Valentin Moldavsky
Valentin Igorevich Moldavsky (Russian: Валентин Игоревич Молдавский; born 6 February 1992) is a Ukrainian (until 2014) and Russian (since 2014) combat sambo and mixed martial arts practitioner. He is a World and European Champion in +100 kg. In mixed martial arts, Moldavsky has a record of 10 wins against 1 defeat.[1]
| Valentin Moldavsky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 6 February 1992 Novopskov, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | Валентин Молдавский | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Ukrainian (until 2014) Russian (since 2014) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 235 lb (107 kg; 16 st 11 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division | Heavyweight | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Combat Sambo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | FedorTeam | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 2014–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wins | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By knockout | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By submission | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Losses | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By decision | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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. 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.
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.[6]
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.[7] Using takedowns and dominating Ayala on the ground, Moldavsky won the fight by unanimous decision.[8]
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.[9]
Championships and Accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 11 matches | 10 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 6 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 10–1 | Roy Nelson | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 244 | August 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Javy Ayala | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 239 | February 21, 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: 2nd 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 |
References
- "Valentin Moldavsky". Sherdog.com.
- Молдавский Валентин Игоревич
- Сарайкин, Шуянова и Молдавский поделились своими впечатлениями от финала
- Steve Juon (November 11, 2020). "Bellator heavyweight Valentine Moldavsky takes home the gold". mmamania.com.
- Fedor Team
- Валентин Молдавский / Valentin Moldavsky
- Nolan King (January 15, 2020). "Bellator 239 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams". mmajunkie.com.
- Mike Bohn (February 21, 2020). "Bellator 239 results: Valentin Moldavsky mauls Javy Ayala to pair of 30-24 scores". mmajunkie.com.
- "Bellator 244 Results: Bader vs. Nemkov". MMAFighting.com. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.