Who is Viacheslav Datsik? Notorious ex-convict 'Readheaded Tarzan' returns to action against Geronimo dos Santos on March 25

Russian mixed martial artist Viacheslav Datsik will make his return to action on March 25, 2023, against experienced heavyweight Geronimo dos Santos.

The two heavyweights will headline Ural Fighting Championship's Ural FC 2 on an action-packed main card.

Datsik is a self-proclaimed racist with strong white supremacist and neo-Nazi ideals. He has been clinically diagnosed with schizophrenia and has spent time in a high security mental institution. His exploits outside of MMA have gained him more fame than his accomplishments in the sport.

Datsik famously escaped from a mental institution and crossed over to Norway to seek political asylum. He was arrested along with a small group for their Nazi beliefs and spent time in prison as Russia sought his extradition. After finally being deported from Norway in 2011, Datsik spent five further years under custody and was released in 2016.

Upon his release, Viacheslav Datsik has taken up professional boxing and accrued a 5-3 record. His last boxing outing was a win over Fedor Emelianenko's younger brother, Alexander Emelianenko.

Previously, Datsik had a rough record in professional mixed martial arts, with a particular skid of six straight losses. However, 'Redheaded Tarzan' has had a couple of better fights since his release and will look to continue in the same stead.

The highest point in his professional mixed martial arts career was arguably his debut knockout of future UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski at M-1 MFC in 1999.

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Former UFC champion Henry Cejudo wants to meet Viacheslav Datsik's opponent

Viacheslav Datsik’s opponent Geronimo dos Santos caught the attention of former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo with his pre-fight antics.

Datsik and dos Santos faced off customarily after their weigh-ins and engaged in a show of 'bravado' that was labeled cringe by the self-proclaimed 'king of cringe'.

The two heavyweights got up and close in the face-off before tussling and breaking into loud screams. Dos Santos shoved Datsik while roaring in his face, before doing the famous Gorilla chest thump.

The two did not need any more restraining as they had no intentions of furthering their tussle, but Datsik certainly seemed the more subdued of the two.

Check out the confrontational faceoff below:

Henry Cejudo seemingly liked the "cringe" theatrics and expressed interest in meeting dos Santos. He wrote:

"This is great love the cringe ! I want to meet this dude [folded hands emoji] [trophy emoji x3]"