Rafael Mahir Aghayev (Azerbaijani:Rafael Ağayev; born March 4, 1985) is an Azerbaijanikarateka. He won the silver medal in the men's kumite 75 kg division at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. He is a five-time world champion, and eleven-time European champion in his discipline.[1] Aghayev is currently signed byKarate Combat and is the reigning welterweight champion in the promotion with a record of 5-0.
After graduating fromSumgait city school No. 21 in 2003, Aghayev entered the field of martial arts at theAzerbaijan Sport Academy graduating in 2007 as a specialty trainer-instructor in karate. From 2007 to 2008, he served in theAzerbaijani Armed Forces in theAghjabadi District, before being transferred to the Central Sports Club of theMinistry of Defence due to his status as a promising sportsman.[2]
Aghayev's father encouraged a love for sports in his three sons, and thus, Aghayev always intended to pursue a career in athletics. His oldest brother Ruslan trained inJudo, and his second oldest brother Rustam is aboxer.[2]
At seven years old, Aghayev became involved in football, and at the same time, began training inkarate under the instruction of his first coach, Rafael Mammadov. He went on to train for several years. Participating in the first national competition, he was noticed and invited to train in one of the famous sports clubs of the Republic, Budokan, under the leadership of Fizuli Musayev.[2]
At the first championship of the Republic, Aghayev won an overwhelming victory over all his rivals and was noted by the President of the National Karate Federation, Yashar Bashirov, who saw great potential in him and his unusual fighting tactics. Aghayev was very diligent and had the will to win, but he lacked international experience. He first took part in the National Team in 1997, at the open World Cup inMiskolc,Hungary. His first performances were not successful at the international level competition, but the next year he won the Open Championship of England and performed very well from then on.[2]
At his first World Championship among Cadets and Juniors, which was held in 2001 inAthens, he won 3rd place in the team event, and the following year became the European Champion. Thus, up to this day, he holds the lead in his weight class. Despite his young age, he managed to achieve all of the highest sporting victories in karate; he is a multiple European Champion and repeated as World Champion. At one World Championship he was able to win two gold medals. This happened in 2008 at the 18th World Championship inTokyo, when he won in the 70 kg weight category and in the open category. The President of the World Karate Federation,Antonio Espinosa called him the "Diamond of the Karate World."[2]
Hidayat Shabanov, a senior team coach, played an important role in Aghayev's career. For more than eight years, Shabanov trained him and shared in his victories. For outstanding sports achievements at the international arena, Aghayev has repeatedly received awards from the National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Azerbaijan Republic, and he ranked amongst the ten best sportsmen of the country for several consecutive years. From the official sponsor of the Federation, the International Bank of Azerbaijan, he received the keys to a new apartment in one of the elite areas of the city, as well as anAudi Q7.[2]
Currently, Aghayev is captain of the Azerbaijan team, and continuing to train and perform under the guidance of new senior coach Rahman Hatamov.
In June 2015,Azerbaijan was the host country for theinaugural European Games. Competing inkarate, more specifically Kumite for 75 kilograms, Aghayev earned a gold medal.
In August 2021, Aghayev competed in the inauguralOlympics Karate event, earning silver medal in theMen's kumite 75 kg division.
Team kumite Kumite -75 kg
Kumite -75 kg
Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Kumite open Kumite -70 kg Kumite -70 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite -75 kg Team kumite Kumite open Team kumite Kumite open Kumite -70 kg Kumite open Kumite -65 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg Kumite -75 kg| 5 matches | 5 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 0 | 0 |
| By decision | 5 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 5–0 | Josh Quayhagen | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat 40 | June 24, 2023 | 5 | 3:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Won and unified theKarate Combat Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–0 | Raymond Daniels | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat 37 | December 17, 2022 | 5 | 3:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Won the interimKarate Combat Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Davy Dona | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat Season 4 Event 4 | June 25, 2022 | 3 | 3:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Zsolt Habda | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat Season 4 Event 3 | June 11, 2022 | 3 | 3:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Dionicio Gustavo | Decision (unanimous) | Karate Combat: Genesis | February 3, 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Budapest,Hungary |
