Mark Madsen wrestling Roman Vlasov of Russia in the Olympic finals (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Mark O. Madsen, 2016 Greco-Roman silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics, has signed with Ultimate Fighting Championships ... and is scheduled to make his UFC debut this September.
The promotion confirmed on Thursday that Madsen will have his first fight at UFC Copenhagen. The wrestler-turned-MMA fighter from Denmark will face Italy's Danilo Belluardo in a lightweight (155-pound) bout at what is also known as UFC Fight Night 160 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, on Saturday, September 28.
The former Greco-Roman grappler confirmed the news on his official Facebook page Friday:
The 34-year-old Madsen has compiled a perfect 8-0 pro MMA record in a career that goes back six years. However, after a couple of MMA wins, he took a break from competition to focus on Greco-Roman wrestling. Despite having stepped off the wrestling mat, Madsen continues to be known as "The Olympian" in his MMA career because he wrestled at three Summer Olympics -- 2008 Beijing, 2012 London, and 2016 Rio -- earning a silver at the Games three years ago at 75 kilograms/165 pounds in Greco. The Dane also medaled at five World Championships, winning four silver medals and one bronze.
At his most recent MMA fight, Madsen secured a rear-naked choke of Patrick Nielsen in the first round of their bout at Olympian Fight Night in June.
Belluardo, 25, sports a 12-4 overall pro MMA record going back to June 2014. At his UFC debut in June at UFC Fight Night 153, he suffered a second-round TKO at the hands of Joel Alvarez, ending the Caterpillar's six-fight win streak going back 18 months.
