Before the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Buvaisar Saitiev was unknown, but the moment he demonstrated techniques that the world considered impossible at 74kg (163 pounds), he became an inspiration. He won a gold medal that year, and his rise left USA’s Brandon Slay in awe. Slay quietly watched the action from the stands as Saitiev, who was also 21 at that time, won Russia’s first Olympic gold medal at 74kg. “It was an honor to watch him in Atlanta. Then study him and compete against him four years later,” The American confessed in 2021. But what took place in 1996 was a mere trailer; Just the beginning. 2004 and 2008 also witnessed Saitiev walk away with shiny Olympic golds.

He retired after the 2008 Beijing Olympics and went into public service. He was appointed an acting deputy from Dagestan between 2016 and 2021. He was also the President of the Chechen Wrestling Federation in 2015, a position he served in until his death on March 2, 2025, at the age of 49. He reportedly died from a cardiac arrest, but there are reports that refute this and claim the reasons are unclear. Among the many combat sports stars who paid heartfelt tribute to him were Khamzat Chimaev, Islam Makhachev, and, of course, Khabib Nurmagomedov. “You inspired millions of children around the world and we will miss you. I express my sincere condolences to [your] family and loved ones,” the Dagestani wrote in a story last month.

Daniel Cormier and Henry Cejudo, who are renowned Olympic wrestlers themselves, mourned the death of Saitiev, but for Nurmagomedov, he was more than just a wrestler and countryman. “The best,” ‘The Eagle’ wrote on his Instagram story along with a picture of Saitiev winning a medal. This was followed by the former UFC champ giving the Russian wrestling icon the greatest honor he could be bestowed in Dagestani culture. “Brother – this word means many things. Don’t waste your time with this word. But once you call someone brother, it’s forever,” Nurmagomedov added.

Saitiev, who was six feet tall, didn’t look like a conventional wrestler. He was tall and gangly, but he would almost force his opponents to shoot while he was in control. He would then counter and score. Despite the Russian engaging, his opponents would find it difficult to take him down. In fact, Slay, who defeated the Russian at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, had to put in years of study to be able to beat him.

There were just two scenarios with Saitiev. When the opponent attacked him, either Saitiev scored or no one scored. And when Saitiev himself attacked, he almost always scored. Buvaisar Saitiev could do it all: Snapdowns, two-on-one, underhooks, overhooks, feints, defense, attack, innovations, and all other techniques that allowed him to score from various positions. That’s why defeating him was a sweet achievement for Slay.

Indeed, during his lifetime, Nurmagomedov met, and from his aforementioned message, it seems to have gotten pretty close to Saitiev. This is not surprising. The Dagestan-born 9-time wrestling gold medalist would undoubtedly have been an inspiration and personal hero to ‘The Eagle’ because he dominated the wrestling world when the UFC Hall of Famer was growing up.

Team Khabib and UFC stars’ heartfelt tributes on Buvaisar Saitiev’s death

After Nurmagomedov shared his condolences last month, his friend, protege, and UFC lightweight champion, Islam Makhachev, followed suit with his own message. “A legend is gone. Condolences to all relatives and friends, we will miss you,” Makhachev wrote.

“May God forgive you, may God be a hero like you for our nation,” Khamzat Chimaev, who, like Saitiev, is an ethnic Chechen, wrote on the icon’s death. But Saitiev’s legacy, fame, and star power were not just limited to the Russian UFC stars. Henry Cejudo, who won a wrestling gold medal for the USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in a different weight class than the Russian legend, recalled how meeting Saitiev was even more special than winning the gold medal.

“It’s hard to find words to describe how I’m feeling. He was a man whom I looked up to growing up in the sport of wrestling. I remember winning and being part of the 2008 Olympic championship team, and I was more honored to be there with him. A man who was poetry in motion at its finest, and in my opinion, the greatest athlete who has ever, ever lived or walked on planet Earth. I would never Fanboy over anybody but Buvaisar. I was so honored by the times that I did get a chance to hang out as I had a permanent smile the whole day,” ‘Triple C’ wrote in a lengthy, heartfelt post.

Who will remember you when you die, as they say? In Saitiev’s case, it is anyone who knew anything about wrestling anywhere in the world.