He’s an MMA heavyweight who really made a name for himself when he claimed the Bellator Fighting Championships heavyweight title back in 2012. That victory put him on the map, and he continued building momentum by capturing the M-1 Global Heavyweight Championship in February 2016. Not long after that big win, he signed with the UFC—marking another major step in his rising career. Before all the fame and spotlight, he actually started his professional MMA journey in 2009, steadily working his way up the ranks. What a lot of people don’t know is that alongside his fighting career, he was also focused on academics—he earned his bachelor’s degree in engineering from Bauman Moscow State Technical University. Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, he’s always carried that background with pride, and it’s been a key part of shaping who he is today. His journey—from his early days in Moscow to becoming a recognized name in MMA—shows just how much dedication and balance can lead to success.