MMA Fighter Convicted of Brutal Murder in Russia Dies in Prison at 33
MMA fighter Farhod Rakhimzoda, convicted of the brutal murder of a woman and her five-year-old daughter in Russia, has died in prison at age 33.
The MMA fighter Farhod Rakhimzoda, known as the "Tiger Eyes" and convicted of the brutal murder of a woman and her five-year-old daughter in Russia, has died at the age of 33 while serving a 23-year prison sentence.
Background and Crime
Rakhimzoda, a native of Tajikistan who lived in Novosibirsk, Russia, competed in mixed martial arts and worked as a taxi driver. He met Olga Yaroslavtseva, a 39-year-old single mother who moved from Kazakhstan to Russia with her daughter Amelia. Yaroslavtseva mentioned to him that she inherited an apartment in Kazakhstan and sold it for 5.4 million rubles.
On January 20, 2024, Rakhimzoda drove the mother and daughter to an isolated location, stabbed the mother to death in front of the child, and later strangled the five-year-old girl. He hid their bodies in different locations and stole the victim's money and car.
Trial and Death
Following the murder, Rakhimzoda attempted to flee to Tajikistan but was arrested on January 25 at the border between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In October 2025, he was convicted of double murder and robbery, receiving a 23-year prison sentence. While serving his time, he died in prison at the age of 33.