Tag Archives: וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו

FULL CARD SET FOR BELLATOR’S DEBUT IN BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT ON SATURDAY, ויגוסט 24 AT WEBSTER BANK ARENA

בעללאַטאָר 225: MITRIONE VS. KHARITONOV 2 AIRS ON PARAMOUNT NETWORK AND DAZN AT 9 פּ.ם. עט / 8 פּ.ם. קאָרט

לאס אנדזשעלעס - Bellator will hold the first-ever MMA event at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, קאַן. אויף שבת, ויגוסט 24 when the always-exciting מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6, 1 נק) once again squares off against סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 2 נק) in a heavyweight headliner.


The remainder of the main card features four other must-see bouts, including two additional heavyweight slugfests, as former Bellator heavyweight champion וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-1) פנימער דזשאַווי אַיאַלאַ (11-7) אין די גלויבנס-הויפּט געשעעניש, while undefeated heavyweight prospects Tyrell Fortune (6-0) און Rudy Schaffroth (6-0, 1 נק), who both originally hail from Portland, שעה., collide in the main card opener.



Rounding out the five-fight card on Paramount Network – the man with the most appearances inside the Bellator Cage in history, דוד ריקקעלס (21-5, 2 נק), takes on the undefeated Ukrainian Yaroslav Amosov (21-0) in a 175-pound catchweight bout, and former flyweight title contender Alejandra Lara (7-3) מיץTaylor Turner (4-5) בייַ באַנטאַמוועיגהט, who returns after recently upsetting Heather Hardy at Madison Square Garden earlier this summer.



The main card can be seen live on העכסט נעטוואָרק און DAZN בייַ 9 פּ.ם. עט / 8 פּ.ם. קאָרט, while preliminary action will stream on Bellator.com, DAZN and globally on the Bellator Mobile App אָנהייב בייַ 5:45 pm EST/2:45 pm PST.



טיקקעץ פֿאַר בעללאַטאָר 225: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו 2 זענען אויף פאַרקויף איצט, and are available in-person at the Click It or Ticket Box Office at Webster Bank Arena, as well as online at Ticketmaster.com and Bellator.com.



Earlier in the evening, קאָננעקטיקוט ס אייגן "נאָוטאָריאַס" ניק נואַל (15-2) will lace up the Bellator gloves for the first time in his career and make the short drive from his home in Milford, קאַן. to Webster Bank Arena, ווען ער מיץ Corey Browning (5-2), a man who has already defeated “Baby Slice” and Aaron Chalmers. Also representing the “The Constitution State,” the surging Mike “The Savage” Kimbel (3-1) will be looking to impress the partisan crowd againstChris Disonell (3-3).



Preliminary action is highlighted by appearances from top Bellator prospects, including Royce Gracie’s eldest son Khonry Gracie (1-1), Israel’s Aviv Gozali (2-0) and the promotional debut of light heavyweight Grant “The Truth” Neal (1-0). מער, long-time UFC and TUF veteran Sabah Homasi (12-8) returns to the Bellator Cage for the first time since בעללאַטאָר 124.



אויך אויף די קאָרט, אַנביטאַן Austin “The Gentleman” Vanderford (7-0) will make his middleweight debut against Georgia’s Joseph Creer (6-0-1), New Jersey’s Ricky Bandejas (11-3) will return to action for the first time since relocating to American Top Team in Florida, when he competes at bantamweight against Virginia’s Ahmet Kayretli (8-3, 1 נק) and the always-exciting Tim Johnson (12-5) will make his sophomore Bellator appearance against recently signedAzunna Anyanwu (15-5) of Philadelphia in a heavyweight matchup.



Complete בעללאַטאָר 225: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו 2 Fight Card:

Heavyweight Main Event: מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6, 1 נק) ווס. סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 2 נק)

Heavyweight Co-Main Event: וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-1) ווס. דזשאַווי אַיאַלאַ (11-7)

Bantamweight Feature Bout: Alejandra Lara (7-3) ווס. Taylor Turner (4-5)

175-Pound Catchweight Feature Bout: דוד ריקקעלס (21-5, 2 נק) ווס. Yaroslav Amosov (21-0)

Heavyweight Feature Bout: Tyrell Fortune (6-0) ווס. Rudy Schaffroth (6-0, 1 נק)



פּרעלימינאַרי קאַרד:

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Khonry Gracie (1-1) ווס. Oscar Vera (0-1)

165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Aviv Gozali (2-0) ווס. Eduard Muravitskiy (9-8)
Light Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Grant Neal (1-0) ווס. Alpha Toure (פּראָ דעבוט)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Sabah Homasi (12-8) ווס. Micah Terrill (14-7, 1 נק)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Austin Vanderford (7-0) ווס. Joseph Creer (6-0-1)

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tim Johnson (12-5) ווס. Azunna Anyanwu (15-5)

Bantamweight Preliminary Bout: Ricky Bandejas (11-3) ווס. Ahmet Kayretli (8-3, 1 נק)

140-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Mike Kimbel (3-1) ווס. Chris Disonell (3-3)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: ניק נואַל (15-2) ווס. Corey Browning (5-2)

165-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Kastriot Xhema (3-3, 1 נק) ווס. Connor Dixon (פּראָ דעבוט)

175-Pound Catchweight Preliminary Bout: Jon Manley (11-6) ווס. Thiago Rela (10-7)



*Card subject to change.



***

בעללאַטאָר 215: MITRIONE vs. KHARITONOV RESULTS & פאָטאָס


FULL PHOTOS HERE



Complete בעללאַטאָר 215 רעזולטאַטן:

מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6, 1 נק) און סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 2 נק) ended in a no contest

Logan Storley (10-0) דיפיטיד Ion Pascu (18-9) דורך יונאַנאַמאַס באַשלוס (30-27 30-26, 30-26)

Eduardo דאַנטאַס (21-6) דיפיטיד Toby Misech (11-7) דורך יונאַנאַמאַס באַשלוס (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

John Douma (4-1) דיפיטיד Mike Kimbel (2-1) דורך סאַבמישאַן (דרייַעק שטיקער) בייַ 2:51 פון קייַלעכיק איינער

Austin Vanderford (7-0) דיפיטיד Cody Jones (6-3) דורך סאַבמישאַן (אָרעם-דרייַעק שטיקער) בייַ 4:49 פון קייַלעכיק איינער



פּרעלימינאַרי קאַרד:

Steve Mowry (6-0) דיפיטיד Darion Abbey (0-1) דורך סאַבמישאַן (קימוראַ) בייַ 1:27 פון קייַלעכיק איינער

Amanda Bell (6-5) דיפיטיד Amber Leibrock (3-3) דורך קאָ (פּאַנטשיז) בייַ 3:52 פון קייַלעכיק איינער

Pat McCrohan (4-2) דיפיטיד Jason Markland (0-1) דורך טקאָ (פּאַנטשיז) בייַ 1:11 פון קייַלעכיק איינער

Lindsey VanZandt (5-1) דיפיטיד Tabatha Watkins (3-1) דורך טקאָ (פּאַנטשיז) בייַ 3:25 פון קייַלעכיק צוויי

פּעטע ראָגערס (4-4) דיפיטיד Jason Rine (1-5) דורך טקאָ (סטרייקס) בייַ :50 פון קייַלעכיק צוויי

Matt Probin (4-0) דיפיטיד Ali Zebian (1-1) דורך שפּאַלטן באַשלוס (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Zarrukh Adashev (2-1) דיפיטיד Ronie Arana (0-3) דורך יונאַנאַמאַס באַשלוס (29-28. 30-27, 30-27)

Billy Goff (2-0) דיפיטיד Ryan Hardy (0-1) דורך יונאַנאַמאַס באַשלוס (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)



ביטע באַזוכן Bellator.com פֿאַר מער אינפֿאָרמאַציע.




FULL FIGHT CARDS FOR BELLATOR 215: MITRIONE VS. KHARITONOV THIS FRIDAY & בעללאַטאָר 216: MVP VS. DALEY THIS SATURDAY


FULL PHOTOS HERE



לאס אנדזשעלעס – The full slate of bouts for Bellator’s doubleheader return to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, קאַן. אויף פעברואר. 15 and Feb. 16 has been completed with two stacked five-fight main cards and exciting preliminary matchups.



The main event of Friday’s card on Paramount Network, and simulcast on DAZN, will feature a heavyweight headliner, where former Bellator Grand Prix Semifinalist מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6) faces Russian knockout artist סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 1 נק). Rounding out the stacked main card will see undefeated Logan Storley (9-0) meet SBG Dublin’s Ion Pascu (18-9) בייַ וועלטערווייט, former Bellator bantamweight champ Eduardo דאַנטאַס (20-6) return from injury to meet Hawaii’s Toby Misech (12-6) at 135-pounds, and the electric Mike Kimbel (2-0) making his main card debut against Rhode Island’s John Douma (3-1). The opener of בעללאַטאָר 215 will be the promotional debut of Austin Vanderford (6-0), who looks to remain undefeated against Cody Jones (6-2), a winner of four consecutive fights.




The prelims for בעללאַטאָר 215: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו will be highlighted by a women’s featherweight contest featuring Amber Leibrock (3-2) קעגן Amanda Bell (5-5), as well as top heavyweight prospect Steve Mowry (5-0) גענומען אויף Darion Abbey (פּראָ דעבוט).



A mere 24-hours later, בעללאַטאָר 216 will take place exclusively on DAZN and will be headlined by one of the most intense grudge matches in MMA history. אויף שבת, פעברואר. 16, ונדעפעאַטעד מיכאל "ווענאָם" Page (13-0) will enter the Bellator cage against 58-fight professional Paul "סעמטעקס" דיילי (40-16-2) in a first-round fight of Bellator’s Welterweight World Grand Prix. The co-main event is a rematch between two heavyweights who undoubtedly will go down in the sport’s history books, ווען Mirko Cro Cop (37-11-2, 1 נק) makes his Bellator debut against Roy “Big Country” Nelson (23-16).



דערצו, a No. 1 contender’s bout to determine who will face newly crowned heavyweight kingpin Ryan Bader will pit טשעיקק קאָנגאָ (29-10-2) קעגן אַנדיפיטיד, longtime former Bellator heavyweight champion וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-0). An intriguing welterweight encounter between Yaroslav Amosov (20-0) and the always-excitingErick Silva (20-9, 1 נק) is also official, as is the professional debut of multi-time taekwondo champion Valerie Loureda, when she meets Oklahoma’s Colby Fletcher (1-2) in the main card opener.



As if that wasn’t enough top-flight action, Tyrell Fortune (5-0), one of Bellator’s top homegrown prospects returns to the Bellator cage against Ryan Pokryfky (6-5) in the featured preliminary bout of בעללאַטאָר 216: MVP vs. דיילי.



בעללאַטאָר: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו will be broadcast Friday, פעברואַר 15 on Paramount Network at 9 פּ.ם. עט / 8 פּ.ם. CT and will stream LIVE on DAZN. בעללאַטאָר: MVP vs. דיילי will stream exclusively on DAZN on Saturday, פעברואַר 16 בייַ 10 פּ.ם. עט / 7 פּ.ם. פּט. Preliminary action for both events will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App.



Tickets for both events are available now and can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Fans can save when they purchase tickets to both events through the “Back-to-Back Pack!” Please visit Ticketmaster.com for more details.




Complete בעללאַטאָר 215: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו הויפּט קאַרד:

Heavyweight Main Event Bout: מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6) ווס. סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 1 נק)

Welterweight Co-Main Event: Logan Storley (9-0) ווס. Ion Pascu (18-9)

Bantamweight Main Card Bout: Eduardo דאַנטאַס (20-6) ווס. Toby Misech (12-6)

Bantamweight Main Card Bout: Mike Kimbel (2-0) ווס. John Douma (3-1)

175-Pound Catchweight Main Card Bout: Austin Vanderford (6-0) ווס. Cody Jones (6-2)



פּרעלימינאַרי קאַרד:

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Steve Mowry (5-0) ווס. Darion Abbey (פּראָ דעבוט)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Amber Leibrock (3-2) ווס. Amanda Bell (5-5)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Pat McCrohan (3-2) ווס. Jason Markland (דעבוט)

Atomweight Preliminary Bout: Tabatha Watkins (3-0) ווס. Lindsey VanZandt (4-1)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: פּעטע ראָגערס (3-4) ווס. Jason Rine (1-4)

Featherweight Preliminary Bout: Matt Probin (3-0) ווס. Ali Zebian (1-0)

Flyweight Preliminary Bout: Zarrukh Adashev (1-1) ווס. Ronie Arana (0-2)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Billy Goff (1-0) ווס. Ryan Hardy (פּראָ דעבוט)



Complete בעללאַטאָר 216: MVP vs. דיילי הויפּט קאַרד:

Welterweight World Grand Prix Matchup: מיכאל Page (13-0) ווס. פאולוס דיילי (40-16-2)

Heavyweight Co-Main Event: Mirko Cro Cop (37-11-2, 1 נק) ווס. רוי נעלסאָן (23-16)

Heavyweight Main Card Bout: טשעיקק קאָנגאָ (29-10-2) ווס. וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-0)

Welterweight Main Card Bout: Yaroslav Amosov (20-0) ווס. Erick Silva (20-9, 1 נק)

Flyweight Main Card Bout: Valerie Loureda (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Colby Fletcher (1-2)



פּרעלימינאַרי קאַרד:

Heavyweight Preliminary Bout: Tyrell Fortune (5-0) ווס. Ryan Pokryfky (6-5)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Patrick Casey (4-0) ווס. Nekruz Mirkhojaev (3-2)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Vinicius De Jesus (6-2) ווס. Rodolpho Barcellos (1-0)

165-Pound Catchweight Bout: Kastriot Xhema (2-2, 1 נק) ווס. קעמראַן לאַטשינאָוו (7-2)

Lightweight Preliminary Bout: Reginaldo Felix (5-2) ווס. דזשאַסטין Sumter (6-2)

Middleweight Preliminary Bout: Jesse Kosakowski (2-0) ווס. Rodolfo Rocha (1-1)

Welterweight Preliminary Bout: Demetrius Plaza (פּראָ דעבוט) ווס. Andrews Rodriguez (1-0)



*Card subject to change



ביטע באַזוכן Bellator.com פֿאַר מער אינפֿאָרמאַציע.



BELLATOR RETURNS TO MOHEGAN SUN ARENA FOR MASSIVE DOUBLEHEADER ON FEBRUARY 15 & 16


FRIDAY NIGHT HEADLINED BY MATT MITRIONE VS. SERGEI KHARITONOV IN HEAVYWEIGHT CLASH

SATURDAY’S CARD TO FEATURE ‘MVP’ VS. PAUL DALEY IN WELTERWEIGHT WORLD GRAND PRIX GRUDGE MATCH & A HEAVYWEIGHT NO. 1 CONTENDER’S BOUT PITTING CHEICK KONGO AGAINST VITALY MINAKOV

לאס אנדזשעלעס - אויף פעברואר 15 און 16, Bellator returns to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, קאַן. for two back-to-back nights of exciting MMA action.

אויף פרייטאג, the event will be anchored by a heavyweight battle betweenמאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6) אוןסערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (29-7, 1 נק), while Saturday’s show will see the long-awaited matchup betweenמיכאל "ווענאָם" Page (13-0) אוןפאולוס דיילי (40-16-2) headline in a Bellator Welterweight World Grand Prix opening round pairing. דערצו, the card will also see a heavyweight No. 1 contender’s bout betweenטשעיקק קאָנגאָ (29-10-2) and undefeated former Bellator heavyweight championוויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-0).

Tickets for both events are available early through an exclusive Bellator Nation pre-sale beginning Wednesday, דעצעמבער. 5 בייַ 10 אַ.ם. און. Tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, דעצעמבער. 7 בייַ 10 אַ.ם. און. Tickets can be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, as well as Ticketmaster and Bellator.com. Fans can save when they purchase tickets to both events through the “Back-to-Back Pack!” Please visit Ticketmaster.com for more details.

בעללאַטאָר: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָוו will be broadcast Friday, פעברואַר 15 on Paramount Network at 9 פּ.ם. עט / 8 פּ.ם. CT and will stream LIVE on DAZN.

בעללאַטאָר: MVP vs. דייליwill stream exclusively on DAZN on Saturday, פעברואַר 16 בייַ 10 פּ.ם. עט / 7 פּ.ם. פּט. Preliminary action for both events will stream on Bellator.com and globally on the Bellator Mobile App. נאָך באַוץ וועט זיין מודיע אין קומענדיק וואָכן.

Fresh off an impressive semi-final run in Bellator’s Heavyweight World Grand Prix, Matt Mitrione returns to action on February 15 against a true veteran in Sergei Kharitonov. The former Purdue football defensive lineman splits his training between Indianapolis and Combat Club in South Florida, and is in the best shape of his fighting career. לעצטנס, Mitrione has defeatedרוי נעלסאָן אוןפעדער עמעליאַנענקאָ, adding to an already-impressive list of career victories.The man dubbed “The Paratrooper,” Kharitonov is the owner of an equally notable MMA resume, with the 38-year-old scoring wins against some of the sport’s most marquee names, including an incredible performance against Roy Nelson, as well as Fabricio Werdum, אַנדריי אַרלאָווסקי, פּעדראָ ריזזאָ, Murilo “Ninja” Rua and Alistair Overeem.

One of the most unorthodox strikers to ever compete for Bellator, “MVP” has steadily worked his way up the welterweight ranks since signing with the organization in 2013. Known for his antics both inside the cage and out, every Michael Page fight is must-see entertainment. With an undefeated record of 13-0, און 11 of those victories coming by stoppage, the 31-year-old out of London Shootfighters finally meets up with fellow Brit and longtime rival, פאולוס דיילי. A veteran of Strikeforce, UFC and BAMMA, Nottingham’s Daley has competed professionally since 2003. Throughout his career, “Semtex” has been one half of some of the most memorable bouts in MMA history, כולל אַknockout of the year over Brennan Ward in 2017.

A rematch ofבעללאַטאָר 115, Cheick Kongo will look for redemption against Bellator’s longest reigning heavyweight champion, when Vitaly Minakov returns for his first fight with the promotion since 2014. A winner of seven straight, including two consecutive first-round knockouts overטימאטעאוס זשאנסאןאוןדזשאַווי אַיאַלאַ, Kongo has earned the opportunity to compete in a No. 1 contender’s bout. Undefeated as a professional, Minakov earned a victory against Alexander Volkov, as well as a previous win against Kongo, in his previous Bellator stint, and later continued his winning ways in Russia against “Bigfoot” Silva and Tony Johnson. The two now meet to determine who will go on to face the winner of Fedor Emelianenko andרייאַן באַדער.

Updated Bellator: Mitrione vs. כאַריטאָנאָווFight Card:

Heavyweight Main Event Bout: מאַט מיטריאָנע (13-6) vs.סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו(29-7, 1 נק)

Updated Bellator: MVP vs. דייליFight Card:

Welterweight World Grand Prix Matchup: מיכאל Page (13-0) vs.פאולוס דיילי(40-16-2)

Heavyweight Main Card Boutטשעיקק קאָנגאָ(29-10-2) vs.וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו (21-0)

*Card subject to change

ביטע באַזוכןBellator.com פֿאַר מער אינפֿאָרמאַציע.

MATT MITRIONE CHOOSES BELLATOR MMA, SIGNING AN EXCLUSIVE, MULTI-FIGHT CONTRACT WITH THE PROMOTION

סאַנטאַ מאָניקאַ (מאַרץ 14, 2016) – Last week, top mixed martial art’s free agent מאַט מיטריאָנע (9-5) joined Ariel Helwani’s “MMA Hour” show and revealed that he had been fielding offers from multiple promotions, including a great bid he had received from Bellator MMA. In a very rare move, Helwani had Mitrione rejoin his popular talk show for a second straight week to announce that the paperwork has been finalized, making Mitrione the newest member of Bellator MMA’s heavyweight division.

 

“There comes a time in every athlete’s life, where the scenarios change and the landscape has eroded from what made you fall in love with it initially,” said Mitrione. “It has become that time for me. After a mutually beneficial free agency period, I’ve decided to move my career to Bellator. I’ve enjoyed almost every second of my career and unlike most that switch organizations due to being cut or no longer being able to perform at the sports highest levels, I am bringing a body and skillset that are only getting better and I cannot wait to test my abilities against the best Bellator has to offer.”

 

Lovingly referred to as “Meathead,” Mitrione is one of the few fighters to have started his professional career with the UFC without previously competing on the regional circuit. His 14-bout stint with that promotion began in 2009, where he faced formidable opponents the likes of: קימבאָ רעפטל, גאַבריעל גאָנזאַגאַ, בן ראָטהוועלל, Derrick Lewis, ברענדאַן סטשאַוב, רוי נעלסאָן, Shawn Jordan and Travis Brown amongst others.

 

Prior to competing in MMA, Mitrione earned a scholarship to play defensive tackle for the Purdue Boilermakers football team, not far from where he grew up in Springfield, קראַנק. נאָך קאָלעגע, he played in the NFL for the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings until 2005.

 

At the conclusion of his professional football career, the Shotokan Karate Black Belt focused all of his attention on the sport of MMA. Mitrione spent time training with Duke Roufus and the highly-respected Roufusport team before landing with the famed Blackzilians camp in Boca Raton, פלאַ, where he trains today.

 

The extremely popular and well-spoken Mitrione has allowed the judges to determine the result of his fight only twice, קעגן דזשאָוי בעלטראַן און טשעיקק קאָנגאָ, both of whom currently fight for Bellator MMA. His entertaining fighting style has earned him recognition withPerformance of the Night” (צוויי מאָל) און “פייט פון די נאַכט” אַקקאָלאַדעס.

 

Prior to his last fight with his former promotion, Mitrione was forced to participate in a media session barefoot, as his shoes didn’t adhere to the strict company uniform policy. He will have no such problems at Bellator, where he is free to secure his own sponsors and keep his feet warm with the footwear of his choosing.

 

Bellator has been bolstering their heavyweight division as of late, and Mitrione becomes the second heavyweight free agent the promotion has signed in as many months, ווי סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו joined the fray in February. The division is currently championed by וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו, and includes other top names like Slice, באַבי לאַשלי, טשעיקק קאָנגאָ, Vinicius “Spartan,” Tony Johnson, דזשאַסטין רען, דן טשאַרלעס און אַוגוסטאָ סאַקאַי.

BELLATOR MMA INKS SERGEI KHARITONOV TO AN EXCLUSIVE, מולטי-קאַמף קאָנטראַקט

סאַנטאַ מאָניקאַ (פעברואַר 3, 2015) - סערגעי כאַריטאָנאָוו (23-5) is the newest free agent by Bellator MMA, with the news that the Russian heavyweight has been signed to an exclusive multi-year, מולטי-קאַמף אָפּמאַך. A veteran of both Strikeforce and Pride Fighting Championships, Kharitonov remains on active duty with the Russian Airborne Troops.

 

Doubling as a kickboxer at different points throughout his combat sports career, “The Paratrooper” has decided to parlay his recent five-fight winning streak and focus purely on mixed martial arts. Kharitonov’s resume is extensive, with the 35-year-old scoring wins against some of the sport’s most notable names including UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum, אַנדריי אַרלאָווסקי, פּעדראָ ריזזאָ, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, and Alistair Overeem.

 

“I have had the best seat in the house for some of Kharitonov’s heavyweight outings,"בעללאַטאָר ממאַ פּרעזידענט סקאַט קאָקער האט, “and I know Sergei [כאַריטאָנאָוו] can come in and make an immediate impact on our heavyweight division. He is an extremely skilled and experienced fighter who can end a fight in the blink of an eye, and we look forward to having him do just that inside the Bellator cage. מער, he’s already competed at one ‘Dynamite’ event before, maybe he could do so again in the future!"

 

Kharitonov joins a division that is currently championed by fellow Russian fighter וויטאַלי מינאַקאָוו, other top names include באַבי לאַשלי, טשעיקק קאָנגאָ, וויניסיוס קוועיראָז, קימבאָ רעפטל, טאני זשאנסאן, דזשאַסטין רען, דן טשאַרלעס, און יעקב טאַמפּסאַן.