Sarvadzhon Khamidov made a successful comeback after a year away from competition, defeating Justin Wetzel at PFL San Diego. The bantamweight contender also discussed his training camps alongside Petr Yan and Movsar Evloev, as well as a potential rematch with Magomed Magomedov.
Sarvadzhon Khamidov ended a year-long absence from competition with a winning performance against Justin Wetzel at PFL San Diego, demonstrating that the layoff had done little to dull his edge at bantamweight.
Khamidov's return was notable not only for the result but for the company he has been keeping in the gym. The Tajik contender spoke about training alongside Petr Yan and Movsar Evloev, two of the more accomplished fighters at the top of the Russian MMA scene. Yan, who holds a 20-5 record and currently holds a bantamweight championship at 33 years old, brings elite striking credentials to any camp, landing 5.12 significant strikes per minute at 54 percent accuracy across his career. Evloev, the undefeated featherweight ranked number one in his division at 20-0, adds another elite dimension to that training environment, averaging 4.78 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing at 47 percent striking accuracy.
Khamidov also addressed the prospect of a rematch with Magomed Magomedov, nicknamed TIGER. Magomedov carries a 21-5 professional record and is known for his precision, posting a striking accuracy of 63.4 percent across his career, though his output at 0.65 significant strikes per minute reflects a measured, selective approach on the feet.
Why it matters
- Khamidov's successful return keeps him in the bantamweight conversation after 12 months on the sidelines
- A potential rematch with Magomedov would pit contrasting styles against each other, with Magomedov's surgical accuracy against Khamidov's pressure
- Training alongside a reigning champion in Yan and an undefeated top contender in Evloev suggests Khamidov is investing seriously in his development ahead of a push at title contention
