Khadzhimurat Gatsalov
Khadzhimurat Soltanovich Gatsalov is a Russian wrestler of Ossetian descent. As of February 2020, he represents Armenia.
Olympic Champion 2004, Five Times World Champion.
He won the gold medal in the freestyle 96 kg class in the 2004 Summer Olympics, he beat future UFC Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier in the semi-finals. He won five world medals in the 96 kg class at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. In 2013, he moved up to the 120 kg class and won a gold medal at the FILA Wrestling World Championships. He started his senior level competitive career at 84 kg in 2002 before moving up to 96 kg and 120 kg. Khadzhimurat is a devout Sunni Muslim
In 2014, Gatsalov became Cormier's training partner ahead of Cormier's fight against Jon Jones in UFC 182.
