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Eldar “Yakuza” Rafigaev

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Eldar Rafigaev, commonly known as Yakuza, is an Eastern European grappler, from Moldova, and one of the prominent competitors of his generation. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt under Fernando Araújo, Yakuza gained notoriety while competing in the sport’s international gi and nogi circuits – with a particular incidence in Europe, being praised for his submission oriented style, particularly successful with lower limb submissions.

Eldar Rafigaev Jiu-Jitsu

Full Name: Eldar Rafigaev

Nickname: Eldar is widely recognized as ‘Yakuza’, to the point that it is used by Rafigaev as his social media handle. The nickname was given by his boxing training partners, a combat style he practiced prior to discovering BJJ. The reason for that label being his love for Japanese design tattoos, which he has covering his body to a large extent. This was a style popularized by the Yakuza, the well-known members of Japan’s crime syndicates, from which his nickname derives.

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Carlson Gracie > Francisco Albuquerque > Fernando Araújo > Eldar Rafigaev

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place ADCC European Trials (2018)
  • 1st Place ACBJJ European Championship (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2018 Master)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Masters European Open (2018** / 2019)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open NoGi (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Spanish Nationals (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF German Nationals (2017)
  • 1st Place IBJJF German Nationals NoGi (2017)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Poznan Open (2019**)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Rome Open (2019)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Paris Fall Open (2018)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Paris Spring Open (2019*)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Paris Fall Open NoGi (2018)
  • 1st Place UAEJJF Netherlands Nat. Pro (2018)
  • 2nd Place ACBJJ European Championship (2018*)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2019 Master)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2018* Master)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

  • 1st Place UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro (2017 brown)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2017** brown)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Masters European Open (2017** brown)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2014 purple, 2016 brown)

Favorite Position/Technique: Toe Hold / Kneebar

Weight Division: Super Pesado (100,50 kg / 222.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Jungle BJJ

Eldar Rafigaev Biography

Eldar Rafigaev was born on April 14, 1987, in Chisinau, the capital city of Moldova in Eastern Europe.

Rafigave’s interest in martial arts started during his adulthood while living in the Czech Republic. A time when he joined a boxing club, aged 23. One year later, in 2011, Yakuza finally came across jiu-jitsu, a sport that was just emerging in Eastern Europe at the time. Eldar first started in a smaller Czech gym, whose name was lost with time.

As a blue belt, Eldar arrived at the biggest grappling gym in the Czech Republic, Jungle BJJ. An academy run by Fernando Araújo, one of the country’s grappling pioneers. It was at Jungle BJJ that Yakuza truly started developing as a competitor, a side of grappling he felt compelled to do. His competitive drive helped him accelerate through the belt system at a faster pace than most, earning his black belt with 6 years of training, midway through 2017, after conquering a brown belt world title with the UAEJJF.

Eldar Rafigaev Grappling Record

107 WINS
  • BY POINTS
    20 (19%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    0 (0%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    80 (75%)
  • BY DECISION
    5 (5%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    2 (2%)

80 SUBMISSIONS WINS

#214eb8
Footlock
55
44
#86e620
Submission
11
9
#5AD3D1
Kneebar
10
8
#d1212a
RNC
5
4
#fad11b
Triangle
5
4
#f58822
Straight ankle lock
4
3
#224aba
Toe hold
3
2
#ff9124
Armbar
3
2
#bf1f6c
Kimura
1
1
#22c9a5
Short choke
1
1
#fad223
Cross choke
1
1
#03861f
Choke from back
1
1
80
(100%) SUBMISSIONS
33 LOSSES
  • BY POINTS
    24 (73%)
  • BY ADVANTAGES
    2 (6%)
  • BY SUBMISSION
    6 (18%)
  • BY DECISION
    0 (0%)
  • BY PENALTIES
    0 (0%)
  • BY DQ
    1 (3%)

6 SUBMISSIONS LOSSES

#214eb8
RNC
33
2
#86e620
Footlock
17
1
#5AD3D1
Shoulder pressure
17
1
#d1212a
Bow and arrow
17
1
#fad11b
Submission
17
1
6
(100%) SUBMISSIONS

Eldar Rafigaev Fight History

ID Opponent W/L Method Competition Weight Stage Year
14573Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLPts: 13x6Poznan Pro110KGF2017
15480Mathias RibeiroLN/ASpanish Nat.ABSSF2018
15585Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLDQACB EuropeanABSF2018
15928Tommy LangakerTommy LangakerLPts: 15x0Torino ChallengeABSSF2018
15936Gabriel LucasGabriel LucasLPts: 2x0ACB Asian OpenO95KGF2018
15947Gabriel LucasGabriel LucasLPts: 2x0Curitiba OpenO95KGF2018
16197Erberth SantosErberth SantosLFootlockWorld Pro110KG4F2018
16203Nelton PontesNelton PontesLPts: 10x0World Pro110KGRPC2018
16414Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLShoulder pressureParis Spring OpenABSF2018
16813Sebastian BroscheSebastian BroscheLPointsGerman NatsABSSF2018
17136Seif HoumineSeif HoumineLPts: 5x0ACBJJ NG PolandO95KGF2018
17983Diego RamalhoDiego RamalhoLPts: 4x2German Nat. Pro110KGSF2018
18046Adam WardzinskiAdam WardzinskiLPts: 21x2Greece Nat. Pro110KGF2018
18234R. EvangelistaR. EvangelistaLPts: 2x2, AdvItaly Nat. Pro110KGF2018
18235R. EvangelistaR. EvangelistaLPts: 2x0Italy Nat. NGPABSF2018
19033Luka SkoricLPts: 0x0, AdvSlovenia Pro110KGSF2019
19172R. EvangelistaR. EvangelistaLPts: 5x0Netherlands Pro110KGF2019
19551Lukasz MichalecLRNCBudapest Open100KGF2019
20173R. EvangelistaR. EvangelistaLPts: 3x0World Pro110KG4F2019
20871Luca AnacoretaLuca AnacoretaLBow and arrowItalian OpenABSF2019
21859Kaynan DuarteKaynan DuarteLRNCADCCO99KGR12019
22039Matheus GodoyMatheus GodoyLPts: 2x0Tel Aviv Open100KGF2019
22040Matheus LunaMatheus LunaLPts: 3x0Tel Aviv OpenABSSF2019
22663Bruno LimaBruno LimaLPts: 4x0Madrid OpenABSSF2019
23407Mauricio LimaLPts: 3x0France Nat. Pro120KGRR2020
23409Mauricio LimaLSubmissionFrance Nat. Pro120KGF2020
23527I. UmarovLPointsUWW EU Open100KGF2020
35564Euclides CastroLPts: 3x2NoGi GP Rome120KGSF2022
42554John HansenLPts: 7x2UWW World130KG4F2023
42576Danielius GrebliunasLPts: 5x3UWW World NG92KG8F2023
45074Anton MikenkoLPts: 2x0World Pro120KGR12023
45089Yatan BuenoYatan BuenoLPts: 3x0World Pro120KGRPC2023
54046S. AbussalikhovLN/AUWW World130KGR12024
14092Martin GobelWKimuraSwedish Nats100KGSF2017
14093Patryk WysockiWPointsSwedish Nats100KGF2017
14106Martin GobelWFootlockGerman NNGO97KGRR2017
14107Marek ZbrogWShort chokeGerman NNGO97KGF2017
14570Oualid SbaiWFootlockPoznan Pro110KG4F2017
14572Seba SzyszkaWFootlockPoznan Pro110KGSF2017
14574Samir KrvavacWFootlockGreece Nat. Pro110KGSF2017
14575Samir KrvavacWFootlockGreece Nat. Pro110KGF2017
14576Samir KrvavacWPts: 13x2Greece Nat. ProABSF2017
14579Antonio JuniorWFootlockItaly Nat Pro110KGF2017
14580Luca AnacoretaLuca AnacoretaWFootlockItaly Nat ProABS4F2017
14581Antonio JuniorWFootlockItaly Nat ProABSSF2017
14582Bruno RealeWFootlockItaly Nat ProABSF2017
14818Estefan JosephWReferee DecisionJJIF Worlds94KGR12018
14820Faisal AlKitbeFaisal AlKitbeWFootlockJJIF Worlds94KG4F2018
14821Julian StonjekWFootlockJJIF Worlds94KGSF2018
14822B. ZawadzkiWFootlockJJIF Worlds94KGF2018
15230Eduardo SilveiraWFootlockFrance Nat. Pro110KGF2018
15231Melksedec FrancoWFootlockFrance NGP.108KGF2018
15232Luca AnacoretaLuca AnacoretaWDQFrance Nat. ProABSF2018
15238Jorge ImbrosioWFootlockSpain Nat. Pro110KGF2018
15242Jorge ImbrosioWFootlockSpain Nat. NGO108KGF2018
15247Igor SilvaIgor SilvaWFootlockNetherlands Pro110KGSF2018
15248Antonio JuniorWFootlockNetherlands Pro110KGF2018
15253Mathias SchiemannWFootlockNetherlands NGP108KGSF2018
15254Felipe XavierWFootlockNetherlands NGP108KGF2018
15473Bruno BorgesWRNCSpanish NGNABSF2018
15478Martin GobelWSubmissionSpanish Nat.100KGSF2018
15479Rodrigo SilvaWKneebarSpanish Nat.100KGF2018
15578M. MaciejewskiWFootlockACB EuropeanO95KG4F2018
15579Jarosław GajekWFootlockACB EuropeanO95KGSF2018
15580Antonio JuniorWFootlockACB EuropeanO95KGF2018
15581Helton JoseHelton JoseWReferee DecisionACB EuropeanABS4F2018
15583Jedrzej LoskaWPts: 11x0ACB EuropeanABSSF2018
15683Edward IngamellsWFootlockEuropean NoGiO97KGSF2018
15684Jamie HughesWKneebarEuropean NoGiO97KGF2018
15707Edward IngamellsWStraight ankle lockRome OpenO100KGF2018
15923Ronaldo JesusWFootlockTorino ChallengeO100KGF2018
15926Douglas FelippeWDQTorino ChallengeABS4F2018
15932Moku KahawaiWPts: 2x0ACB Asian OpenO95KG4F2018
15934Rogel MonsalveWPts: 2x0ACB Asian OpenO95KGSF2018
15944Joseph MokuWPts: 2x0Curitiba OpenO95KG4F2018
15946Rogel MonsalveWN/ACuritiba OpenO95KGSF2018
16411Tyrone GonsalvesWTriangleParis Spring NGOABSF2018
16412Martin GobelWCross chokeParis Spring OpenO100KGF2018
16816Martin GobelWN/AGerman NatsO100KGSF2018
16817Rodrigo SilvaWChoke from backGerman NatsO100KGF2018
16818Nicolas PenzerWRNCGerman NGNABSF2018
17134B. MatiasB. MatiasWFootlockACBJJ NG PolandO95KGRR2018
17151Antonio JuniorWFootlockACBJJ PolandO95KGSF2018
17153Seif HoumineSeif HoumineWFootlockACBJJ PolandO95KGF2018
17808Benjamin SehicWRNCADCC EU TrialsO99KG4F2018
17809Victor PejgorskiWSubmissionADCC EU TrialsO99KGSF2018
17810Zois KaperonisWRNCADCC EU TrialsO99KGF2018
17811I. ArzoumanidisWStraight ankle lockADCC EU Trials99KGF2018
17904Paulo BrasilWToe holdParis Fall OpenO100KGF2018
17907Nicolas PenzerWTriangleParis Fall NGOO97KGF2018
17982Cedric BonnetWPts: 18x0German Nat. Pro110KGSF2018
18044Samir KrvavacWSubmissionGreece Nat. Pro110KGSF2018
18047Samir KrvavacWPts: 18x0Greece Nat. ProABS4F2018
18048Ioannis RousakisWFootlockGreece Nat. ProABSSF2018
18049Andreas PeralesWFootlockGreece Nat. ProABSF2018
18239Paulo BrasilWFootlockLisbon OpenABSSF2018
18241Henrique CardosoHenrique CardosoWKneebarLisbon OpenABSF2018
18242Bruno BorgesWKneebarLisbon NGOABSF2018
18422P. KwiatkowskiWPts: 52x0Berlin Open100KGF2018
18585Max ArnoldWFootlockCroatia ProABSRR2018
18586Max ArnoldWFootlockCroatia ProABSRR2018
19036Matko KvesicWPts: 2x0Slovenia ProABSF2019
19170Walter dos SantosWFootlockNetherlands Pro110KGSF2019
19173Arthur PucciWReferee DecisionNetherlands NGP108KGF2019
19550Tiago SilvaWFootlockBudapest Open100KGSF2019
19555Thiago AbudThiago AbudWKneebarBudapest NGOABSF2019
19558J. MroczkowskiWStraight Ankle LockPoznan OpenO100KGF2019
19559David BenzakenWPointsPoznan OpenABSSF2019
19560Piotr FrechowiczWKneebarPoznan OpenABSF2019
19561Dmitrii VostrikovWToe holdPoznan NGOO97KGF2019
19879Martin GobelWFootlockRome OpenO100KGSF2019
19880Lukasz MichalecWPointsRome OpenO100KGF2019
19969Luka SkoricWKneebarMunich OpenABSF2019
19970Nicolas PenzerWPts: 8x0Munich NGOABSF2019
20047Krzysztof FlakWFootlockAustria Nat. Pro110KGRR2019
20048Edvin RamdedovicWFootlockAustria Nat. Pro110KGRR2019
20170Muslim PatsarigovMuslim PatsarigovWTriangleWorld Pro110KGR12019
20516Amarildo DumasWFootlockParis Spring Open100KGF2019
20517David BenzakenWFootlockParis Spring OpenABSF2019
20872Danilo LopesWFootlockItalian NGOABSF2019
21569Martin GobelWSubmissionGeneve Open100KGF2019
21575Martin GobelWArmbarGeneve NGOO97KGF2019
22037Almog BritschWFootlockTel Aviv Open100KGSF2019
22462Hassine AzarkanWArmbarAmsterdam OpenO100KGF2019
22661Raphael SouzaWPointsMadrid OpenO100KGF2019
22677Samuel KhanWSubmissionParis OpenABS4F2019
22679Leon LarmanLeon LarmanWReferee DecisionParis OpenABSSF2019
23408Walter SantosWReferee DecisionFrance Nat. Pro120KGRR2020
23525A. BritschWFootlockUWW EU Open100KG4F2020
23526J. CzubackWFootlockUWW EU Open100KGSF2020
23530Marek BujloWSubmissionMunich Open100KGSF2020
23531Jan ZanderWSubmissionMunich Open100KGF2020
35565Wesley LopesWPts: 6x1NoGi GP Rome120KGF2022
42557Ivan SnihurWTriangleUWW World130KG3RD2023
45083Alfonso FigueredoWPts: 27x0World Pro120KGRPC2023
45086Dmitrii VostrikovWSubmissionWorld Pro120KGRPC2023
54049I. SnihurWN/AUWW World130KGRPC2024
54051A. GairbekovWN/AUWW World130KG3RD2024
57019Marcin KlonowskiWKneebarAJP Valencia120KGSF2025
57020Juan AlbarelloWSubmissionAJP Valencia120KGF2025

Eldar Rafigaev vs Mathias Ribeiro

Eldar Rafigaev vs Thiago Abud

Eldar Rafigaev vs Dimitrii Vostikov

 

Bernardo Faria BJJ Foundations

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