Among the nations that have dominated the sport of mixed martial arts, Russia is one that has been churning out fighters from the very beginning.
Men like Oleg Taktarov emerged from behind the iron curtain in the early 1990s to prove that the Russian martial art of Sambo could stand alongside its Brazilian and US counterparts as a complete fighting system.
Taktarov was the first Russian MMA fighter to make a name for himself, winning UFC 6 and going on to fight in two other events. However, aside from the legend that is Fedor Emelianenko, few other Russian fighters have left much of an imprint on MMA compared to some other storied nations.
Until now.
With their roots still in the sport of Sambo and emerging from the clubs that produced men like Emelianenko, such as Red Devil Sport Club, Russian fighters now litter the sport at all levels.
From world champions to upcoming stars, this slideshow presents the five best Russian fighters competing in MMA today. These fighters have been selected for their accomplishments as well as their performances in the cage.
Many of these fighters are only now emerging onto the scene but have already caught the attention as potential future champions. They carry with them impressive records and a diverse set of skills.