Valentin Moldavsky

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Eastern Slavic naming convention, the patronymic is Igorevich and the family name is Moldavsky.
Valentin Moldavsky
Valentin Moldavsky.png
Valentin Moldavsky in 2016
Born (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992 (age 29)
Novopskov, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Native nameВалентин Молдавский
NationalityUkrainian (until 2014)
Russian (since 2014)
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight233 lb (106 kg; 16 st 9 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StyleCombat Sambo
TeamFedorTeam
TrainerFedor Emelianenko
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins11
By knockout1
By submission3
By decision7
Losses1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's combat sambo
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2020 Novi Sad +100 kg
Gold medal – first place 2018 Bucharest +100 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Athens +100 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Bucharest –90 kg

Valentin Igorevich Moldavsky (Russian: Валенти́н И́горевич Молда́вский; born 6 February 1992) is a Ukrainian (until 2014) and Russian (since 2014) combat sambo and mixed martial arts practitioner. He is currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current interim Bellator Heavyweight World Champion. He is also a two-time world and one-time European Sambo Champion in the +100 kg division. As of October 5, 2021, he is #10 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings.[1]

Biography[]

Moldavsky was born 6 February 1992 in the village of Novopskov in the Luhansk Oblast. He was enrolled at the Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs, working as platoon leader.[2]

Moldavsky started his sports career in Ukraine, but since the eruption of the political crisis there he has been performing for Russia.[3]

Sambo[]

In 2018, Moldavsky won the European Sambo Championships in Athens, Greece and the World Sambo Championships in Bucharest, Romania in the +100kg weight category.

He also won the 2020 Russian national Championship, which allowed him to qualify for the 2020 World Sambo Championships in Serbia. He claimed the World Championship in the +100kg category.[4]

Mixed martial arts career[]

Early career[]

After going undefeated in amateur bouts, Moldavsky had his first professional fight was with Armenian Karen Karapetyan in Omsk on 21 February 2015, beating him with an armlock. Soon after, Moldavsky has been coached by Fedor Emelianenko and joined his Team Fedor.[5]

Rizin Fighting Federation[]

In 2016, Moldavsky entered the Rizin Openweight Grand-Prix. In the first round in September 2016, he defeated Karl Albrektsson by unanimous decision to advance.[6] In the quarter-finals on 29 December 2016, he defeated Szymon Bajor by unanimous decision. Two days later, he suffered his first loss to Iranian Amir Aliakbari by decision.[7]

Bellator MMA[]

Moldavsky debuted for Bellator MMA at Bellator 181 on 14 July 2017, beating Carl Seumanutafa by unanimous decision.

Moldavsky returned to the promotion on 13 July 2018, knocking out Ernest James in the first round at Bellator 202.[8]

Moldavsky returned to the promotion in March 2019 at Bellator 218, where he defeated Linton Vassell by unanimous decision.

Moldavsky faced Javy Ayala at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020.[9] Using takedowns and dominating Ayala on the ground, Moldavsky won the fight by unanimous decision.[10]

In his highest profile fight to date, Moldavsky faced Roy Nelson at Bellator 244 on August 21, 2020. He won the fight by unanimous decision.[11]

With heavyweight champion Ryan Bader moving on in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Moldavsky faced Timothy Johnson for the Bellator Interim Heavyweight World Championship at Bellator 261 on June 25, 2021.[12] He won the bout and the title by unanimous decision.[13]

Moldavsky is scheduled to try to unify the Heavyweight title against Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader on January 29, 2022 at Bellator 273.[14]

Championships and Accomplishments[]

Mixed martial arts record[]

Professional record breakdown
12 matches 11 wins 1 loss
By knockout 1 0
By submission 3 0
By decision 7 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 11–1 Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 261 25 June 2021 5 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Won the interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Win 10–1 Roy Nelson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 244 21 August 2020 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 9–1 Javy Ayala Decision (unanimous) Bellator 239 21 February 2020 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 8–1 Linton Vassell Decision (unanimous) Bellator 218 22 March 2019 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 7–1 Ernest James TKO (punches) Bellator 202 13 July 2018 1 4:03 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Win 6–1 Carl Seumanutafa Decision (unanimous) Bellator 181 14 July 2017 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
Loss 5–1 Amir Aliakbari Decision (split) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round 31 December 2016 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand-Prix Semi-Finals
Win 5–0 Szymon Bajor Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round 29 December 2016 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand-Prix Quarter-Finals
Win 4–0 Karl Albrektsson Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round 25 September 2016 2 5:00 Saitama, Japan 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand-Prix First Round
Win 3–0 Daniel Doerrer Submission (guillotine choke) Fight Nights Global 50: Fedor vs. Maldonado 17 June 2016 1 0:47 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 2–0 Yuta Uchida Submission (rear-naked choke) Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba 29 December 2015 1 2:20 Saitama, Japan 2015 Rizin Heavyweight Grand Prix reserve bout
Win 1–0 Karen Karapetyan Submission (armbar) Professional Combat Sambo: Eurasian Economic Union 21 February 2015 1 1:26 Omsk, Russia

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bellator Rankings". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  2. ^ Молдавский Валентин Игоревич
  3. ^ Сарайкин, Шуянова и Молдавский поделились своими впечатлениями от финала
  4. ^ Steve Juon (November 11, 2020). "Bellator heavyweight Valentine Moldavsky takes home the gold". mmamania.com.
  5. ^ Fedor Team
  6. ^ Schälander, Daniel (2016-09-25). "Albrektsson Loses by Decision in Rizin Grand Prix". Nordic MMA Everyday at MMA Viking. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  7. ^ "VIDEO Pogledajte tko je Amir Aliakbari, suparnik Cro Copa u finalu Rizina!". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  8. ^ Валентин Молдавский / Valentin Moldavsky
  9. ^ Nolan King (January 15, 2020). "Bellator 239 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams". mmajunkie.com.
  10. ^ Mike Bohn (February 21, 2020). "Bellator 239 results: Valentin Moldavsky mauls Javy Ayala to pair of 30-24 scores". mmajunkie.com.
  11. ^ "Bellator 244 Results: Bader vs. Nemkov". MMAFighting.com. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  12. ^ Heck, Mike (2021-05-07). "Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  13. ^ Mike Heck (June 25, 2021). "Bellator 261 results: Valentin Moldavsky outlasts game Timothy Johnson to capture interim heavyweight title". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  14. ^ "Ryan Bader to defend heavyweight title vs. Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
Retrieved from ""