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
-
BY POINTS
20 (19%) -
BY ADVANTAGES
0 (0%) -
BY SUBMISSION
78 (74%) -
BY DECISION
5 (5%) -
BY PENALTIES
0 (0%) - BY DQ
2 (2%)
78 SUBMISSIONS WINS
-
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
Eldar Rafigaev Fight History
ID | Opponent | W/L | Method | Competition | Weight | Stage | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14564 | Adam WardzinskiAdam Wardzinski | L | Pts: 13x6 | Poznan Pro | 110KG | F | 2017 |
15471 | Mathias Ribeiro | L | N/A | Spanish Nat. | ABS | SF | 2018 |
15576 | Adam WardzinskiAdam Wardzinski | L | DQ | ACB European | ABS | F | 2018 |
15919 | Tommy LangakerTommy Langaker | L | Pts: 15x0 | Torino Challenge | ABS | SF | 2018 |
15927 | Gabriel LucasGabriel Lucas | L | Pts: 2x0 | ACB Asian Open | O95KG | F | 2018 |
15938 | Gabriel LucasGabriel Lucas | L | Pts: 2x0 | Curitiba Open | O95KG | F | 2018 |
16188 | Erberth SantosErberth Santos | L | Footlock | World Pro | 110KG | 4F | 2018 |
16194 | Nelton PontesNelton Pontes | L | Pts: 10x0 | World Pro | 110KG | RPC | 2018 |
16405 | Adam WardzinskiAdam Wardzinski | L | Shoulder pressure | Paris Spring Open | ABS | F | 2018 |
16804 | Sebastian BroscheSebastian Brosche | L | Points | German Nats | ABS | SF | 2018 |
17127 | Seif HoumineSeif Houmine | L | Pts: 5x0 | ACBJJ NG Poland | O95KG | F | 2018 |
17972 | Diego RamalhoDiego Ramalho | L | Pts: 4x2 | German Nat. Pro | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
18035 | Adam WardzinskiAdam Wardzinski | L | Pts: 21x2 | Greece Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
18223 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | Pts: 2x2, Adv | Italy Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
18224 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | Pts: 2x0 | Italy Nat. NGP | ABS | F | 2018 |
19015 | Luka Skoric | L | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Slovenia Pro | 110KG | SF | 2019 |
19154 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | Pts: 5x0 | Netherlands Pro | 110KG | F | 2019 |
19533 | Lukasz Michalec | L | RNC | Budapest Open | 100KG | F | 2019 |
20155 | R. EvangelistaR. Evangelista | L | Pts: 3x0 | World Pro | 110KG | 4F | 2019 |
20852 | Luca AnacoretaLuca Anacoreta | L | Bow and arrow | Italian Open | ABS | F | 2019 |
21840 | Kaynan DuarteKaynan Duarte | L | RNC | ADCC | O99KG | R1 | 2019 |
22020 | Matheus GodoyMatheus Godoy | L | Pts: 2x0 | Tel Aviv Open | 100KG | F | 2019 |
22021 | Matheus LunaMatheus Luna | L | Pts: 3x0 | Tel Aviv Open | ABS | SF | 2019 |
22644 | Bruno LimaBruno Lima | L | Pts: 4x0 | Madrid Open | ABS | SF | 2019 |
23367 | Mauricio Lima | L | Pts: 3x0 | France Nat. Pro | 120KG | RR | 2020 |
23369 | Mauricio Lima | L | Submission | France Nat. Pro | 120KG | F | 2020 |
23487 | I. Umarov | L | Points | UWW EU Open | 100KG | F | 2020 |
35495 | Euclides Castro | L | Pts: 3x2 | NoGi GP Rome | 120KG | SF | 2022 |
42448 | John Hansen | L | Pts: 7x2 | UWW World | 130KG | 4F | 2023 |
42470 | Danielius Grebliunas | L | Pts: 5x3 | UWW World NG | 92KG | 8F | 2023 |
44967 | Anton Mikenko | L | Pts: 2x0 | World Pro | 120KG | R1 | 2023 |
44982 | Yatan BuenoYatan Bueno | L | Pts: 3x0 | World Pro | 120KG | RPC | 2023 |
53890 | S. Abussalikhov | L | N/A | UWW World | 130KG | R1 | 2024 |
14083 | Martin Gobel | W | Kimura | Swedish Nats | 100KG | SF | 2017 |
14084 | Patryk Wysocki | W | Points | Swedish Nats | 100KG | F | 2017 |
14097 | Martin Gobel | W | Footlock | German NNG | O97KG | RR | 2017 |
14098 | Marek Zbrog | W | Short choke | German NNG | O97KG | F | 2017 |
14561 | Oualid Sbai | W | Footlock | Poznan Pro | 110KG | 4F | 2017 |
14563 | Seba Szyszka | W | Footlock | Poznan Pro | 110KG | SF | 2017 |
14565 | Samir Krvavac | W | Footlock | Greece Nat. Pro | 110KG | SF | 2017 |
14566 | Samir Krvavac | W | Footlock | Greece Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2017 |
14567 | Samir Krvavac | W | Pts: 13x2 | Greece Nat. Pro | ABS | F | 2017 |
14570 | Antonio Junior | W | Footlock | Italy Nat Pro | 110KG | F | 2017 |
14571 | Luca AnacoretaLuca Anacoreta | W | Footlock | Italy Nat Pro | ABS | 4F | 2017 |
14572 | Antonio Junior | W | Footlock | Italy Nat Pro | ABS | SF | 2017 |
14573 | Bruno Reale | W | Footlock | Italy Nat Pro | ABS | F | 2017 |
14809 | Estefan Joseph | W | Referee Decision | JJIF Worlds | 94KG | R1 | 2018 |
14811 | Faisal AlKitbeFaisal AlKitbe | W | Footlock | JJIF Worlds | 94KG | 4F | 2018 |
14812 | Julian Stonjek | W | Footlock | JJIF Worlds | 94KG | SF | 2018 |
14813 | B. Zawadzki | W | Footlock | JJIF Worlds | 94KG | F | 2018 |
15221 | Eduardo Silveira | W | Footlock | France Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
15222 | Melksedec Franco | W | Footlock | France NGP. | 108KG | F | 2018 |
15223 | Luca AnacoretaLuca Anacoreta | W | DQ | France Nat. Pro | ABS | F | 2018 |
15229 | Jorge Imbrosio | W | Footlock | Spain Nat. Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
15233 | Jorge Imbrosio | W | Footlock | Spain Nat. NGO | 108KG | F | 2018 |
15238 | Igor SilvaIgor Silva | W | Footlock | Netherlands Pro | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
15239 | Antonio Junior | W | Footlock | Netherlands Pro | 110KG | F | 2018 |
15244 | Mathias Schiemann | W | Footlock | Netherlands NGP | 108KG | SF | 2018 |
15245 | Felipe Xavier | W | Footlock | Netherlands NGP | 108KG | F | 2018 |
15464 | Bruno Borges | W | RNC | Spanish NGN | ABS | F | 2018 |
15469 | Martin Gobel | W | Submission | Spanish Nat. | 100KG | SF | 2018 |
15470 | Rodrigo Silva | W | Kneebar | Spanish Nat. | 100KG | F | 2018 |
15569 | M. Maciejewski | W | Footlock | ACB European | O95KG | 4F | 2018 |
15570 | Jarosław Gajek | W | Footlock | ACB European | O95KG | SF | 2018 |
15571 | Antonio Junior | W | Footlock | ACB European | O95KG | F | 2018 |
15572 | Helton JoseHelton Jose | W | Referee Decision | ACB European | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
15574 | Jedrzej Loska | W | Pts: 11x0 | ACB European | ABS | SF | 2018 |
15674 | Edward Ingamells | W | Footlock | European NoGi | O97KG | SF | 2018 |
15675 | Jamie Hughes | W | Kneebar | European NoGi | O97KG | F | 2018 |
15698 | Edward Ingamells | W | Straight ankle lock | Rome Open | O100KG | F | 2018 |
15914 | Ronaldo Jesus | W | Footlock | Torino Challenge | O100KG | F | 2018 |
15917 | Douglas Felippe | W | DQ | Torino Challenge | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
15923 | Moku Kahawai | W | Pts: 2x0 | ACB Asian Open | O95KG | 4F | 2018 |
15925 | Rogel Monsalve | W | Pts: 2x0 | ACB Asian Open | O95KG | SF | 2018 |
15935 | Joseph Moku | W | Pts: 2x0 | Curitiba Open | O95KG | 4F | 2018 |
15937 | Rogel Monsalve | W | N/A | Curitiba Open | O95KG | SF | 2018 |
16402 | Tyrone Gonsalves | W | Triangle | Paris Spring NGO | ABS | F | 2018 |
16403 | Martin Gobel | W | Cross choke | Paris Spring Open | O100KG | F | 2018 |
16807 | Martin Gobel | W | N/A | German Nats | O100KG | SF | 2018 |
16808 | Rodrigo Silva | W | Choke from back | German Nats | O100KG | F | 2018 |
16809 | Nicolas Penzer | W | RNC | German NGN | ABS | F | 2018 |
17125 | B. MatiasB. Matias | W | Footlock | ACBJJ NG Poland | O95KG | RR | 2018 |
17142 | Antonio Junior | W | Footlock | ACBJJ Poland | O95KG | SF | 2018 |
17144 | Seif HoumineSeif Houmine | W | Footlock | ACBJJ Poland | O95KG | F | 2018 |
17798 | Benjamin Sehic | W | RNC | ADCC EU Trials | O99KG | 4F | 2018 |
17799 | Victor Pejgorski | W | Submission | ADCC EU Trials | O99KG | SF | 2018 |
17800 | Zois Kaperonis | W | RNC | ADCC EU Trials | O99KG | F | 2018 |
17801 | I. Arzoumanidis | W | Straight ankle lock | ADCC EU Trials | 99KG | F | 2018 |
17893 | Paulo Brasil | W | Toe hold | Paris Fall Open | O100KG | F | 2018 |
17896 | Nicolas Penzer | W | Triangle | Paris Fall NGO | O97KG | F | 2018 |
17971 | Cedric Bonnet | W | Pts: 18x0 | German Nat. Pro | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
18033 | Samir Krvavac | W | Submission | Greece Nat. Pro | 110KG | SF | 2018 |
18036 | Samir Krvavac | W | Pts: 18x0 | Greece Nat. Pro | ABS | 4F | 2018 |
18037 | Ioannis Rousakis | W | Footlock | Greece Nat. Pro | ABS | SF | 2018 |
18038 | Andreas Perales | W | Footlock | Greece Nat. Pro | ABS | F | 2018 |
18228 | Paulo Brasil | W | Footlock | Lisbon Open | ABS | SF | 2018 |
18230 | Henrique CardosoHenrique Cardoso | W | Kneebar | Lisbon Open | ABS | F | 2018 |
18231 | Bruno Borges | W | Kneebar | Lisbon NGO | ABS | F | 2018 |
18411 | P. Kwiatkowski | W | Pts: 52x0 | Berlin Open | 100KG | F | 2018 |
18568 | Max Arnold | W | Footlock | Croatia Pro | ABS | RR | 2018 |
18569 | Max Arnold | W | Footlock | Croatia Pro | ABS | RR | 2018 |
19018 | Matko Kvesic | W | Pts: 2x0 | Slovenia Pro | ABS | F | 2019 |
19152 | Walter dos Santos | W | Footlock | Netherlands Pro | 110KG | SF | 2019 |
19155 | Arthur Pucci | W | Referee Decision | Netherlands NGP | 108KG | F | 2019 |
19532 | Tiago Silva | W | Footlock | Budapest Open | 100KG | SF | 2019 |
19537 | Thiago AbudThiago Abud | W | Kneebar | Budapest NGO | ABS | F | 2019 |
19540 | J. Mroczkowski | W | Straight Ankle Lock | Poznan Open | O100KG | F | 2019 |
19541 | David Benzaken | W | Points | Poznan Open | ABS | SF | 2019 |
19542 | Piotr Frechowicz | W | Kneebar | Poznan Open | ABS | F | 2019 |
19543 | Dmitrii Vostrikov | W | Toe hold | Poznan NGO | O97KG | F | 2019 |
19861 | Martin Gobel | W | Footlock | Rome Open | O100KG | SF | 2019 |
19862 | Lukasz Michalec | W | Points | Rome Open | O100KG | F | 2019 |
19951 | Luka Skoric | W | Kneebar | Munich Open | ABS | F | 2019 |
19952 | Nicolas Penzer | W | Pts: 8x0 | Munich NGO | ABS | F | 2019 |
20029 | Krzysztof Flak | W | Footlock | Austria Nat. Pro | 110KG | RR | 2019 |
20030 | Edvin Ramdedovic | W | Footlock | Austria Nat. Pro | 110KG | RR | 2019 |
20152 | Muslim PatsarigovMuslim Patsarigov | W | Triangle | World Pro | 110KG | R1 | 2019 |
20498 | Amarildo Dumas | W | Footlock | Paris Spring Open | 100KG | F | 2019 |
20499 | David Benzaken | W | Footlock | Paris Spring Open | ABS | F | 2019 |
20853 | Danilo Lopes | W | Footlock | Italian NGO | ABS | F | 2019 |
21550 | Martin Gobel | W | Submission | Geneve Open | 100KG | F | 2019 |
21556 | Martin Gobel | W | Armbar | Geneve NGO | O97KG | F | 2019 |
22018 | Almog Britsch | W | Footlock | Tel Aviv Open | 100KG | SF | 2019 |
22443 | Hassine Azarkan | W | Armbar | Amsterdam Open | O100KG | F | 2019 |
22642 | Raphael Souza | W | Points | Madrid Open | O100KG | F | 2019 |
22658 | Samuel Khan | W | Submission | Paris Open | ABS | 4F | 2019 |
22660 | Leon LarmanLeon Larman | W | Referee Decision | Paris Open | ABS | SF | 2019 |
23368 | Walter Santos | W | Referee Decision | France Nat. Pro | 120KG | RR | 2020 |
23485 | A. Britsch | W | Footlock | UWW EU Open | 100KG | 4F | 2020 |
23486 | J. Czuback | W | Footlock | UWW EU Open | 100KG | SF | 2020 |
23490 | Marek Bujlo | W | Submission | Munich Open | 100KG | SF | 2020 |
23491 | Jan Zander | W | Submission | Munich Open | 100KG | F | 2020 |
35496 | Wesley Lopes | W | Pts: 6x1 | NoGi GP Rome | 120KG | F | 2022 |
42451 | Ivan Snihur | W | Triangle | UWW World | 130KG | 3RD | 2023 |
44976 | Alfonso Figueredo | W | Pts: 27x0 | World Pro | 120KG | RPC | 2023 |
44979 | Dmitrii Vostrikov | W | Submission | World Pro | 120KG | RPC | 2023 |
53893 | I. Snihur | W | N/A | UWW World | 130KG | RPC | 2024 |
53895 | A. Gairbekov | W | N/A | UWW World | 130KG | 3RD | 2024 |
Eldar Rafigaev vs Mathias Ribeiro
Eldar Rafigaev vs Thiago Abud
Eldar Rafigaev vs Dimitrii Vostikov