Oleg Nikolaevich Taktarov is a Russian actor and retired mixed martial artist.
37 Facts About Oleg Taktarov
2.
Oleg Taktarov was a practitioner of Sambo and Judo and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships.
3.
Oleg Taktarov holds notable wins over Marco Ruas, Tank Abbott, Mark Kerr, and Anthony Macias.
4.
Oleg Taktarov started competing in those disciplines during his obligatory military service, at one point becoming a hand-to-hand instructor for the KGB, until he retired at 22 in order to become a businessman.
5.
Oleg Taktarov trained in Jujutsu around this time, becoming a four time European champion.
6.
Originally travelling to North America, the goal of Oleg Taktarov was originally to become an actor but he decided to become a professional fighter in order to gain a visa extension.
7.
Oleg Taktarov next contacted the UFC management in order to participate himself for the prize money, being advised that he was already familiar with that kind of competition and had a chance of winning.
8.
Oleg Taktarov was billed in the event as "The Russian Bear," a stereotypical nickname invented by his manager, and hailed as a Sambo representative, as this was the most exotic martial art in Oleg Taktarov's background.
9.
Oleg Taktarov's first fight was against Kempo Karate expert Ernie Verdicia, whom Oleg quickly submitted by pulling guard, sweeping him between his strikes, and locking an arm triangle choke for the tapout.
10.
Severn took the Russian down, passed his guard and blocked him against the cage wall, where Oleg Taktarov was repeatedly hit with knee strikes and headbutts while he tried to look for submissions.
11.
Oleg Taktarov returned at UFC 6, whose first round saw him facing Wrestler and Judoka Dave Beneteau.
12.
The bout was hard-fought, with Abbott dominating the grappling exchanges and scoring punches while Oleg Taktarov remained patient and counterattacked with a variety of strikes and submission attempts.
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Oleg Taktarov had to be taken to the hospital right after with an oxygen mask on.
14.
Oleg Taktarov rematched Dave Beneteau, who according to Taktarov came to the match having greased himself to difficult the Russian's grip.
15.
Unable to throw him, Oleg Taktarov resorted to a flying kneebar, and promptly transitioned it into an ankle lock to submit Beneteau.
16.
Oleg Taktarov then went to face Luta Livre exponent and highly regarded UFC 7 champion Marco Ruas.
17.
The Russian clamped another leglock combination in the first few minutes, which he claimed Severn was going to tap out to before Oleg Taktarov was forced to release it out of fatigue.
18.
Oleg Taktarov ended his UFC career after Ultimate Ultimate, according to him because the management was focused on Shamrock over any other fighter.
19.
Oleg Taktarov then moved to Brazil, where he defeated Joe Charles by submission in World Vale Tudo Championship.
20.
Oleg Taktarov even entertained the idea to crash the match with a ringside brawl, which would attract attention by the news media and allow them both to host an anticipated rubber match back in UFC.
21.
Oleg Taktarov returned from Brazil with a broken hand, only to find out his manager had put him on a fight against Renzo Gracie for Martial Arts Reality Superfighting in ten days notice.
22.
Oleg Taktarov's injured hand impeded him from grabbing an opportune leglock on Gracie, who capitalized on the lapse to fire an upkick that knocked down Oleg Taktarov.
23.
Oleg Taktarov tried to continue fighting, but the kick had opened a deep cut and the fight was stopped.
24.
In 1997, Oleg Taktarov traveled back to Brazil to fight decorated ADCC grappler Sean Alvarez in the Pentagon Combat event.
25.
Oleg Taktarov suffered a frightening knockout loss, receiving strikes even after having been rendered unconscious, and had to be carried out of the arena in a stretcher.
26.
In Russia, for a specialised event Oleg Taktarov faced Dolph Lundgren in a celebrity Boxing match and won via unanimous decision.
27.
Oleg Taktarov announced in an online radio interview in November 2007 his plans to return to MMA with BodogFight.
28.
Oleg Taktarov won his debut match against John Marsh at 33 seconds into the 2nd round of the match by submission.
29.
Oleg Taktarov's last fight was against UFC 14 and UFC 15 heavyweight champion Mark Kerr, again winning by kneebar.
30.
Oleg Taktarov retired from mixed martial arts with a record of 17 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws.
31.
In 1998 Oleg Taktarov, who was known as a strong grappler in mixed martial arts, competed in ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.
32.
Oleg Taktarov had previously trained with Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners Wallid Ismail, Ricardo Liborio and Carlos Barreto.
33.
Oleg Taktarov fought a "superfight" with multiple champion Mario Sperry, who ultimately defeated Oleg Taktarov by points after passing his guard.
34.
Oleg Taktarov appeared in the first episode of season 3 of Alias entitled The Two and in the NCIS season 5 finale Judgement Day.
35.
Oleg Taktarov has appeared in a few Russian productions, and was cast in a few releases from 2007, such as We Own the Night.
36.
Oleg Taktarov released several instructional Sambo videos and has made an instructional video with Vladimir Vasiliev entitled Russian Mega Fighting.
37.
Oleg Taktarov is a leading actor in the Russian television series Ex-Wife.