An interesting new challenger has joined the UFC's heavyweight division: Russian Olympic heavyweight wrestler Bilyal Makhov. The news was announced on Instagram by Makhov's gym and training partner.
While the name may not ring a bell for MMA fans, Makhov is a highly accomplished wrestler. Makhov has medaled at the FILA world championships in freestyle wrestling on four separate occasions, taking gold in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and silver in 2011 before winning the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games. As if that wasn't impressive enough, he most recently won bronze at the 2014 FILA world championships in Greco-Roman wrestling.