Blagoi Ivanov
| Blagoy Ivanov | |
|---|---|
| Born | Blagoy Aleksandrov Ivanov October 6, 1986 Sandanski, Bulgaria |
| Other names | "Baga" |
| Residence | Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Nationality | Bulgarian |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Weight | 110.6 kg (244 lb; 17.42 st) |
| Division | 265 |
| Style | Sambo, Judo |
| Team | Combat Sambo - Bulgaria |
| Rank | Black belt in Sambo |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 13 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 0 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
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| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Combat Sambo | ||
Competitor for  Bulgaria |
||
| World Sambo Championships | ||
| Bronze | 2006 World Sambo Championships | 100 kg |
| Gold | 2008 World Sambo Championships | +100 kg |
Blagoy Ivanov (born October 6, 1986) is a Bulgarian Sambo practitioner who won the 2008 Combat Sambo World Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Blagoy has also competed in Judo as a heavyweight national representative for Bulgaria. He competed in the 2003 Balkan Junior Championships and placed first. He then continued in competition up to the European Championships level but only placed 7th in the 2007 U23 Tournament, and did not make an attempt to represent Bulgaria in the 2008 Olympic games. Subsequently it seems that Ivanov has chosen to enter a career in Mixed Martial Arts as opposed to representing Bulgaria in the 2012 Olympic Games.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Sambo career
He notably defeated four-time World Combat Sambo Champion and mixed-martial arts fighter Fedor Emelianenko in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships on November 16, 2008. (He went on to win the finals over Germany's Janosch Stefan the following day.)[2] Ivanov previously faced Emelianenko in February 2008 at Russia’s Presidents Cup Sambo competition, losing the match to Emelianenko.[2]
[edit] Mixed martial arts career
Ivanov started a career in mixed martial arts in his home country (1 win and 1 NC) before going to World Victory Road, where he signed a three fight deal. His first fight took place at Sengoku 9 where he defeated Pride FC veteran, Kazuyuki Fujita[3] by split decision, breaking both hands in the process.
Ivanov was set next to face Fedor's brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, but that fight and eventually the entire event on which the fight should have occurred was canceled because Blagoy had broken both his hands in the fight against Fujita and was not able to heal and prepare properly for his fight with Aleksander.
Recently, in the capital city of Bulgaria - Sofia, Bagata defeated other well known Bulgarian MMA fighter Svetoslav Zahariev who was European champion in grappling, heavyweight division. In the interview given after the fight, Bagata said that he was ready for rematch with Svetoslav, but also with his brother, who is a fighter too. He added that he needs more easy matches like the last one in order to get in shape for the real challenges. According to Blagoi, in December 2010 he would go to fight and train in Las Vegas, USA.
On March 15, 2011, Ivanov announced that he had signed a deal to fight for Bellator. [4]He debuted on March 26, 2011, at Bellator 38 against William Penn and won via first round TKO.
Ivanov was expected to face Thiago Santos as part of a quarterfinals tournament at Bellator 52 on October 1 at the L'Audberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. The tournament will determine a No. 1 contender to face champion Cole Konrad. Santos, however, was unable to travel from Brazil for the event and was replaced by Zak Jensen.[5]
Ivanov defeated Jensen by technical submission due to a guillotine choke at 2:35 into round 2. The 2008 Combat Sambo World Champion Ivanov used superior boxing technique, speed and accuracy to bloody the face of Jensen in round one. Jensen offered little offense, and it bordered on a 10-8 round. An outside trip takedown from Ivanov started off the second frame, where he immediately began to crank on a keylock attempt. Jensen gave up full mount attempting to defend. Eventually, Jensen was able to scramble out, but as he drove forward attempting to push Ivanov against the fence he left his neck exposed. Ivanov locked in a tight guillotine choke that left Jensen unconscious and unable to tap. The impressive performance from Ivanov furthers his career winning streak to eleven.
On 24 Dec 2011, Ivanov defeated Ricco Rodriguez in 3rd round via TKO with a kick to the upper body that some felt hit Rodriguez's head, as he was still getting up from his knees. The fight took place in Chekhov, Moscow suburb, and Ivanov fought under the Russian banner.
[edit] Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 13 matches | 12 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 12-0 (1) |  Ricco Rodriguez |
TKO (retirement) | Chekhov MMA Tournament | December 24, 2011 | 3 | 3:33 | Chekhov, Russia | |
| Win | 11-0 (1) | Zak Jensen |
Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 52 | October 1, 2011 | 2 | 2:35 | Lake Charles, United States | Bellator Season 5: Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal Blagoi left from tournament because of injury |
| Win | 10-0 (1) | William Penn |
TKO (punches) | Bellator 38 | March 26, 2011 | 1 | 2:58 | Tunica, United States | |
| Win | 9-0 (1) | Svetoslav Zahariev |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | Real Pain Challenge 9 | October 9, 2010 | 1 | 3:33 | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 8-0 (1) |  Kazuyuki Fujita |
Decision (split) | World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 9 | August 2, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Broke both hands in the bout |
| NC | 7-0 (1) |  Ilir Latifi |
NC (Ring Broke) | Real Pain Challenge 2 | May 17, 2008 | 1 | 0:55 | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 7-0 | Yancho Dimitrov |
TKO (strikes) | Real Pain Challenge 1 | March 9, 2008 | 1 | 2:31 | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 6-0 | Kamen Georgiev |
Decision (injury) | MMA - Pazardzik | November 3, 2007 | 1 | 5:00 | Pazardzhik, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 5-0 | Kamen Georgiev |
Decision | Bulgarian MMA and First Grappling Challenge 2005 | December 18, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 4-0 | Yavor Marinchev |
Submission | MMA - "Nai club", Hr.Botev hall - Bulgaria | October 15, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 3-0 | Petar Petrov |
Submission | MMA - Varna, Bulgaria | August 15, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Varna, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 2-0 | Panaiot Staikov |
KO | MMA - "Nai club" - Bulgaria | August 1, 2005 | 1 | N/A | Sofia, Bulgaria | |
| Win | 1-0 | Emil Zahariev |
Submission | MMA - "Nai club" - Bulgaria | July 14, 2005 | 5 | 4:00 | Sofia, Bulgaria |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.judoinside.com/uk/?factfile/view/33836/blagoy_ivanov/
- ^ a b http://mmamania.com/2008/11/16/fedor-emelianenko-loses-at-2008-world-combat-sambo-championships/
- ^ http://nightmareofbattle.wordpress.com/2009/05/04/ivanov-in-sengoku-three-fight-deal/
- ^ http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Bellator-Signs-Unbeaten-Heavyweight-Sambo-Champion-Ivanov-30861
- ^ "Bellator 52 weigh-in results: Tourney fighters on weight, Jensen tapped replacement". mmajunkie.com. http://mmajunkie.com/news/25476/bellator-52-weigh-in-results-tourney-fighters-on-weight-jensen-tapped-replacement.mma. Retrieved 2011-10-1.
