Unbeaten Russian Ivan Gnizditskiy signs with UFC after visa kept him off DWCS

Ivan Gnizditskiy, an unbeaten Russian light heavyweight, has signed with the UFC. His manager, Ali Askarov of Crown Sports Management, told MMA Junkie about the deal on Thursday. The UFC hasn't announced it, but its website now lists him as an active fighter on his athlete page.

The 30-year-old is 7-0 and has finished every opponent: six by knockout or TKO and one by rear-naked choke, according to his ESPN record. MMA Junkie reported that he is expected to debut in December. No opponent or event has been named.

He gets the contract without having to win on the Contender Series first. Gnizditskiy was booked to face Nell Ariano on Dana White's Contender Series on Tuesday, October 6, in Las Vegas. Visa issues derailed his spot on the card, MMA Junkie reported, and UFCalendar lists the bout as cancelled.

Ariano still fought that night. Preston LaGrange knocked him out with a punch at 2:24 of the first round and earned a UFC contract, Cageside Press reported.

It was the second time a Contender Series booking fell through for Gnizditskiy. In September 2025 he was booked against Felipe Franco on week 5 of Season 9 but withdrew, according to Wikipedia. Franco's replacement opponent, Quentin Pasley, pulled out too. Wikipedia's record doesn't say why.

His recent fights have been short. He went 2-0 in ONE Championship in 2025, stopping Kevin Church in March and Khurshidbek Bozarboev in May with punches, both in the first round. His last outing was on March 28, 2026, when he stopped Tursunbek Sodikov with punches in 1:43 of the first round at Chingi Tura, per ESPN. MMA Junkie notes he has seen the second round only twice, and that he has also competed in caged boxing and bareknuckle.

He joins a division led by champion Carlos Ulberg. Magomed Ankalaev, Jiří Procházka, Alex Pereira, Khalil Rountree Jr. and Navajo Stirling make up the top five in the UFC rankings updated on October 10.

Wikipedia's list of UFC events shows two December cards. A Fight Night is set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 5, and UFC 335 for Las Vegas on December 12. Neither has been officially tied to Gnizditskiy.

We think the Riyadh card is the likelier fit. A visa problem kept him out of Las Vegas this month, and UFC 335 on December 12 is also in Las Vegas.