Igor Zinoviev, UFC fighter-turned-Jeffrey Epstein's bodyguard, fought his last bout 25 years ago today

Russian MMA fighter Igor Zinoviev, who has also competed in the UFC, fought in his last MMA bout 25 years ago today.

Zinoviev is notoriously famous for being the bodyguard of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution and served a 13-month sentence. Subsequently, it was revealed that his bodyguard and driver, Igor Zinoviev, frequently picked him up from the Palm Beach jail and drove him to his various office and other appointments.

Epstein was also trained by Zinoviev in weightlifting and some light fighting drills. Furthermore, Zinoviev accompanied Epstein whenever he used his Lolita Express to travel to his various estates. Epstein's private plane, Lolita Express, was alleged to have carried celebrities such as Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Kevin Spacey. There were rumors that the jet transported minors to several of Epstein's estates.

On March 13 in 1998, Igor Zinoviev fought MMA legend Frank Shamrock at UFC 16. Unfortunately, the fight did not go well for the Russian since Shamrock knocked him out within 22 seconds of the very first round. 'Houdini's collarbone was shattered in the fight and he hasn't competed in MMA ever since.

'Houdini' stated that he resided in the guest house at Epstein's Palm Beach mansion for at least five years, where he claims the majority of the alleged sexual assault transpired. Igor Zinoviev attempted to repudiate his earlier allegations regarding Epstein's alleged contacts with adolescent girls. He also alleges that he alerted Epstein about his malfeasance, but helped him evade the authorities.

Zinoviev is a former Soviet Army commando who grew up impoverished in St. Petersburg before finding a second life in the United States as a fighter. After Shamrock terminated his career at UFC 16 he became a personal trainer, bodyguard, and stuntman, according to a Village Voice profile from 2003.

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How did Igor Zinoviev meet Jeffrey Epstein?

Most mixed martial arts fans remember Igor Zinoviev for his brutal knockout loss to Frank Shamrock at UFC 16 in 1998. He is well-known for his work as a martial arts instructor and chauffeur for infamous American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

In an unpublished exclusive interview with Intelligencer back in 2015, Zinoviev revealed how he met Epstein:

"Well, it’s just going back. A friend of mine introduced me to him. Basically, as a friend, you know? After that, he asked me to work with him. But honestly I had a pretty good job, so I’m not looking at any jobs — then he called me and asked if I could [do] some stuff. Like do his driver, do like bodyguarding, and just train him and do other stuff. And I thought, Just time to change something! I said, 'I could do that.'”