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PFL Featherweight

Timur Khizriev VS Gabriel Braga

Wintrust Arena, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Tale of the Tape

Timur Khizriev VS Gabriel Braga
19-0-0 Record 10-2-0
30 Age 28
172 cm Height 175 cm
175 cm Reach 183 cm
orthodox Stance unknown
21% Finish rate 50%
16% KO rate 40%
5% Sub rate 10%

Result Summary

Timur Khizriev def. Gabriel Braga Decision (split) · R3 5:00

Timur Khizriev defeated Gabriel Braga by split decision in the featherweight co-main at PFL Chicago: Carmouche vs. Bishop 2 on October 16, 2026. Two judges scored it 29-28 for Khizriev, with one returning a 28-29 card for Braga after three competitive rounds. Khizriev was unable to land a takedown across all three frames and was hurt badly in the first two rounds, leaving the result genuinely in dispute entering the final card read. The win came in Khizriev's first appearance in nearly two years, during which he had been sidelined recovering from a gunshot attack he survived in Dagestan in 2025. The pair had met previously at the 2024 PFL playoffs, where Khizriev also took a split decision.

Fight Overview

Timur Khizriev (18-0) returns from a two-year layoff following his 2024 PFL Featherweight Championship to face Gabriel Braga (17-3) in the immediate rematch of their split-decision semifinal — a fight Braga's corner believed they won. Braga has stayed sharp with a 3-1 run since that loss while the unbeaten Dagestani has been away from competition entirely, making this a genuine stylistic test between Khizriev's wrestling-centric control and Braga's Muay Thai-powered striking and right hand.

Keys to Victory

Timur Khizriev

  1. Close distance quickly to neutralize Braga's Muay Thai timing and get the fight into wrestling range early.
  2. Maintain suffocating top control through chain wrestling to rob Braga of the space his striking game requires.
  3. Manage the layoff's ring-rust risk by staying disciplined in the first round before opening up the grappling.

Gabriel Braga

  1. Use footwork and lateral movement to keep Khizriev at range where his right hand can do damage on the feet.
  2. Set traps on Khizriev's takedown entries by timing knees and elbows in the clinch to punish the shot.
  3. Exploit any ring rust from Khizriev's two-year absence by forcing a fast pace early in the first round.

Last 5 fights

Timur Khizriev

  1. W Brendan Loughnane Decision · 5:00 · 29 NOV 2024
  2. W Gabriel Alves Braga Decision · R3 5:00 · 23 AUG 2024
  3. W Enrique Barzola Decision · R3 5:00 · 28 JUN 2024
  4. W Brett Johns Decision · R3 5:00 · 19 APR 2024
  5. W Justin Gonzales Decision · R3 5:00 · 17 NOV 2023

Gabriel Braga

  1. W Cheyden Leialoha Decision · R3 5:00 · 11 APR 2026
  2. L Jesus Pinedo KO · R1 1:16 · 12 JUN 2025
  3. W Frederik Dupras Submission · R1 4:37 · 3 APR 2025
  4. W Faeez Jacobs Decision · R3 5:00 · 2 JUL 2022
  5. W Rogerio Furtado Decision · R3 5:00 · 11 MAR 2022

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AI-generated This analysis was generated with AI and may contain errors.

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