Blagoy Ivanov

Blagoy Ivanov (Bulgarian: Благой Иванов; born October 9, 1986) is a Bulgarian Sambo practitioner who won the 2008 Combat Sambo World Championships in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Blagoy has also competed in Judo as a heavyweight national representative for Bulgaria. He competed in the 2003 Balkan Junior Championships and placed first. He then continued in competition up to the European Championships level but only placed 7th in the 2007 U23 Tournament, and did not make an attempt to represent Bulgaria in the 2008 Olympic games. Subsequently it seems that Ivanov has chosen to enter a career in mixed martial arts as opposed to representing Bulgaria in the 2012 Olympic Games. According to the global-mma.com rankings, he is the #2 ranked heavyweight fighter in the world (outside of the UFC).

He notably defeated four-time World Combat Sambo Champion and mixed-martial arts fighter Fedor Emelianenko in the semi-finals of the 2008 World Sambo Championships on November 16, 2008. (He went on to win the finals over Germany's Janosch Stefan the following day.) Ivanov previously faced Emelianenko in February 2008 at Russia’s Presidents Cup Sambo competition, losing the match to Emelianenko.

Ivanov started a career in mixed martial arts in his home country (2 wins and 1 NC) before going to World Victory Road, where he signed a three fight deal. His first fight took place at Sengoku 9 where he defeated Pride FC veteran, Kazuyuki Fujita by split decision, breaking both hands in the process.

Ivanov was set next to face Fedor's brother, Aleksander Emelianenko, but that fight and eventually the entire event on which the fight should have occurred was canceled because Blagoy had broken both his hands in the fight against Fujita and was not able to heal and prepare properly for his fight with Aleksander.

Recently, in the capital city of Bulgaria - Sofia, Bagata defeated other well known Bulgarian MMA fighter Svetoslav Zahariev who was European champion in grappling, heavyweight division. In the interview given after the fight, Bagata said that he was ready for rematch with Svetoslav, but also with his brother, who is a fighter too. He added that he needs more easy matches like the last one in order to get in shape for the real challenges. According to Blagoy, in December 2010 he would go to fight and train in Las Vegas, USA.

Bellator MMA

On March 15, 2011, Ivanov announced that he had signed a deal to fight for Bellator. He debuted on March 26, 2011, at Bellator 38 against William Penn and won via first round TKO.

Ivanov was expected to face Thiago Santos as part of a quarterfinals tournament at Bellator 52 on October 1 at the L'Audberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La. The tournament will determine a No. 1 contender to face champion Cole Konrad. Santos, however, was unable to travel from Brazil for the event and was replaced by Zak Jensen.

Ivanov defeated Jensen by technical submission due to a guillotine choke at 2:35 into round 2. The 2008 Combat Sambo World Champion Ivanov used superior boxing technique, speed and accuracy to bloody the face of Jensen in round one. Jensen offered little offense, and it bordered on a 10-8 round. An outside trip takedown from Ivanov started off the second frame, where he immediately began to crank on an americana attempt. Jensen gave up full mount attempting to defend. Eventually, Jensen was able to scramble out, but as he drove forward attempting to push Ivanov against the fence he left his neck exposed. Ivanov locked in a tight guillotine choke that left Jensen unconscious and unable to tap. The impressive performance from Ivanov furthers his career winning streak to eleven.

On 24 Dec 2011, Ivanov defeated Ricco Rodriguez in 3rd round via TKO with a kick to the upper body that some felt hit Rodriguez's head, as he was still getting up from his knees. The fight took place in Chekhov, Moscow suburb, and Ivanov fought under the Russian banner.

Return to MMA

Ivanov returned to MMA competition after a 21-month absence due to his heart injury and fought Manny Lara on September 13, 2013 at Bellator 99. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Ivanov next fought on November 22, 2013 at Bellator 109 and faced Keith Bell. Ivanov was initially dropped by Bell early into the fight, but recovered and won the fight via submission.

In March 2014, Ivanov returned to the Heavyweight division. He faced Rich Hale in the opening round of the Bellator Season 10 Heavyweight tournament at Bellator 111 on March 7, 2014. He won the fight via unanimous decision. He faced Lavar Johnson in the semifinals at Bellator 116 on April 11, 2014 and won via submission in the first round. He faced Alexander Volkov in the tournament final on May 17, 2014 at Bellator 120. He lost the fight via submission in the second round, resulting in his first professional loss.

World Series of Fighting

On January 24, 2015 it was announced that Ivanov signed with WSOF.

In his debut, Ivanov faced Smealinho Rama for the WSOF Heavyweight championship at WSOF 21 on June 5, 2015He won the fight and championship due to a submission in the third round.

Ivanov made his first title defense against Derrick Mehmen at WSOF 24 on October 17, 2015. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

In the early morning of February 26, 2012 a group of eight men entered the capitol bar "Ice" on Graf Ignatiev Street and attacked Ivanov and his two friends, both with criminal past. Ivanov was stabbed below the armpit, with the blade of the knife penetrating his heart. He was in the intensive care unit after 6 hours of lifesaving medical intervention at Sofia's Pirogov Hospital. His condition stabilized, but he was on an artificial respirator. The police are currently investigating the crime, a 23-year-old suspect, nicknamed "The Dumbbell," with a long criminal record, was detained hours after the attack. Bulgaria's Interior Minister, Tsvetan Tsvetanov, used the speed of the arrest as an argument for success in the country's battle against organized crime, in the speech he gave two days after the stabbing.

On March 5, 2012 Ivanov was reported to be in stable condition, having regained consciousness over the weekend. While his life was still considered to be in danger, he was switched to a milder treatment regimen. The problem is with his lungs, not his heart. "The Dumbbell" or Dampela, and his lawyer, Radost Karaivanova, are claiming that Ivanov initiated the fight, at one point slapping Dampela on the face. Dampela has a criminal record of extortion, drug dealing and fraudulent car registration. The defense story is that Dampela didn't know he stabbed Ivanov and went to the police immediately after finding out he did, whereas prosecution claims that Dampela bragged about the incident and intentionally picked the fight with Ivanov in drunken rage.

On March 12, 2012, Ivanov's condition deteriorated. A second surgery was performed on him, and he was placed in an artificial coma. In a May 19 article, MMA Frenzy reported, in conjunction with the Sofia news agency novinite.com, that Ivanov has been taken out of a medically induced coma, and has been speaking with doctors. He was expected to make a full recovery in six months to a year. His assailant a man named Dampela, 23, is in permanent detention.

Around May 12, 2012, Ivanov regained ability to talk and gave a brief press conference on the 19th in the hospital. He declared that he is determined to return to the ring and the doctors confirmed that he would be able to recover in 6 months to a year. This was his first media appearance since the stabbing and Blagoy is scheduled to leave the hospital by the end of May.

On May 28, Ivanov was discharged from the hospital's intensive care unit. On May 29, he was discharged from the hospital. He stated that he was determined to return to competition and doctors confirmed that he could return the next year. Ivanov made his MMA return in September 2013 and won his next four fights.

• Bellator MMA
  • Bellator Season 10 Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up
• World Series of Fighting
  • WSOF Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
  • Two Successful Title Defenses