Overview

• On July 15, two masked assailants ambushed Khizriev as he arrived at his residence in Makhachkala, firing five shots before the champion incapacitated one attacker and fled.
• He underwent emergency surgery in a local intensive care unit and has been declared stable with no life-threatening injuries.
• Authorities have identified the suspects’ escape vehicle as a white Lada Priora and launched a manhunt for a third accomplice believed to have driven the getaway car.
• Local media and officials are examining evidence to determine if the attack stemmed from a personal vendetta rather than an opportunistic robbery.
• The shooting has reignited concerns over athlete security in Dagestan, a region known for producing MMA champions and for high-profile criminal attacks.