Olympic gold medalist and freestyle wrestling world champion Zaurbek Sidakov is reportedly considering a move into mixed martial arts, according to UFC fighter Mohammed Naimov.
Sidakov, a three-time world champion, won the gold medal in the men’s freestyle wrestling 74 kg (163 lbs) category at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. However, Sidakov is ineligible to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics because his name is not on the list of Russian and Belarusian athletes approved to compete by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Athletes from Russia and Belarus were initially barred from the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris due to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the IOC later allowed them to participate as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) approved by the Individual Neutral Athletes Eligibility Review Board (AINERP). Athletes had to prove they distanced themselves from the war and their countries’ military to compete.
In addition to Sidakov, other well-known athletes such as Abdulrashid Sadulaev, Zaur Rizvanovich Uguev and Mahamedkabid KatsiMahamedav were also barred from competing because they had previously voiced support for the war. Sidakov and Uguev, both 2021 Olympic gold medalists, attended the “Wrestling – Strong People, Strong Nation” rally in Ulyanovsk, Russia, to show their support for the war.
UFC featherweight prospect Naimov recently claimed that Sidakov is currently considering a move to MMA.
“He told me that he’s definitely going to move to mixed martial arts after the Olympics,” Naimov said in an interview on the Ushataika YouTube channel (translated by FloWrestling). “I think he’s coming.”
Naimov also claims he has spoken with MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz about a possible UFC contract for Sidakov. “The Hillman” also claims that former two-time UFC champion Henry Cejudo has offered to help Sidakov make the transition to MMA.
