Yaroslav Amosov of Ukraine withdraws from the 'MVP' championship fight to defend his motherland.
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Yaroslav Amosov, Bellator’s Ukrainian welterweight champion, has joined the fight against Russia, forcing his title fight with Michael ‘Venom’ Page to be cancelled. Instead, on May 13, the 34-year-old British fighter will face American Logan Storley at Wembley Arena. The fight will be for the interim welterweight championship.
Before returning to “defend this country as best I can,” Amosov said he moved his family to safety. By defeating three-time champion Douglas Lima in June, the 28-year-old became the first person from Ukraine to win a major MMA title.
“I’m happy because it’s my life,” Amosov said after weeping in the centre of the cage in Connecticut.
Last week, Amosov sent a message to Russia on Instagram from within Ukraine. In the background, blasts could be heard and bad things were going around him as well.
In the video he said, “You are not saving us,” he said. “We are protecting ourselves from you. Russian troops came on to our territory and they’re saying they are saving us.
“Horrific things are happening here. I don’t understand the people who don’t believe what’s happening in our country.
“Our country will protect itself. Our country will win. Our nation is united and our country is the best in the world.”
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Amosov comes from Irpin, a village on the outskirts of Kyiv that has been severely damaged by artillery and air attacks. He became a parent a month after winning the title.
Bellator had high praises for Amosov. They said, Amosov was “actively defending his home country”.
Bellator president Scott Coker said, “The thoughts of everyone at Bellator MMA are with Yaroslav and all the Ukrainian people during this time”.
“We wish he and his family the best and look forward to seeing him return safely to happier times, both inside and out of the Bellator cage.”
Because of his 26-0 record, Page called Amosov the “best guy in MMA right now.”
It would have been the first time on British territory that a British fighter ever contended for an undisputed Bellator global championship.
Until Amosov returns to the sport, the winner of Page’s battle with fourth-ranked Storley will hold the interim championship.
BBC Three and BBC iPlayer will broadcast Bellator London live.
