PhotoCred: CombatPress<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIvanov has been one of the heavyweight division’s best fighters since first becoming champion in the WSOF. With the organization, he defended his title four times.<\/p>\n
Of his eighteen professional career bouts, he has only succumbed to defeat once and it was to the current top UFC heavyweight contender, Alexander Volkov in the finals of the Bellator season 10 tournament finals. Other than that, it’s been smooth sailing for the thirty-one year old\u00a0Bulgarian.<\/p>\n
Although Ivanov has established himself outside of the UFC, he won’t be done any favors as his first UFC opponent will be the biggest challenge of his career to date.<\/p>\n
Despite alternating wins and losses going 3-3 in his last six with a recent loss to the current champion, Stipe Miocic, Junior Dos Santos remains a formidable foe and a stiff test for anyone in the division of the big men.<\/p>\n
The rest of UFC Boise looks like this so far:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bantamweight – 135lbs: Cat Zingano vs. Marion Reneau<\/p>\n
Flyweight – 125lbs: Liz Carmouche vs. Jennifer Maia<\/p>\n
Flyweight: Justin Scoggins vs. Said Nurmagomedov<\/p>\n
Welterweight – 170lbs: Zak Ottow vs Sage Northcutt<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Who do you have taking home the W on July 14th?<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/combatpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/IvanovMandelSherdog.jpg\")