'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#9 Matt Lindland
Matt Lindland might be the only fighter in history to win an Olympic medal after beginning his professional mixed martial arts career. "The Law" took a break from MMA after debuting in 1997 to focus on Greco-Roman wrestling, a discipline in which he clinched silver at the 2000 Olympics. He followed that up by winning silver at next year's Worlds.
Lindland won his first four fights in the UFC and earned a shot at the Middleweight title against Murilo Bustamante. He was submitted by the founder of the Brazilian Top Team, but got back on track with two wins. His next fight against Falaniko Vitale would produce one of the most bizarre finishes in MMA. While attempting a trip in the first round, Lindland would instead drive his own head into the floor and knock himself out, giving Vitale the win. Lindland redeemed himself by finishing Vitale in the rematch, which happened a few months later.
Outside MMA, Lindland has won championships in professional white water rafting, acted in TV shows and even tasted some political success running for the Oregon House of Representatives. He is currently the head coach at Team Quest, which he founded with Randy Couture and Dan Henderson
