WSOF and Bellator veteran Blagoy Ivanov joins the UFC, and has a shot at making an immediate impact.
The UFC has signed former WSOF/PFL heavyweight champion Blagoy Ivanov to a deal, according to a new report by MMA Fighting. The report comes on the heels of a press release by the Professional Fighters League, boasting the roster for their upcoming season. Ivanov’s name was conspicuously absent. Now, he’ll compete in his third major North American promotion, having previously fought for both the World Series of Fighting (later rebranded as the PFL) and Bellator MMA.
Ivanov (16-1, 1NC) has just one career loss, to current UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov back at Bellator 120 in 2014. Aside from a no contest against Ilir Latifi early in his career (the ring broke), he’s been perfect otherwise. Ivanov has topped names like Shawn Jordan, Josh Copeland, and Lavar Johnson, all former UFC fighters. He also holds a win over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez.
In total, Blagoy Ivanov defended the WSOF heavyweight championship four times, after defeating Smealinho Rama to win the title at WSOF 21 in 2015. His final title defense came last November at PFL: Fight Night in Washington, D.C.
The signing brings some much needed new blood to the UFC heavyweight division. At just 31, Ivanov is among the younger heavyweights in the UFC. He also comes with something of a feel-good back story, having been stabbed in the heart in 2012 by a man with gang ties, only to overcome the incident after hours of surgery and a year of recovery. That miraculous tale of triumph may be the hook the UFC needs to get fans behind the fighter.
No debut date has been set for Ivanov, but he is expected to step into the octagon sometime this Summer.
