Analysis ranks top 10 Russian heavyweight fighters in MMA history

A detailed ranking positions Russian heavyweights as second only to Americans in MMA history. Fedor Emelianenko tops the list as one of the 2-3 greatest heavyweights ever, followed by Alexander Volkov with 14 UFC wins and Bellator championship. The list includes Andrei Arlovski as a three-time UFC champion, Sergei Pavlovich as a title challenger with six consecutive first-round knockouts, and Sergei Kharitonov as a Pride Grand Prix semifinalist. Also featured are Anatoly Malykhin (ONE triple champion), Vitaly Minakov (Bellator champion), Alexey Oleinik (second in UFC heavyweight submission wins), Vadim Nemkov (PFL heavyweight champion), and a group including Valentin Moldavsky, Sergey Spivak, and others. The analysis notes that victories by Nemkov over Ngannou or Volkov/Pavlovich in UFC title fights would have elevated Russian heavyweights closer to American dominance.