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OLD OUTDATED POST
I want to dedicate this thread to HW division and focus on talented HW fighters that should be in UFC.
(POST YOUR SUGGESTIONS!)
Since I am Russian, I am most familiar with Russian MMA scene and Russian fighters. I have 3 undefeated Russian prospects in mind that have beat some legit opposition and that I think deserve a shot in the UFC, especially considering that UFC wants to break in to the Russian market.
At the moment the only Russian HW prospect in UFC is Volkov, I believe that these 3 are at least as good if not better then Volkov (even though Volkov has really improved during his time in the UFC).
1. Vitaliy Minakov - Record: 21 - 0 (12 KOs, 7 Sub, 2 Dec)
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitaly-Minakov-63046
Vitaliy is 4x Sambo World Champion, former Bellator HW champion that left the organization because they couldn't agree about the contract. This guy already has a good fan-base in Russia and an impressive record, with victories against some fighters that the fans in U.S. should be familiar with. At 33 years of age this man is in his prime and needs to get at shot in the UFC. Here is his fight with Bigfoot Silva:
2. Sergey Pavlovich - Record: 12 - 0 (9 KOs, 0 Sub, 3 Dec
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Sergey-Pavlovich-184051
Sergey is 26 years old and currently Fight Nights HW champion with an undefeated record. This guy is physical specimen with an impressive 9 KOs in 12 fights. He is training in Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagles MMA and was with him at AKA during his camp for Barboza fight. Sergey was at that time preparing for his title fight with Krill Sidelnikov (remember a guy they used to call baby Fedor).
3. Ivan "Ural Hulk" Shtyrko - Record: 13 - 0 (5 KOs, 4 Sub, 4 Dec)
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ivan-Shtyrkov-200139
Ivan is 29 year old currently fighting at 205 LHW, but has gone up and taken multiple fights in HW division. Ivan is a master of sport in sambo and has multiple Russian Championship medals in Sambo. He has beaten some former UFC fighters as well: Jeff Monson, Ricco Rodriguez, Bigfoot Silva, Rodney Wallace, Philip De Fries. If he gets a chance in the UFC I think he should stick to 205, mostly because of his height (only 180 cm, 6'0'') that makes him a bit to small for the HWs in the UFC.
UPDATE:
He has already received an offer from UFC and declined, saying that he's not ready (which raises suspicions of doping). Even people in the comments say that he will not pass USADA.
I think that a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty and this guy has never been caught. Meanwhile there are several fighters in UFC that have been caught multiple times.
Do you know of any talented HWs that should get at shot in UFC? (Post info and footage is avaliable)
I want to dedicate this thread to HW division and focus on talented HW fighters that should be in UFC.
(POST YOUR SUGGESTIONS!)
Since I am Russian, I am most familiar with Russian MMA scene and Russian fighters. I have 3 undefeated Russian prospects in mind that have beat some legit opposition and that I think deserve a shot in the UFC, especially considering that UFC wants to break in to the Russian market.
At the moment the only Russian HW prospect in UFC is Volkov, I believe that these 3 are at least as good if not better then Volkov (even though Volkov has really improved during his time in the UFC).
1. Vitaliy Minakov - Record: 21 - 0 (12 KOs, 7 Sub, 2 Dec)
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Vitaly-Minakov-63046
Vitaliy is 4x Sambo World Champion, former Bellator HW champion that left the organization because they couldn't agree about the contract. This guy already has a good fan-base in Russia and an impressive record, with victories against some fighters that the fans in U.S. should be familiar with. At 33 years of age this man is in his prime and needs to get at shot in the UFC. Here is his fight with Bigfoot Silva:
2. Sergey Pavlovich - Record: 12 - 0 (9 KOs, 0 Sub, 3 Dec
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Sergey-Pavlovich-184051
Sergey is 26 years old and currently Fight Nights HW champion with an undefeated record. This guy is physical specimen with an impressive 9 KOs in 12 fights. He is training in Khabib Nurmagomedov's Eagles MMA and was with him at AKA during his camp for Barboza fight. Sergey was at that time preparing for his title fight with Krill Sidelnikov (remember a guy they used to call baby Fedor).
3. Ivan "Ural Hulk" Shtyrko - Record: 13 - 0 (5 KOs, 4 Sub, 4 Dec)
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Ivan-Shtyrkov-200139
Ivan is 29 year old currently fighting at 205 LHW, but has gone up and taken multiple fights in HW division. Ivan is a master of sport in sambo and has multiple Russian Championship medals in Sambo. He has beaten some former UFC fighters as well: Jeff Monson, Ricco Rodriguez, Bigfoot Silva, Rodney Wallace, Philip De Fries. If he gets a chance in the UFC I think he should stick to 205, mostly because of his height (only 180 cm, 6'0'') that makes him a bit to small for the HWs in the UFC.
UPDATE:
He has already received an offer from UFC and declined, saying that he's not ready (which raises suspicions of doping). Even people in the comments say that he will not pass USADA.
I think that a person should be considered innocent until proven guilty and this guy has never been caught. Meanwhile there are several fighters in UFC that have been caught multiple times.
Do you know of any talented HWs that should get at shot in UFC? (Post info and footage is avaliable)
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