Top 10 best Eastern European fighters in MMA history

LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 06: Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia reacts following a post-fight incident during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - OCTOBER 06: Khabib Nurmagomedov of Russia reacts following a post-fight incident during the UFC 229 event inside T-Mobile Arena on October 6, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – FEBRUARY 12: Sergei Kharitonov celebrates his knockout victory over Andrei Arlovski at the Strikeforce Heavyweights Grand Prix event at the Izod Center on February 12, 2011, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Esther Lin/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – FEBRUARY 12: Sergei Kharitonov celebrates his knockout victory over Andrei Arlovski at the Strikeforce Heavyweights Grand Prix event at the Izod Center on February 12, 2011, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Esther Lin/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) /

5. Sergei Kharitonov

Sergei Kharitonov is one of the most underrated fighters of all-time. While fans and media members talk about the greatest heavyweights in history, his name is seldom brought up. But when you dig deep into the career of Kharitonov, the only thing that eludes him is a major world championship title.

The Russian fighter has all the skills that so many fighters envy. The massive heavyweight moves like a middleweight while still packing a big-time wallop. Also a professional kickboxer, Kharitonov loves to punish his opponents with combinations. While he is best known for his boxing skills, the Russian is also excellent on the ground. Of his 28 professional wins, 10 of them have come by way of submission.

The former Russian Top Team member holds wins over so many top fighters including Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Semmy Schilt, Pedro Rizzo, Fabricio Werdum, Alistair Overeem, Andrei Arlovski, and Roy Nelson.

Kharitonov has been competing at the highest level for nearly two full decades. He has competed in some of the top MMA organizations including Pride FC, Dream, Strikeforce, M-1 Global, and Bellator. Even though he is 38-years-old, Kharitonov remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the heavyweight division winning 11 out of his last 12 contests and is likely only one or two wins away from getting a title shot in Bellator.

If the Russian is finally able to capture the major title that has eluded him for so long, he will quickly rise up the all-time heavyweight rankings where he has drastically be too low on for so long.