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Video released on Wednesday shows 2024 PFL champion Timur Khizriev being shot multiple times by two masked assassins. The sneak attack occurred in a parking lot in Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia as the fighter was seen retrieving items from his car.
In the video, a man is seen running towards the 29-year-old mixed martial artist brandishing a gun then firing from point-blank range. As a second gunman then appears as Timur Khizriev is then seen taking the first assailant to the ground and fighting with him. The second gunman then creeps up on the two men and fires more shots at Khizriev.
MMA Herald shared video of the attack on X (Twitter) with the caption, “Two masked men ambushed Timur in the courtyard of a residential building on Daniyalov Street. When he got out of the Gelendvagen, the attackers opened fire. The athlete was hit by 5 bullets from a traumatic pistol. Khizriev is in surgery, alive.”
🚨В Махачкале расстреляли чемпиона PFL Тимура Хизриева (18-0).
Двое в масках подкараулили Тимура во дворе жилого дома на улице Даниялова. Когда он вышел из гелендвагена, нападавшие открыли стрельбу. В спортсмена попали 5 пуль от травмата пистолета. Хизриев в операционной, жив. pic.twitter.com/KnUN4NYRKX
— Вестник ММА (@VestnikMMA) July 15, 2025
Media reports provide positive news
One report from a Russian Telegram channel Shot stated that Timur Khizriev was in stable condition, and his life is not in danger after the shooting. “According to preliminary data, he has about five wounds in the shoulder, hand and chest. He is undergoing surgery.”
Khizriev’s manager Rizvan Magomedov told MMA Junkie in a text message: “He’s in hospital now. He’s fine. Life is not in danger.”
The masked men reportedly fired 10 shots from two weapons using rubber bullets during the attack. Shot also reported that eyewitnesses said that while fleeing the scene, the criminals shouted insults about Timur Khizriev’s family.
In another report from Russian media outlet Channel Five, the identity of one a reported three attackers has been discovered – a man by the name of Marcel A. who was born in 1995.
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) issued a statement about the attack saying they were aware of the incident and that their thoughts were with Khizriev and his family. Khizriev, who previously fought for Bellator, won the PFL featherweight championship in November is a perfect 18-0 in his pro MMA career.