Imagining an MMA Hall of Fame: Borderline Candidates, Part 2

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Igor Vovchanchyn
“Ice Cold” Ukrainian Combat Martial Arts League (1995, 1996); International Absolute Fighting Council (1995, 1997, 1997); Mr. Powerman Sekai (1996); Donetsk No Rules Fighting (1996, 1996); International Fighting Championship (1996); Cup of Stars (1997); World Vale Tudo Championship (1998, 1998-99); Pride Fighting Championships (1998, 1999, 1999-2001, 2001-02, 2003-04, 2005); InterPride (1999); Rings (2001); It’s Showtime (2003); Union of Peresvit (2004)
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CASE FOR: The stocky Ukrainian powerhouse went undefeated for 37 fights, repeatedly scoring clean knockouts in short order. He was Pride Fighting Championships’ most feared striker for years, taking out a seemingly invincible Mark Kerr and beating Kazushi Sakuraba the same night Sakuraba bested Royce Gracie. CASE AGAINST: Vovchanchyn retired at just 32, cutting short what had been a great career. In the later years of his Pride run, he dropped a number of fights and his stature deteriorated. VERDICT: Should he go in? It is very close but perhaps not quite.

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