Sergei Kharitonov – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Bellator 234 predictions: Is anyone picking Linton Vassell over Sergei Kharitonov in Israel?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the Bellator 234 main card in Israel.

	Kharitonov vs. Vassell	Huerta vs. Outlaw	Fatullazade vs. A. Gozali	H. Gozali vs. Pronin	Bozinyan vs. Vanderford
MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 2019: 194-120 (62%)	Kharitonov (89%)	Outlaw (61%)	A. Gozali (69%)	Pronin (71%)	Vanderford (87%)
Simon Head @simonhead 2019: 110-62 (64%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Dan Tom @DanTomMMA 2019: 200-114 (64%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Nolan King @mma_kings 2019: 106-61 (63%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway 2019: 198-116 (63%) 2018 Champion	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Brian Garcia @thegoze 2019: 197-117 (63%) 2017 Champion	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	H. Gozali	Vanderford
John Morgan @MMAjunkieJohn 2019: 195-119 (62%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Simon Samano @SJSamano 2019: 195-119 (62%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Mike Bohn @MikeBohnMMA 2019: 194-120 (62%) 2014 Champion	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	H. Gozali	Vanderford
George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 2019: 190-124 (61%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 2019: 96-65 (60%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 2019: 184-130 (59%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Dave Doyle @davedoylemma 2019: 122-100 (55%)	Kharitonov	Outlaw	A. Gozali	Pronin	Vanderford
Matt Erickson @MMAjunkieMatt 2019: 167-147 (53%)	Vassell	Huerta	A. Gozali	H. Gozali	Vanderford

Bellator is back in Israel this week, and a pair of heavyweight standouts are atop the bill.

Bellator 234 takes place Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN on Friday via tape delay.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

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In the main event, [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] (30-7 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) takes on [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) in a heavyweight fight. Kharitonov is just a -175 favorite, but our 13 MMA Junkie editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers are picking him almost unanimously. Only one picker is taking Vassell in an upset.

In the co-main event, [autotag]Sidney Outlaw[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) is a 5-1 favorite against [autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-11-1 MMA, 1-4 BMMA) in their lightweight fight. And like in the main event, it’s a huge picks lead for the favorite. Only one picker is taking Huerta to pull the upset.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag] (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) is one of two unanimous picks. He takes on [autotag]Zaka Fatullazade[/autotag] (14-7 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) in a lightweight fight, and he’s a 13-0 pick to stay unbeaten.

The other unanimous pick belongs to [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag] (8-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA), who is more than a 6-1 favorite at some sports books in his middleweight fight against [autotag]Grachik Bozinyan[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA).

And [autotag]Haim Gozali[/autotag] (11-6 MMA, 3-3 BMMA) will fight likely for the last time on the same card as his son, Aviv. He takes on [autotag]Artur Pronin[/autotag] (16-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) at welterweight. But unlike his son, who is a unanimous pick from our staff members, Haim Gozali is down 10-3 in the picks to Pronin.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Kharitonov (89%), Outlaw (61 percent), Aviv Gozali (69 percent), Pronin (71 percent) and Vanderford (87 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

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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.

[autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] has been throwing hands with the world’s best for more than a decade and a half in a career that has taken him from Russia to Japan to the U.S.

Now set for action in the main event at Bellator 234 in Tel Aviv, Israel, “The Paratrooper” looks to continue his winning run with victory over two-time former light heavyweight title challenger Linton Vassell.

Ahead of his main event clash with the Brit, we take a look back at six of the key fights that helped define the career of one of MMA’s longest-serving heavyweight stalwarts.

Semmy Schilt at PRIDE Critical Countdown – June 20, 2004

Arguably the performance that first put Kharitonov on the map came more than 15 years ago, back in the summer of 2004, when he finished 7-foot-tall Dutch kickboxing legend Semmy Schilt in the first round of their matchup in Japan.

Kharitonov headed into the bout known as a boxer and kickboxer, but he leaned on his ground skills to take decorated kickboxing superstar Schilt off his feet and mount the big Dutchman.

Once on top, Kharitonov methodically proceeded to smash Schilt with heavy-duty ground and pound to eliminate one of the pre-tournament favorites from the lineup and announce himself as a threat to PRIDE’s most dangerous men at heavyweight.

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5 burning questions heading into Bellator 234 in Israel

MMA Junkie highlights the burning questions that need answering ahead of Bellator 234 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Bellator cage lands in Tel Aviv, Israel for Bellator 234, with a pivotal heavyweight bout headlining the card, a returning veteran in search of a much-needed victory, and an Israeli father-son combination looking to follow in the footsteps of Bellator’s McKee family by securing a double celebration on fight night.

Here are our five burning questions ahead of Bellator 234:

Can ‘The Paratrooper’ drop himself into a title fight?

[autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] may be as little as one win away from a shot at the Bellator heavyweight title, but he needs to eliminate any lingering doubts about his status as the top contender before he’ll get his opportunity.

Kharitonov (30-7 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) is undefeated since his flash knockout at the hands of Javy Ayala back at Bellator 163 in 2018, and you have to go as far back as the summer of 2011 for his last defeat before that. In short, “The Paratrooper” has been on some solid form over the last eight years.

Standing in his way is a British powerhouse looking to make an impact in a new weight class, [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag]. Two-time light heavyweight title challenger Vassell (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) has moved up a division to take advantage of his powerful frame, and while he lost out on the scorecards on his return to heavyweight, “The Swarm” looks to be in prime condition ahead of one of the toughest tests of his career.

If Vassell can take Kharitonov off his feet and work his ground and pound, the Brit could walk away with a big win and upset the heavyweight applecart. But Kharitonov knows that a shot at glory could be just one solid punch away, and you can bet he’ll be looking to connect early in a bid to score a quick KO and deliver a statement to the division.

Who will prevail – the power-punching former kickboxer, or the British former light heavyweight contender?

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Bellator 234 pre-event facts: Roger Huerta seeks first Bellator win since 2010

Check out all the facts and figures about Bellator 234, which takes place Thursday with a Sergei Kharitonov vs. Linton Vassell main event.

Bellator’s busy November continues this week with Bellator 234, which takes place Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel, but won’t air until Friday on Paramount via tape-delay.

A heavyweight matchup serves as the main event of the card. [autotag]Sergei Kharitonov[/autotag] (29-6 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) will look to inch close to getting a fight for Bellator gold, while [autotag]Linton Vassell[/autotag] (18-8 MMA, 7-5 BMMA) looks to get his first win since moving up to the heavyweight division earlier this year.

For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 16 pre-event facts about Bellator 234.

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Main event

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Kharitonov is 11-1 (with two no contests) in his past 14 fights dating back to September 2011.

Kharitonov’s five-fight Bellator unbeaten streak at heavyweight is tied for the third longest active streak in the division behind Cheick Kongo (nine) and Tyrell Fortune (eight).

Kharitonov has earned 27 of his 29 career victories by stoppage. That includes all three of his Bellator wins.

Kharitonov vs. Matt Mitrione at Bellator 215 marked the third shortest no contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (6 seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.

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Vassell’s three-fight losing skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since May 2017.

Vassell was unsuccessful in his heavyweight debut when he lost a decision to Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 218 in March.

Vassell’s seven victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied for fourth most in divisional history behind Liam McGeary (nine), Phil Davis (eight) and Emanuel Newton (eight).

Vassell’s three submission victories in Bellator light-heavyweight competition are tied with four other fighters for most in divisional history.

Co-main event

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[autotag]Roger Huerta[/autotag] (24-11-1 MMA, 1-4 BMMA) is 0-2 since he returned to Bellator for a second stint in April 2018. He hasn’t earned a victory with the promotion since April 2010.

Huerta is 4-10 in his past 14 fights dating back to August 2008.

Remaining main card

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[autotag]Olga Rubin[/autotag] (6-1 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) competes in her sixth Bellator women’s featherweight bout, the third most appearances in divisional history behind Arlene Blencowe (nine) and Julia Budd (seven).

[autotag]Sinead Kavanagh[/autotag] (5-4 MMA, 2-4 BMMA) is 1-3 since she moved up to the Bellator women’s featherweight division.

[autotag]Grachik Bozinyan[/autotag] (10-3 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) is the youngest of the eight scheduled main card fighters.

Bozinyan has earned all 10 of his career victories by stoppage. He’s finished seven of those wins in Round 1.

[autotag]Aviv Gozali[/autotag]’s (3-0 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) 11-second submission win at Bellator 225 stands as the fastest in company history.

Gozali, at 18, became the youngest fighter to earn a bellator win at Bellator 209 in November 2018.

Bellator 234: Make your predictions for Sergei Kharitonov vs. Linton Vassell

We want your predictions for Bellator 234 in Israel, featuring Sergei Kharitonov vs. Linton Vassell.

We want your predictions for this week’s Bellator 234 event in Israel.

Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Wednesday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).

Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the Bellator 234 event staff predictions we release Thursday ahead of the event. Bellator 234 takes place Thursday at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv, Israel. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN on Friday via tape delay.

Make your picks for all five main card fights inside:

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