Defining Fights: Bellator 234 headliner Sergei Kharitonov

MMA Junkie’s Simon Head looks back at six of the key battles from Bellator heavyweight contender Sergei Kharitonov’s illustrious MMA career.

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at M-1 Challenge 80 – June 15, 2017

Kharitonov’s “have gloves, will travel” approach to his career means that he has competed across the globe, but he certianly enjoyed great success fighting for Russian promotion M-1 Global.

One of his most eye-catching victories cane at M-1 Challenge 80, when he finished Cameroonian powerhouse Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou in just 40 seconds with a one-punch knockout in China.

Sokoudjou pushed forward, looking to throw bombs at the start of the bout, and connected with a solid uppercut that Kharitonov ate up like a cookie before returning fire with a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it right cross that sent “The African Assassin” crashing to the canvas for a stunning one-hitter-quitter.

It proved that Kharitonov had an iron chin to match his sledgehammer right hand as he scored one of the most devastating one-shot KOs of his career.