Tag: Kirill Sidelnikov

Bellator 269 winner ‘Baby Fedor’ relieved by impressive showing on Emelianenko’s card in Moscow

With the nickname “Baby Fedor,” you can imagine the significance of Kirill Sidelnikov earning a win while sharing a card with the legend himself.

With the nickname “Baby Fedor,” you can imagine the significance of [autotag]Kirill Sidelnikov[/autotag] earning a win while sharing a card with the legend himself, Fedor Emelianenko.

Sidelnikov (13-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) was impressive Saturday at Bellator 269 as he pummeled Rab Truesdale for a TKO win in the first round of their heavyweight bout at VTB Arena in Moscow.

The victory marked Sidelnikov’s first fight in two years and his first finish in almost six years. The fact that it happened on the same night Emelianenko headlined (and won impressively), and in front of his home country fans, made it that much sweeter.

“When you’re fighting on the same card with Fedor, it’s a different kind of responsibility,” Sidelnikov told reporters afterward through a translator. “You can’t just lose, because you’re fighting with your friend on Team Fedor, you need to defend the honor of Team Fedor, you need to defend the honor of your friend, so yeah, that was important.”

It didn’t hurt that Sidelnikov felt some fortune on his side, either.

“Although I know how to punch really well, and I know how to do that, today I feel like it was my lucky day,” Sidelnikov said. “I feel like some sort of luck was involved in this fight.”

Sidelnikov, now on a two-fight winning streak, isn’t sure what comes next for him, but the hope is that he isn’t on another long layoff.

“I do not have a name in mind, but I’m certainly ready for the future fights,” Sidelnikov said. “I’m certainly ready for anything else Bellator can throw at me. Hopefully the situation with (obtaining a visa) is going to be resolved soon. We’ll just see.”

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Bellator 269 video: ‘Baby Fedor’ pummels opponent into oblivion

Before his mentor took the cage, Kirill Sidelnikov impressed at Bellator 269.

Before [autotag]Fedor Emelianenko[/autotag] walked to the cage Saturday in Moscow, “Baby Fedor” had his turn and made the most of it.

[autotag]Kirill Sidelnikov[/autotag], an underling of “The Last Emperor,” quickly made his mark at Bellator 269 when he ran through heavyweight opponent [autotag]Rab Truesdale[/autotag] in 2:10 for his sixth pro stoppage due to strikes.

The bout served as the featured prelim for the event, which took place Saturday at VTB Arena in Moscow. The main card aired on Showtime after prelims on MMA Junkie.

Sidelnikov (13-6 MMA, 2-1 BMMA) caught a Truesdale () kick approximately 90 seconds into the fight and landed a left jab that dropped the Scottish fighter to the mat. From there, Sidelnikov pounced. Punches and elbows to the head and body landed over and over again.

Bloodied and battered, Truesdale attempted to block the strikes with his hands but there was no escape. A series of violent ground-and-pound elbows were unanswered and referee Kevin MacDonald waved off the fight.

With the win, Sidelnikov turned a solo victory into a winning streak. Meanwhile, Truesdale loses his second straight outing in his promotional debut.

Check out the finish from “Baby Fedor” in the video below:

The up-to-the-minute Bellator 269 results include:

  • Kirill Sidelnikov def. Rab Truesdale via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 2:01
  • Katarzyna Sadura def. Darina Mazdyuk via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 3:17
  • Irina Alekseeva def. Stephanie Page via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
  • Nikita Mikhailov def. Brian Moore via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Alexey Shurkevich def. Grachik Bozinyan via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:25
  • Aiden Lee def. Alexander Osetrov via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:41

Bellator parts ways with 18 fighters: Daniel Straus, Tywan Claxton, Liam McGeary included

Bellator MMA has parted ways with over a dozen fighters, including more than a handful of notable names.

Eighteen fighters are no longer on the Bellator roster.

Among those who have parted ways includes former featherweight champion Daniel Straus, former light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary, boxer-turned-MMA-fighter Heather Hardy, and former UFC fighter Bec Rawlings. The list also includes two fighters who never got to compete after signing with the promotion because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s unclear whether each fighter was released, left on their own accord, or elected not to re-sign with the promotion. However, a Bellator official recently informed MMA Junkie that the promotion is moving on without the 18 fighters listed below.