Serghei Spivac and Marina Mokhnatkina are more than elite martial artists. They are partners who understand the physical and mental demands of competing at the highest level. From sharing the gym mats to supporting each other through the pressures of professional fighting, their relationship has been built on mutual respect, encouragement, and a shared passion for combat sports.

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Mokhnatkina’s experience and champion mindset have been a source of support for Spivac throughout his career, while the two continue to train and push each other. Their bond extends beyond the gym, with both serving as sources of strength through the highs and lows of their respective careers.

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So, let’s take a closer look at the relationship between the MMA power couple and how they have supported each other on their journeys.

Who is Marina Mokhnatkina? 

Marina was born on May 12, 1988, in Perm, Russia. She grew up in a small town named Klestyata in the Perm region. She comes from a huge family with four sisters and one brother, and her parents ran a large farm to feed them. From a very young age, Marina helped on the farm, milking cows and digging garden beds. This heavy-duty work made her very strong early in life.

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Marina went to school locally, started playing sports as a teenager, and first tried track and field before finding her love for martial arts. When she was 14, she started training in Sambo under Coach Ivan Ponomarev. Just six months later, she won the Russian National School Championship.

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By the time she was 16, she joined the main Russian National Team and dedicated her life to professional mixed martial arts.

What is Marina Mokhnatkina’s height and age? 

As per the official sites, Marina is 38 years old and 5’6” tall. Even though we know a lot about her athletic history and statistics, there is very little information about her religious beliefs.

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How did Serghei Spivac and  Marina Mokhnatkina meet? 

The couple met while training together at an MMA gym in Miami, Florida. After her divorce in 2020, Marina moved from Russia to the United States to boost her combat career. She started training at the top MMA gym in Miami, where she met Spivac.

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At first, the two heavy hitters were just friendly, training together, sometimes becoming training partners and sparring. Over time, their relationship blossomed, and they kept the relationship a secret from the public for a long time.

They finally shared their love story with the world in the summer of 2023 and officially got married on July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas.

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The couple frequently praise each other’s strength and support in public interviews. Marina has spoken about Spivac and said: “Words cannot describe how much we have already overcome together; now we have each other no matter what.” 

What does Marina Mokhnatkina do for a living? 

Marina Mokhnatkina is a professional MMA fighter and an accomplished Sambo athlete. She competes in the featherweight division and has fought for major promotions, including Bellator MMA and the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

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Before making her mark in MMA, Mokhnatkina established herself as one of the most accomplished Sambo athletes in the world. According to her Instagram profile, she is a 10-time Russian Sambo champion, seven-time world champion, and two-time European champion. Her remarkable record in Sambo laid the foundation for her transition to MMA and made her one of the most decorated athletes in combat sports.

Her extensive experience in Sambo has also shaped her MMA career, giving her a strong grappling foundation that she continues to bring into the cage.

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Serghei Spivac and Marina Mokhnatkina’s children

Serghei Spivac and Marina Mokhnatkina are parents to a daughter, who was born in 2020, shortly before one of Serghei’s major fights. The couple has largely kept their daughter’s life away from the public eye.

Marina also has a son, Alexander, from her previous marriage to fellow Sambo champion Mikhail Mokhnatkin. Alexander was born in 2014, making him Marina’s eldest child.

Together, Serghei and Marina have built a family that blends their shared passion for combat sports with their lives away from the spotlight.

Marina Mokhnatkina’s Instagram 

Marina Mokhnatkina is active on Instagram, where she has more than 50.8K followers. However, her profile is currently private, so only approved followers can view her posts and updates.

You can find her official Instagram profile here: @mokhnatkina_marina

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Written by

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Tanushree Bhowmick

3,037 Articles

Tanushree Bhowmick is a Senior Olympic Sports Writer at EssentiallySports with over five years of experience in sports and lifestyle journalism. Having covered UFC and MMA extensively, she now brings that lens to Olympic wrestling—highlighting how traditional combat disciplines echo through modern fighting. With a keen eye for technique and storytelling, her work explores how champions are shaped across both worlds.

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Snehal Dogra

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