defeated Carlos Lopez, Toby Imada and Igor Yakimov to reach the finals of the −88 kg division.^[10] In the finals he lost to Rodrigo Gracie on points after a 30-minute bout.^[3][10][11]

In 1999, Barkalaev returned to compete in the 1999 ADCC World Championship.^{[2][3][11][12]} He defeated Renato Verissimo, Amaury Bitetti and Egan Inoue all by points.^[12] In the finals he faced Belarusian wrestler, Aleksandr Savko where he won on points and became champion of the −88 kg division.^{[2][3][11][12]}

In 2000, Barkalaev moved up in weight class to compete in the −99 kg division of the 2000 ADCC World Championship.^[2][11][13] He defeated Nino Schembri and faced Ricardo Arona in the semi-finals.^{[2][3][7][11][13]} The match between the two eventually became a brawl and Arona won due to points.^{[2][3][7][11][13]} At the time, Barkalaev was an instructor in Abu Dhabi and a representative of a local Sheikh.^{[2][3][7][11]} His action offended the Sheikh who asked for Barkalaev's arrest.^[2][3][11] After the match, Barkalaev was escorted off the mat and spent a week in prison.^{[2][3][7][11]} He was eventually released by the Sheikh and has stated he wanted to have a rematch with Arona under MMA rules.^[2][3][7] Barkalaev has not returned to the UAE since.^[2]

Personal life

As of 2023, Barkalaev works as a director for Dagpotrebsoyuz which is the Consumers' Union of Dagestan.^[2][4]

He teaches his skills to young people and can be found at the Ali Aliyev Sport Complex which he was previously in charge of for five years.^[2]

Barkalaev graduated from business school in 2003.^[4] He was nominated by the Russian All-People's Union to stand in for the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan although he dropped out after registration.^[4]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown

12 matches	11 wins	1 loss
By knockout	5	0
By submission	1	0
By decision	1	1
By disqualification	1	0
Unknown	3	0

Res.	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	11–1	Dave Menne	Decision (unanimous)	Shidokan Jitsu: Warrior's War	8 February 2001	1	10:00	Kuwait City, Kuwait
Win	11–0	Jose Landi-Jons	TKO (punches)			1	5:59
Win	10–0	Dersu Lerma	Decision (unanimous)			1	10:00		Middleweight debut.
Win	9–0	Martin Malkhasyan	TKO (strikes)	IAFC: Brilliant Cup 1999	16 December 1999	1	N/A	Kyiv, Ukraine
Win	8–0	Roman Savochka	KO			1	N/A
Win	7–0	Oleg Chemodurov	TKO (strikes)			1	N/A
Win	6–0	Sergei Akinin	TKO (submission to Punches)	IAFC: Russian Championship 1999 (Day 2)	30 April 1999	1	1:04	Moscow, Russia
Win	5–0	Gilbert Yvel	DQ (biting)	IAFC: European Championship 1998	23 May 1998	1	4:49	Moscow, Russia
Win	4–0	Valery Pliev	N/A	IAFC: Russian Championship 1997	21 December 1997	1	N/A	Moscow, Russia
Win	3–0	Valery Nikulin	N/A			1	N/A
Win	2–0	Igor Gerus	N/A			1	N/A
Win	1–0	Joe Charles	Submission (forearm choke)	IAFC: Absolute Fighting Championship 2: Day 1	30 April 1997	1	9:19	Moscow, Russia	Heavyweight debut.

Submission grappling record

10 Matches, 8 Wins (2 Submission), 2 Losses
Result	Rec.	Opponent	Method	Event	Division	Date	Location
Lose	8–2	Ricardo Arona	Points	ADCC 2000	–99 kg	2000	Abu Dhabi
Win	8–1	Nino Schembri	Points
Win	7–1	Aleksandr Savko	Points	ADCC 1999	–88 kg	1999	Abu Dhabi
Win	6–1	Egan Inoue	Points
Win	5–1	Amaury Bitetti	Points
Win	4–1	Renato Verissimo	Points
Lose	3–1	Rodrigo Gracie	Points	ADCC 1998	–88 kg	1998	Abu Dhabi
Win	3–0	Igor Yakimov	Submission
Win	2–0	Toby Imada	Submission
Win	1–0	Carlos Lopez	Points

External links

• Professional MMA record for Karimula Barkalaev from Sherdog
• Karimula Barkalaev at Tapology.com

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. "Канаев, М. СПОРТИВНАЯ СЛАВА ДАГЕСТАНА. 1956–2009.- Махачкала, 2010.- 187 с." calameo.com. Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
2. ""Завязали глаза и заперли на неделю. Сняли повязку только в самолете". История самого загадочного бойца Дагестана". sport-express.ru (in Russian). 2 May 2020. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
3. ""Забегают маски-шоу. Думаю: "Теракт?" А они за мной». Про него говорили: «Самый загадочный боец в истории ММА"". sport-express.ru (in Russian). 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
4. "Баркалаев Каримула Магомедович – Республика Дагестан, г. Махачкала – Сервис информации по выборам и кандидатам". elections.istra-da.ru. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
5. Barkalaev, Karimula. "Fighter Profile". Fight Matrix. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
6. "JudoInside – Dzhabrail Barkalaev Judoka". www.judoinside.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
7. Sherdog.com. "Vale Tudo Relics: Warriors War". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
8. "Should Gilbert Yvel be allowed to campaign in an Affliction ring?". ESPN.com. 8 December 2008. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
9. Buffer, Bruce (20 June 2013). It's Time!: My 360-Degree View of the UFC. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 978-0-7481-3282-9. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
10. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 1998 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
11. "Top 5 Wrestlers In ADCC History | BJJ Heroes". Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
12. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 1999 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
13. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2000 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2023.