A three-time Olympic wrestler showcased his powerful striking in a remarkably brief UFC debut, drawing comparisons to elite crossover athletes.
While many renowned athletes have competed in both the Olympics and the UFC Octagon, only a select few have achieved both Olympic medals and UFC gold. Kayla Harrison joined this elite group in June, following Henry Cejudo and Ronda Rousey, when she submitted Julianna Pena.
Among those who sought UFC championship glory but ultimately fell short was Mark Madsen, a significant figure in Danish combat sports. He earned a silver medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Instead of pursuing a fourth Olympic appearance in 2020, Madsen transitioned to mixed martial arts (MMA) in 2018. Nicknamed ‘The Olympian,’ he signed with the UFC, and his highly anticipated debut on home turf proved to be an overwhelming success.
Mark Madsen`s Explosive UFC Debut After Olympic Glory
Madsen’s inaugural fight in the Octagon took place on September 28, 2019, during a UFC event held at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark. The main event featured Jared Cannonier`s knockout victory over Jack Hermansson.
However, the co-main event truly captured the local fans` attention: Denmark`s first Olympic wrestling medalist since 1948 was making his debut in the premier MMA promotion. Madsen wasted no time, securing a win in just 72 seconds. He immediately demonstrated his wrestling prowess by taking Danilo Belluardo to the ground. From there, the seasoned athlete unleashed his striking, overwhelming his Italian opponent with punches for a swift TKO stoppage.
This was an impressive performance for a newcomer with limited MMA experience. Madsen continued his success, defeating notable fighters such as veteran Clay Guida and Vinc Pichel in the Octagon.
Madsen`s Confidence Against Paddy Pimblett Before Retirement
Following his dominant win over Belluardo, Madsen secured three more victories, extending his perfect professional record to 12-0. During this period, he expressed a keen interest in facing one of the UFC`s most promising rising stars. The three-time Olympian confidently predicted he would defeat Paddy Pimblett, who was also undefeated in the Octagon at the time.
Madsen stated, “I truly believe I can beat Paddy ‘The Baddy’ any day of the week. I will out-wrestle him, out-grapple him, and given how he keeps his chin high, there`s a strong possibility of knocking him out as well.” He added, “I like Paddy… but I genuinely feel I can defeat him whenever we fight. Paddy is now 3-0 in the UFC, and I`m 4-0, so I think it would be an excellent matchup to see `The Baddy` tested against a true Olympian. Let`s find out what he`s capable of.”
Ultimately, this anticipated bout never materialized, as Madsen announced his retirement from MMA in 2024. Meanwhile, Pimblett has maintained his undefeated streak in the UFC and is now setting his sights on Ilia Topuria`s lightweight title.