Igor Vovchanchyn was a Ukrainian mixed martial artist and kickboxer.

Nicknames: Ice Cold, The Ukraine Freight Train

Born: August 6, 1973

Birthplace: Zolochiv, Kharkiv Oblast,Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union

Hometown: Kharkiv, UkraineHeight: 5’8″ (173 cm)

Weight: 235 lbs (107 kg / 16 st 11 lb)

Reach: 68″ (173 cm)

Style: Kickboxing

Stance: Orthodox

Years Active in MMA: 1995-2005 (retired at age 32, citing multiple injuries, including a right hand that remained seriously affected as of 2008.)

Kickboxing Record: 61-2

MMA Record: 55-10 and 1 no-contest

CAREER

After making his professional MMA debut in 1995, he won nine mixed martial arts tournaments, 3 superfights, holds the second longest unbeaten streak in MMA(at 37 fights) has the 6th most wins in MMA (61). He is an MMA legend, and in Ukraine and has a tournament named after him, the Igor Vovchanchyn Cup.

Why Igor Vovchanchyn is one of the greatest fighters of all time?

WON 7 ONE-NIGHT MMA TOURNAMENTS(often fighting three or four times in one day.)

Was considered THE BEST HEAVYWEIGHT AND POUND FOR POUND FIGHTER IN THE WORLD for several years to come(Was one of the few strictly stand-up fighters to successfully overcome grappling-based opponents.)

HELD A 37 FIGHT WIN STREAK(From January 1996 to the final of Pride Grand Prix 2000 tournament.)

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts:

Absolute Fighting Championship 3 winner (1997) International Fighting Championship 1 winner 2000 Pride Openweight Grand Prix runner-up WVC Super Fight Champion (1 Time) World Vale Tudo Championship 5 winner Mr. Powerman SEKAI 1996 (Mr. Strong Guy 1996) winner Ukrainian Octagon winner (1996) AROC 3 winner (1997)

Kickboxing:

Russian Kick Boxing Champion: 63 Fights, 61 Wins, 2 Losses

Won World Kick Boxing/Martial Arts Championship in Moscow, 1995.

Igor and Vitaly Vladymyrovych Klychko was training together at same Kick Boxing GYM.

STYLE OF FIGHTING

Primarily a kickboxer, Vovchanchyn based his MMA game around his punching power, which made him to be considered one of the most dangerous strikers of his time.

Vovchanchyn also displayed significant grappling skills, utilizing his sambo background, and would work a vicious ground and pound offense with short and hard strikes from the top.

He was able to surprise many with his defensive guard and dexterity on the ground despite being known primarily as a striker and displayed this ability against submission fighters

Despite his small size, Vovchanchyn was known for his toughness and strength, leading Nobuhiko Takada to call him a “strongman”.

HIGHLIGHTS