Biography

Mikhail Ivanovich Venikov, born May 28, 1983 in Almaata, Kazakhstan, stands at 6’1″ and weighs 200lbs.  The blonde hair and green eyed Mikhail, is one of six children born to Ivan and Nadia Venikov.  The family, his parents, brother and four sisters:  Joseph, Julia, Anna, Tania, and Ruth, migrated to the United States in 1989.  Before reaching their final destination, the family made a temporary stop in Italy, which lasted three months.

Mikhail was eight years old when the family reached their destination, the land of opportunity.  Of the 50 states, the family settled in the sunny and warm California, where they found a little house in downtown Sacramento.  As immigrants, the family came with very little.  But God was in control of their situation and warmed the hearts of a couple families at a local church, Capital Christian Center, who took them in with open arms and helped the family find stability in a new land.  They provided food, clothing and guidance.  Shortly after, Mikhail’s father, found a job in construction; while his mother opted to stay at home and raise the kids.

During his early schooling years, Mikhail had the urge to become involved with sports.  However, that opportunity didn’t surface until high school.  His father, being a hard-working man, believed his son should get an education that would land him a successful career, instead of taking part in sports.  As a sophomore at Casa Roble High School, in Orangevale, CA, Mikhail tried out and made the schools wrestling team.  With optimal coaching, Mikhail wrestled his sophomore, junior and senior years.  During these three years, Mikhail competed in a wrestling tournament in Japan and both, the regional and national tournaments in Las Vegas, NV.  After each tournament, Mikhail’s passion only grew for the sport until he finally made a decision on what to pursue after high school.

Upon graduation, Mikhail enrolled at a local college, Heald College in Roseville, CA, where he obtained a degree in business administration.  Still unsure about his plan after his college graduation, Mikhail enlisted into the US Army.  While in basic training, he excelled past his peers and was awarded the Leadership Award.  Mikhail’s passion and strength opened many doors for him.  He was given the opportunity to attend the United States Army Airborne School, where he underwent basic paratrooper, military parachutist training.  After this training, he signed up with the Ranger Indoctrination Program, which is a program designed to weed out those who are not physically or mentally capable to serve.  During this rigorous program, Mikhail received another Leadership Award, which opened another door into the Ranger Battalion.  The 2nd Ranger Battalion, stationed out of Fort Lewis, Washington, is where his major preparations for conducting short-notice missions worldwide took place.  In Fort Lewis, Mikhail served in the Weapons Squad, where he carried the PIG (M240B machine gun).  After successfully completing the Ranger battalion, Mikhail continued on to Ranger School.  This is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards a small-unit tactics that is designed to produce Rangers.  At the completion of the course, he was awarded the Enlisted Leadership Award, which proved that Mikhail Venikov has become a true Ranger.

While serving his country, Mikhail was deployed three times, twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan.  During this time he competed in the 2006 Best Ranger Competition, which challenged each two-membered team in events that tested their physical conditioning.  That year, Mikhail, SPC Venikov, and his partner, SFC Sheaffer, took home the competitions first place prize as well as respect from their colleague Rangers.  After completing his time in the US Army, Mikhail decided to apply for the Sacramento Sheriff’s Academy.  Upon graduation from the Academy, he was hired on by the San Mateo Police Department.  After his probationary period with the police department, Mikhail chose to pursue yet another branch, the San Mateo SWAT Team.  Passing all the requirements and receiving strong recommendations from his officers, he was granted an acceptance onto the team.

Mikhail Venikov, full of dreams, has yet to encounter a barrier large enough to stop him from turning his life into something huge.  Thinking he just reached his goal, Mikhail was introduced to Urijah Faber, who sparked another desire, the desire to fight.  Mikhail’s fighting career started after his probationary period with the San Mateo SWAT Team.  Alongside Urijah Faber, Mikhail began training at the Ultimate Fitness Gym in Sacramento, CA.  Since his run-in with Urijah, he has taken on and won three amateur fights, due to submission or referee stoppage.  His success has led him to the beginning of his professional career.