Vladislav "Vlad" Koulikov began training at the famed Sambo 70 academy in Moscow and now runs Koulikov Grappling Academy (Sambo Fusion) in Edinburg, Texas, teaching a fusion curriculum of Sambo, BJJ, judo, and kickboxing. He represented Team USA in Combat Sambo at the 2008 World Championships, medaled three times at the USA Open, and won multiple NAGA and Grapplers Quest titles, earning Most Technical Fighter honors at his first Grapplers Quest event.