If you're not familiar with Arsen Fadzaev, allow me to introduce you to one of the best to ever do it. 

Fadzaev won his first world gold medal at the age of 21 in 1983. After that, he went on a tear, winning the next four world titles and probably would have won the 1984 Olympics if the Soviet Union hadn't boycotted. 

Discounting a short-lived comeback made in Uzbekistan in 1996, his UWW database page reads like binary code at 68kg. It's basically a "1" or he didn't compete.

Enter Kenny Monday. 

The Backstory

In the weeks leading up to the 1989 World Championship in Martigny, Switzerland, the United States freestyle team was training in Prague. Camp was going along as usual, and the team was acclimating to the time and weather by playing basketball in its off time.

"We trained in Prague leading up to worlds and we had some very very competitive basketball games while there!" Monday recalled. "Bill and Jim Scherr thought they were Bird and Magic."

When it was time to compete, the U.S. contingent, and Monday in particular, were in for a major surprise. Arsen Fadvaev, who up until that point and for every major tournament after wrestled in the 68kg weight class, stepped on the scale when the 74kg athletes were called.

"Honestly, we didn't know he was in my weight class until the day of the tournament, believe it or not. Crazy!" Monday said. "So I didn't have time to prepare. I just watch him through the early rounds.

I was truly surprised that he was dominating. Until his semis match with the Mongol... then I saw that he bleeds!

The Match

So one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers ever just jumps into your weight class without warning -- what do you do? Well, considering that it was Fadvaev's first time at 74kg, strength should have been in Monday's favor.

"My first thought was that he wasn't strong enough, but that changed," Monday said. "My whole plan changed after my first shot."

What Monday is referring to is that Fadzaev's front head lock was so tight that you can actually see Monday tapping before he goes out. Having to change on the fly, Monday bricked up the defense and made sure to keep Fadzaev close to him. After giving up the first takedown, Monday said, "You can see in the match I felt a lot stronger once I got a hold of him." The rest of the match, as they say, is history.