Valentin Igorevich Moldavsky (russian: Валенти́н И́горевич Молда́вский; born 6 February 1992) is a Russian

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, incorpo ...

and combat sambo practitioner. He is currently signed to

Bellator MMA Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media conglomerate Paramount Global. ...

, where he is a former interim

Bellator Heavyweight Champion Bellator MMA (formerly known as "Bellator Fighting Championships") is an American mixed martial arts promotion, and the following is a history of its champions in each weight class. At the time of its inception in 2008, CEO Bjorn Rebney founded ...

. He is also a two-time world and one-time European Sambo Champion in the +100 kg division. As of March 14, 2023, he is #2 in the Bellator Heavyweight Rankings.

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.

Sambo

In 2018, Moldavsky won the European Sambo Championships in

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...

, Greece and the World Sambo Championships in

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north o ...

, Romania in the +100 kg 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 +100 kg category.

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 Omsk (; rus, Омск, p=omsk) is the administrative center and largest city of Omsk Oblast, Russia. It is situated in southwestern Siberia, and has a population of over 1.1 million. Omsk is the third largest city in Siberia after Novosibirsk a ...

on 21 February 2015, beating him with an

armlock An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armlock that hyper-extends the arm is known as an armbar, and it includes the traditional armbar, ...

. Soon after, Moldavsky has been coached by

Fedor Emelianenko Fedor Vladimirovich Emelianenko ( rus, Фёдор Влади́мирович Емелья́ненко, r=Fyodor Vladimirovich Yemelyanenko, p=ˈfʲɵdər vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪtɕ jɪmʲɪˈlʲjænʲɪnkə, IPA; born ...

and joined his Team Fedor.

Rizin Fighting Federation

In 2016, Moldavsky entered the Rizin Openweight Grand-Prix. In the first round in September 2016, he defeated

Karl Albrektsson Karl Albrektsson ( sv , Karl Albrektsson, (born September 27, 1993), is a Swedish mixed martial arts fighter, competing in the Light Heavyweight division of Bellator MMA. He has been performing at a professional level since 2012, and he is als ...

by unanimous decision to advance. 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 Amir Aliakbari ( fa, امير على‌اكبرى, born 11 December 1987) is an Iranian mixed martial artist signed to ONE Championship, where he competes in the Heavyweight division. He has also competed for Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB) and ...

by decision.

Bellator MMA

Moldavsky debuted for

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. Moldavsky faced

Linton Vassell Linton Vassell (born 3 June 1983) is an English mixed martial artist, who competes in the Heavyweight division of Bellator. A professional since 2008, he has also competed for UCMMA and Cage Warriors. He is the former UCMMA Light Heavyweigh ...

on March 22, 2019 at Bellator 218, winning the bout by unanimous decision. Moldavsky faced Javy Ayala at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020. Using takedowns and dominating Ayala on the ground, Moldavsky won the fight by unanimous decision. 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. With heavyweight champion

Ryan Bader Arizona State Sun Devils Ryan DuWayne Bader (born June 7, 1983) is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, an ...

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 Bellator 261: Johnson vs. Moldavsky was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on June 25, 2021, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. Background With current heavyweight champion Ryan Bader moving on i ...

on June 25, 2021. He won the bout and the title by unanimous decision. Moldavsky faced Bellator Heavyweight World Champion

to unify the Heavyweight titles on January 29, 2022 at Bellator 273. He lost the bout via unanimous decision. 7 out of 11 media scores gave it to Moldavsky. Moldavsky faced Steve Mowry at

Bellator 284 ''Bellator 284: Gracie vs. Yamauchi'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on August 12, 2022, at Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Background The main event will feature a battle ...

on August 12, 2022. Less than a minute into the bout, Moldavsky accidentally eye poked Mowry, rendering him unable to continue, resulting in a no contest. Moldavsky rematched

on March 10, 2023 at

Bellator 292 ''Bellator 292: Nurmagomedov vs. Henderson'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by Bellator MMA that took place on March 10, 2023, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, United States. Background To kick off the $1 million Bellator L ...

. He lost the bout in the first round, getting dropped on the feet and knocked out by elbows from mount.

Championships and accomplishments

** Interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship (One time) *

Rizin Fighting Federation Rizin Fighting Federation (Rizin FF or Rizin) is a Japanese mixed martial arts organization created in 2015 by the former Pride Fighting Championships and Dream Stage Entertainment president Nobuyuki Sakakibara. Rizin was founded to be the ...

** 2016 Rizin Openweight Grand Prix Semifinalist

Mixed martial arts record

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, KO (punches and elbows) ,

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:03 ,

San Jose, California San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popu ...

, United States , , - , NC , align=center, , Steve Mowry , No Contest (accidental eye poke) ,

, , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:54 ,

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls () is the most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the 130th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, which continues up ...

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 11–2 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 273 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1 ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–1 , Timothy Johnson , Decision (unanimous) ,

, , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Uncasville, Connecticut Uncasville is an area in the town of Montville, Connecticut, United States. It is a village in southeastern Montville, at the mouth of the Oxoboxo River where it flows into the Thames River. The name is now applied more generally to all of the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–1 , Roy Nelson , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 244 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–1 , Javy Ayala , Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 239 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Thackerville, Oklahoma Thackerville is a town in Love County, Oklahoma. It is located in South Central Oklahoma. The population was 445 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ardmore, Oklahoma Micropolitan Statistical Area. Geography Thackerville is located at (33. ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–1 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 218 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–1 , Ernest James , TKO (punches) , Bellator 202 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:02 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–1 ,

Carl Seumanutafa Carl Taulauniu Seumanutafa (born June 15, 1983) is a Samoan professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. A professional since 2007, he has competed for Bellator, Strikeforce, ShoXC, EliteXC, Tachi Palace Fights, ...

, Decision (unanimous) , Bellator 181 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 5–1 ,

, Decision (split) , Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: Final Round , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama,

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the n ...

, , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Szymon Bajor , Decision (unanimous) , Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama,

, , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 1st Round , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 , Saitama,

, , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Daniel Doerrer , Submission (guillotine choke) , Fight Nights Global 50: Fedor vs. Maldonado , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:47 , St. Petersburg, Russia , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Yuta Uchida , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:20 , Saitama,

, , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Karen Karapetyan , Submission (armbar) , Professional Combat Sambo: Eurasian Economic Union , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:26 ,

, Russia ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Moldavsky, Valentin 1992 births Living people Russian sambo practitioners Russian male mixed martial artists Ukrainian sambo practitioners Ukrainian male mixed martial artists Ukrainian emigrants to Russia Naturalised citizens of Russia Mixed martial artists utilizing sambo Sportspeople from Luhansk Oblast