Mamed Khalidov doesn’t need the UFC to validate his career

Last October at KSW 40, droves of fully-grown men descended on press row like teenyboppers at a Justin Bieber concert. During a break in the action, Polish MMA superstar Mamed Khalidov had entered the building and the fans gravitated to him like moths to a flame.

Heavily tattooed, biceped and balding, the majority of the crowd shuffled nervously in their pockets to find their phones as “Cannibal” posed for pictures. For a lot of media at the 3 Arena, it was the first time that they come face to face with the KSW middleweight champion’s celebrity.

Boasting over a million Facebook followers, Khalidov is clearly a huge name in Poland. Therefore, it was no surprise to hear that the UFC pursued…