Art Davie, the founder of the UFC, recently revealed his ambitious plans to stage what could have been one of the most legendary crossover fights in combat sports history…
A match between Aleksandr Karelin and Rickson Gracie.

The inspiration for this dream matchup came from a sparring session Davie watched between Rickson and Mark Schultz, an Olympic gold medalist wrestler who later had a brief but impactful MMA career:

I watched the tape for 25 minutes.
It took Rickson 20 minutes to get Mark’s arm and make him tap.

For me it was like – wow!
I went: “Oh my god, the guys I’ve gotta get to this event eventually are the wrestlers.”

They maybe don’t know all the holds and the chokes…
But they know how to do a single-leg and a double-leg takedown, they understand that grappling.

Watching that video was a revelation to me.

For Davie, the idea of pitting Rickson against a wrestler didn’t stop with Schultz.
He aimed for the ultimate challenge:

The guy that I wanted to get was (Aleksandr) Karelin from Russia.

Karelin, widely regarded as one of the greatest Greco-Roman wrestlers of all time, was a towering figure in the combat sports world.
His blend of size, strength, and technical mastery made him an almost mythical figure.

Unfortunately, Davie quickly learned that making this matchup a reality would be nearly impossible:

You don’t have enough money to get Karelin out of Russia…
You’d have better luck getting Mike Tyson out of jail.

While the logistical and financial barriers proved insurmountable, Davie revealed that the prospect of this fight even caught the interest of Rorion Gracie, Rickson’s brother and a co-founder of the UFC:

When I brought up Karelin to Rorion, that was the only time that Rorion said to me: “If you ever get Karelin, I’ll make sure that Rickson fights.”

Sloth Jiu-Jitsu: The Ultimate Guide for Calmly Beating Bigger, Younger Opponents

💥 What if slowing down was the fastest way to win? 💭 Tired of Getting Smashed by Younger, Stronger Grapplers? It’s not your age. It’s your strategy. If you’re a passionate grappler over 35 who’s sick of getting outpaced, outmuscled, or out-cardio’d by opponents half your age — this 120 page e-book was made for you. 🔓 Unlock the Power of Sloth Jiu-Jitsu:

Build Sustainable Strength—Without Wrecking Your Joints, Energy, or Jiu-Jitsu

Tired of waking up sore and burnt out after lifting? Sloth Strength is a proven blueprint for grapplers over 35 who want to get stronger—without the pain, burnout, or injuries.

Developed from 25 years on the mats, this no-burnout approach is made specifically for BJJ athletes in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.