Meet The Original Giant Killer Who Fought Before MMA Had Rules

Mixed martial arts wouldn’t be what it is today without a lot of sacrifice. Over the years the sport has evolved massively, but it came from a very dark place. Promotions like the UFC have perfected production of what was essentially pure violence.

One way to describe the modern UFC fighter is as an athlete. Encompassing a massive range of disciplines, fitness, diet and regimen, a fighter is a complete package. How did the sport come this far in so little time?

Because of guys like this:

 Igor Vovchanchyn

Nicknamed ‘Ice Cold,’ Ukranian mixed martial artist and kickboxer Igor Vovchanchyn was a scary dude. With a total of over 140 professional fights, Igor fought during a very dark era for combat sports.

He quickly became known for fighting opponents much larger than himself. During his peak, Vovchanchyn went a stunning 37 fights without a loss. To put things in perspective the modern UFC fighter is expected to receive a title fight after around 4-8 fights unbeaten.

Video Highlights Below

During his time in Pride FC, Vovchanchyn was hailed as the heaviest hitter in MMA. Bas Rutten once called him ‘every fighter’s worst nightmare.’ By the end of his MMA career, ‘Ice Cold’ had finished 51 of his 59 opponents in victory.

Many of his earlier fights aren’t even documented, and he claims to have had over 50 bareknuckle and unregulated fights in the early 90’s, that’s pre-UFC era. Thankfully we’ve found some great footage, including fights dating back to 1995.

Here’s a wicked Igor Vovchanchyn highlight for you to watch:

Eventually retiring from fighting in 2005, Vovchanchyn was not around for the mainstream boom of MMA. In his native Ukraine, he has a tournament named after him ‘The Vovchanchyn Cup.’

Here’s to you, Igor Vovchanchyn, for helping pave the way for modern MMA. Thanks for reading, and check out our other fight related articles on Scrap Digest!