Rinat Fakhretdinov says he is unsure whether his professional MMA career will continue, describing a more relaxed psychological state since leaving the UFC. His contract with the promotion was not renewed after his last fight in September, when he knocked out Andreas Gustafsson in 54 seconds. On July 5, Fakhretdinov is set to compete under grappling rules against Armen Petrosyan.
Rinat Fakhretdinov has cast doubt on his future in professional MMA, saying he feels more at ease psychologically since parting ways with the UFC following the expiration of his contract after his most recent fight last September.
The 34-year-old Russian welterweight, who trains out of American Top Team and carries a record of 24-1-1, closed out his UFC tenure in emphatic fashion, knocking out Sweden's Andreas Gustafsson in just 54 seconds. Known as "The Gladiator," Fakhretdinov stands six feet tall with a 74-inch reach and has shown consistent finishing ability throughout his career, averaging 3.91 takedowns per 15 minutes and posting a striking accuracy of 52 percent at a volume of 5.03 significant strikes per minute.
Gustafsson, who fights out of Vasteras Fight Club and holds a 12-3-0 record, entered that bout as a credible opponent. The 35-year-old Swede is a notably active striker, landing 5.82 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 71 percent accuracy, and averaging 6.19 takedowns per 15 minutes. His performance offered little resistance against Fakhretdinov's finishing power on that occasion.
Before any MMA decision is made, Fakhretdinov is scheduled to compete under grappling rules against Armen Petrosyan on July 5. Petrosyan, nicknamed "Superman," is a 35-year-old Armenian fighter with a 9-5-0 record who stands six-foot-three with a 71-inch reach and trains at Academy MMA. He is primarily a striker, averaging 5.84 significant strikes per minute in MMA competition, though the grappling format will place both men in unfamiliar competitive territory.
Why it matters
- Fakhretdinov's uncertainty leaves a 24-1-1 welterweight potentially available to promotions outside the UFC
- His exit removes a dangerous finisher from the UFC's 170-pound roster
- The upcoming grappling match against Petrosyan may influence his appetite for continued competition
