Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Zhan Belenyuk has officially transitioned to the world of mixed martial arts. His debut MMA fight ended with a confident victory over Israeli representative Haim Gozali. However, after the fight, the athlete made a bold statement that turned out to be merely a talking point rather than a real event.
Challenge to the MP: why the fight won't happen
In an exclusive interview with Sport RBC.UA, Belenyuk revealed details of his post-fight plan. Immediately after his victory, he challenged People's Deputy Nikolai Tyshchenko, inviting him to step into the octagon. However, the politician did not accept this challenge.
'As far as I know, he did not accept this challenge, so the question of our fight is currently not relevant,' stated the Olympic champion, clarifying the situation regarding the potential bout.
New challenge or temporary experiment?
The 35-year-old athlete himself has not yet decided whether he will build a full-fledged career in MMA. For him, this transition became an opportunity to step out of his comfort zone and gain new experience in martial arts techniques.
'For me, MMA is a new sports challenge and an opportunity to test myself in this context,' Belenyuk explained his motives.
Legendary wrestling career
The transition to a new sport for Zhan Belenyuk looks like a logical step for an athlete of his level. He is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the Ukrainian Olympic movement:
- Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- Silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
- Bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
- Two-time World Champion (2015, 2019).
- Three-time European Champion (2014, 2016, 2019).
Now the entire sports world is waiting to see whether the Olympic champion will decide on a full transition to MMA or if this debut will remain a bright episode in his career.
