Volk Han

Magomedkhan Amanulayevich Gamzatkhanov (Russian: Магомедха́н Аманула́евич Гамзатха́нов; born April 15, 1961 in Anchih, Dagestan), better known by his alias Volk Han (Волк-хан), is a Dagestani-born Russian professional wrestler and later a mixed martial artist renowned for his technical mastery of sambo. He would go on to represent Russia in the Russian RINGS team with Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Kopylov, Nikolai Zuyev and Mikhail Ilyukhin.^[1]

Biography

In 1979, Gamzatkhanov began training with five-time world champion in freestyle wrestling Ali Aliyev in the city of Tula. In 1981, he began his two-year service in the USSR military, after which he began training sambo with Victor Lysenko. In 1984, Gamzatkhanov attended the Police Academy in Moscow. Gamzatkhanov signed a contract with Japanese shoot-style wrestling promotion Fighting Network Rings in 1991.

MMA career

After years of competing in professional wrestling, Han switched to mixed martial arts when RINGS adopted this format in 2000. This decision was very anticipated, despite Han's advanced age, due to his world class sambo skills. After making a winning debut against RINGS rookie Yasuhito Namekawa, Volk's skills were proven further against American wrestler and Mark Coleman's teammate Branden Lee Hinkle, 12 years his junior. Though Hinkle was able to take Han down and control him, the Russian grappler locked a tight triangle armbar at the end of the first round and made him tap out. Han got a matchup closer in age and experience against Olympic alumni Zaza Tkeshelashvili in a special Russia vs Georgia fight, but again Han won by submission.

In December, Han took part in the King of Kings tournament, where he was pitted in the first round against RINGS England leader Lee Hasdell. The Russian took him down and threw effective strikes before securing position, and also attempted triangle chokes and armbars, but Hasdell's defense was strong. The sambo champion resumed using unorthodox ground and pound from the knee-on-stomach position every time the fight hit the ground, but it was in a standing segment where he got the finish, overpowering the British kickboxer with combinations and injuring Hasdell's eye for a TKO victory. In the second round, Volk fought Bobby Hoffman, who came to the bout with a 23-4 record. Hoffman controlled Han for the majority of the fight and tried to perform ground and pound, while Han worked in avoiding damage from the bottom. However, once in overtime, Han took Hoffman down in the corner and stood over him landing punches, winning the decision.

During the semifinals, Han met young star Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, expert in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and almost half Volk's age. Despite his disadvantages, the Russian grappler was successful in stopping Nogueira from attempting submissions, even although Nogueira passed his guard and took his back at the end of the first round. When the second round arrived, Han sprawled a takedown and gained his signature knee-on-stomach control, with the Brazilian countering with a kneebar. The hold was completely extended, but Volk shockingly escaped and defended under Nogueira. After a restart, Han came attacking with a flying Kimura lock which Nogueira countered with an omoplata/ankle hold combination, but nothing came from it, and the match ended shortly after. Nogueira was given the unanimous decision, eliminating Han from the tournament.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Double heel hook^[2]
  • Reverse heel hook^[2]
• Signature moves
  • Ankle lock
  • Cross armbar, sometimes while hooking the opponent's leg
  • Kneebar
  • Mounted Boston crab^[2]
  • Spinning backfist^[2]
  • Chickenwing hold^[2]
  • Rear naked choke

Championships and accomplishments

• Fighting Network Rings
  • 1994 Mega Battle Tournament Winner^[3]
  • 1996 Mega Battle Tournament Winner^[3]
  • 1995 Mega Battle Tournament Semi-Finalist^[3]
  • 1997 Mega Battle Tournament Semi-Finalist^[3]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #129 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

Mixed martial arts record

References

External links

• Professional MMA record for Volk Han from Sherdog