“Perhaps the message that the Ukrainian defended the championship title will be good news for our people.” The second fight with Storley is the most important in Amosov’s career

On February 25, in Dublin, the undefeated Ukrainian mixed martial artist Yaroslav Amosov will make his first defense of the Bellator welterweight title in a duel with American Logan Storley. In November 2020, Amosov already fought his current opponent, inflicting the first and only defeat in his career on Storley. However, today’s fight is special in the career of each of the fighters.

30-year-old Storley not only burns with the desire to take revenge and close the defeat, but also for the first time will enter the championship match. Moreover, the victory over one of the best MMA fighters will add popularity and prospects to the American. As for Amosov, for him the upcoming fight is the most important in his career.

Yaroslav was supposed to defend the title, won in June 2021, in May last year – in a duel with Michael Page, however, the place of this fight was forced to defend Ukraine and his hometown of Irpin in the winter with weapons in his hands from a large-scale military invasion of Russia, joining the ranks of territorial defense. As a result, Storley fought Page, and, by the way, won the fight. Amosov, having contributed to the successful defense of Kyiv and the region, heeded the advice of his team, friends and comrades, decided to return to the octagon. And his story is the best promo for a fight Bellator could ever get.

“When people not from Ukraine tell me now that they have problems, I answer: “No, you don’t have problems,” Yaroslav said in an interview. “The morning of the start of the great war?” I stood at the window and listened to what was happening. Then he woke up his wife and six-month-old baby and said: “Okay, we have to go. To another city”. I was driving for 36 hours, didn’t sleep. And then he returned: to help his city and his country.

Living in the line of fire is constant attack. Constant threat. You may go out for coffee, but there will be a missile attack and you will die. I have many pictures in my head. I have seen many deaths – an old woman, children. Why kill an old woman or a child? It’s not the military. I can’t understand why the Russian army is doing this? Lying down to sleep and closing my eyes, I saw these pictures. For a long time I just couldn’t sleep.

When Russian troops were driven away from my city and the central part of Ukraine, I called my mother and asked: “Where is my championship belt?” She said she hid it. And later, when I already took it, my friends said that I should defend the title. For a long time I doubted whether it was worth going back now. But a lot of people said that I should come back. And now, I’m back.

My biggest motivation is to bring joy to Ukraine. To do this, I must win.

I started training back in my hometown. Yes, it was hard. But I will represent Ukraine, our country. Ukrainians are very strong and strong people. Perhaps the message that the Ukrainian defended the title will be good news for them. I fight for them.”

On Saturday, February 25, the battle for the Bellator welterweight world title Yaroslav Amosov – Logan Storley, a live online video broadcast of the fight can be seen in Ukraine. The fight between Amosov and Storley in Ukraine will be shown by the MEGOGO media service. The platform will show all undercard fights and the main event. Broadcast starts at 23:00.