UFC Fighters Remember Wrestling Legend Buvaisar Saitiev
UFC fighters and the wider wrestling community paid tribute after Buvaisar Saitiev, one of freestyle wrestling’s most accomplished champions, died on March 2, 2025. He was 49. Retired UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and then-current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev were among those who remembered Saitiev, whose Olympic and world titles made him an enduring figure for athletes across combat sports.
A rare career of Olympic and world titles
Saitiev won three Olympic gold medals in freestyle wrestling: at Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008. He also captured six world championships and six European titles, primarily competing at 74 kilograms. United World Wrestling described him as one of the greatest freestyle wrestlers in history and confirmed his death at age 49. The organization did not announce a cause of death.
His results spanned more than a decade at the top of the sport. Saitiev’s technical skill and composure on the mat influenced generations of wrestlers, including athletes from the Caucasus region whose grappling traditions have helped shape modern mixed martial arts. His legacy reached beyond medal counts: prominent fighters often cited elite wrestlers as models for the discipline and positional awareness needed in MMA.
Khabib and Makhachev shared tributes
Nurmagomedov and Makhachev both posted messages after news of Saitiev’s passing. Nurmagomedov said Saitiev had inspired millions of children and offered condolences to his family and loved ones. Makhachev called him a legend and also sent condolences to the family. Their tributes reflected Saitiev’s influence on athletes who moved from wrestling into the UFC and continued to value its technical foundations.
Other wrestlers and combat sports figures also expressed respect for the champion. Saitiev was admired internationally, including by rivals who had faced him on the mat. His career included setbacks as well as victories: at the Sydney 2000 Olympics he lost to American Brandon Slay and finished ninth, before returning to win Olympic gold again in 2004 and 2008.
A lasting influence on grappling
Saitiev’s three Olympic titles placed him among the most decorated wrestlers of his era, while his six world championships reinforced his consistency against the sport’s strongest international fields. For MMA athletes, his career stands as a reminder of how world-class wrestling can provide a foundation for success in the cage without diminishing the artistry of the original sport.
United World Wrestling’s obituary records his career and confirms his age at death. MMA Fighting reported the tributes from Nurmagomedov and Makhachev.
