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And just as in so many success stories, it is the intangibles that make the biggest difference, not the lack of material things, resources or opportunity.

VMAT, as he is most often called nowadays, had left behind his home in Belarus speaking no English, pinning his future’s potential on his wrestling base.

Through contacts he had made in wrestling, Vladimir Matyushenko worked his way to Northern California where he became proficient at speaking English and devastating at wrestling.

The fledgling sport of Mixed Martial Arts had no idea that after 1994, a powerhouse whose take downs would become championship quality was being bred for its heavyweight division.

VMAT would go on to fight in the UFO, Vale Tudo in Japan, the WEF and the UFC, to name a few. But it was in the team oriented International Fight League (IFL) that Matyushenko would grab the gold.

In the IFL’s short life as an MMA promotion (1/2006 – 7/2008), VMAT was its first and only heavyweight champion. He had undoubtedly become better, faster and stronger than he had been when mixing it up in the other aforementioned promotions.

The IFL, as most must know, folded and filed bankruptcy by July 31, 2008, pulling the platform out from under one of MMA’s most athletic and powerful heavyweights.

And while this seems to be a harsh hand to be dealt to Matyushenko’s career, it didn’t size up to the herculean task of having had to pave his own way in America.

VMAT would find a new home to fight as the popular clothing line, Affliction, began to promote shows and booked him on their second show, “Day of Reckoning” in January of 2009.

Vladimir would lose that fight by way of KO (Knee) to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, making his record against that Nogueira one win and one loss.

The former resident of Belarus was back in action, post IFL, but would Affliction be able to keep his level of activity up high enough?

It turns out, not so much. In his late 30’s, VMAT is likely at his best and needs top level opponents to showcase it, if he truly wants to cap off his American dream with a cherry.

So where would Matyushenko find a promotion outside of the UFC would could give him an extremely challenging and dangerous fight? It would come to be that in the spring of 2009, a new promotion out of Ontario, California called, “Call To Arms” would snatch up Vladimir for their first show in May, 2009.

VMAT will be taking on “The Punisher”, Jason Lambert, who holds victories over the likes of Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Marvin Eastman and Terry Martin. So for a guy still regarded as one of the best heavyweights in all of MMA, Vladimir Matyushenko, a guy in search of a defining fight had one find him.

This is a true opportunity for VMAT to commence a second tier to his fighting career, cementing his legacy in the sport as well as his worth as a trainer of future stars.

And why is this so crucial at this point in his career? Well, as it often goes in combat sports, Vladimir remains a dangerous contender and an unsung hero within his division.

So while we may never see him back in the renown octagon, if we continue to see him taking on guys the likes of Jason Lambert and possibly even on a Strikeforce card in the near future, it will be rewarding for all fans of the sport.

Nicknamed “The Janitor” from back in his days as a wrestler for Belarus, he continues his quest to mop up and walk the mixed martial arts hall of fame.

CHECK OUT MY ONE ON ONE INTERVIEW WITH VLADIMIR, from THE BEST OF THE WEST GRAPPLING TOURAMENT, 4/27/2009:

THE YACMAN INTERVIEWS: VLADIMIR "THE JANITOR" MATYUSHENKO

-YACMAN