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PFL Bantamweight

Magomed Magomedov VS Leandro Higo

Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, U.S.

Tale of the Tape

Magomed Magomedov VS Leandro Higo
22-6-0 Record 23-8-0
34 Age 37
167 cm Height 172 cm
175 cm Reach 183 cm
64% Finish rate 70%
18% KO rate 13%
45% Sub rate 57%

Result Summary

Magomed Magomedov def. Leandro Higo Decision (split) · R3 5:00

This 137-pound catchweight bout (due to Magomedov missing weight by 0.8 pounds) was a highly competitive back-and-forth grappling and striking affair. Leandro Higo showed his veteran experience, finding moments of success with submissions and forward pressure, but Magomed Magomedov largely controlled the pacing and landed the more impactful strikes during their exchanges. The fight was a grueling tactical battle that went the full 15 minutes. Ultimately, the judges were split, but Magomedov was awarded the split decision victory (30-27, 28-29, 30-27).

Fight Overview

This bantamweight matchup carries a layer of unfinished business: Magomedov and Higo were originally booked to meet in the 2025 PFL quarterfinals before Magomedov withdrew with an injury, postponing the encounter for over a year. Magomedov, the Dagestani submission specialist with 10 career submission victories, enters on a loss — knocked out by Sergio Pettis via spinning back elbow in October 2025 — while Higo, a BJJ black belt with 13 submission wins, is also coming off a split decision loss in his 2025 PFL quarterfinal, setting up a critical regular-season fight between two men whose grappling-first games are remarkably well-matched.

Keys to Victory

Magomed Magomedov

  1. Clinch early and force dirty boxing exchanges where his Dagestani wrestling base allows him to secure trips and drag the fight to the mat.
  2. Advance position relentlessly on the ground rather than settling for control, hunting chokes and arm attacks from top and side control.
  3. Stay composed after the Pettis KO exposed susceptibility to counters, level-changing rather than telegraphing entries into takedowns.

Leandro Higo

  1. Avoid a pure grappling match with a Dagestani wrestler by keeping distance and forcing Magomedov to commit to single-leg shots that can be stuffed and countered.
  2. Immediately look for triangle and armbar setups when the fight hits the ground rather than passively defending Magomedov's pressure.
  3. Use his reach to land the first strike in exchanges and establish a jab-based pace that disrupts Magomedov's rhythm before takedown attempts are initiated.

Last 5 fights

Magomed Magomedov

  1. L Sergio Pettis KO · R2 4:31 · 3 OCT 2025
  2. W Sarvarjon Khamidov Decision · R3 5:00 · 20 JUN 2025
  3. L Patchy Mix Decision · R5 5:00 · 17 MAY 2024
  4. W Danny Sabatello Submission · R1 3:55 · 30 JUL 2023
  5. L Patchy Mix Submission · R2 2:39 · 9 DEC 2022

Leandro Higo

  1. L Marcirley Alves Decision · R3 5:00 · 11 APR 2025
  2. W James Gallagher Decision · R3 5:00 · 22 MAR 2024
  3. W Nikita Mikhailov Submission · R2 2:50 · 11 AUG 2023
  4. L Danny Sabatello Decision · R5 5:00 · 24 JUN 2022
  5. W Darrion Caldwell Decision · R3 5:00 · 21 MAY 2021

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

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