- KSW
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Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:12 pm
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/11/15/2563884/bellator-signs-russian-striker-vyacheslav-vasilevskyWhat will it take for the UFC to wake up and begin flexing their muscles in the free agent market? Your guess is as good as mine, but in the meantime -- Bellator is making all the right moves. According to a press release sent out this morning, the Chicago-based promotion has made another brilliant move, signing the #4-ranked 2011 World MMA Scouting Report middleweight Vyacheslav Vasilevsky (15-1):
CHICAGO, Ill. (November 15, 2011) - In a continuing effort to scout and sign the world's best talent, Bellator Fighting Championships has signed highly-touted Russian striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky.
Vasilevsky joins Bellator after an incredibly successful career in Russia where "Slava" compiled a dominating 15-1 record. Currently riding a 14-fight win streak, the 23-year-old prodigy will be fighting at middleweight in the Bellator cage. The two-time Sambo World Champion and K-Dojo product has had success at light heavyweight but feels at home at 185 pounds and immediately adds more world-class depth to the Bellator middleweight roster.
"This opportunity means the world to me," Vasilevsky said. "I'm really excited for the opportunity. I felt like I've conquered the Russian scene, and I'm ready to compete against some of the best in the world with Bellator. They have some great middleweights, and I want to test my skills against them as soon as I can."
"We've had tremendous success in the international market acquiring many of the world's best fighters," said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Vyacheslav is a world class fighter we've had our eye on for quite some time and he will make a tremendous impact on our middleweight roster."
Since his placement on the 2011 World MMA Scouting Report, he's rattled off four straight wins, most recently beating Polish prospect Robert Jocz by unanimous decision in June. A move to Bellator's 185 lb. division makes perfect sense for his continued career progression, although the UFC certainly would have provided a similar landscape for the Russian.
In a broader scope, the signing points to something I've been privy to over the course of the last six months. Russia's mixed martial arts scene is growing, and their young talent is seeing the benefits of fighting in the more attractive market stateside. Look for more Russian prospects to head to the U.S. in the first quarter of 2012.
Update by Brent Brookhouse:
M-1's Evgeni Kogan responded to the article being posted on Bloody Elbow with this tweet:
@BloodyElbow @bjornrebney Who has an existing contract with M-1 and is about to get sued.
So sounds like there's some hurdles that need clearing before Vasilevsky ends up in the Bellator cage.
- KSW
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:13 pm
Sounds weird that they signed a fighter who is under contract and was about to fight for the M-1 MW title.
- brace
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:23 pm
I wonder if injury is fake and he pulled out of White Wolf fight because of this..
Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:26 pm
You might be on to something. Slava vs White Wolf would have been great for M-1 and I´m a little disappointed in Bjorn.brace wrote:I wonder if injury is fake and he pulled out of White Wolf fight because of this..
- monaroCountry
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 3:26 pm
Good and bad news I guess, Slava still had some great fights in M1 and should not have just jumped ship. On the other hand It seems that the only way to be recognized as a great fighter by zombies is to fight in American shores, this move should boost up his ranking immensely.
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 4:18 pm
Kogans twitter:
I would be furious if i was KoganThe lawyers are on it as we speak.
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:56 pm
monaroCountry wrote:Good and bad news I guess, Slava still had some great fights in M1 and should not have just jumped ship. On the other hand It seems that the only way to be recognized as a great fighter by zombies is to fight in American shores, this move should boost up his ranking immensely.
I am afraid this may be the fate of most top European fighters in the near future. At least we are seeing competition between promotions. Nevertheless, Slava should've honored his contract.
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:00 pm
brace go to HQ
- brace
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 6:02 pm
Admin wrote:You might be on to something. Slava vs White Wolf would have been great for M-1 and I´m a little disappointed in Bjorn.brace wrote:I wonder if injury is fake and he pulled out of White Wolf fight because of this..
It sucks, it would've been a world class fight in a ring.
- monaroCountry
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:53 pm
brace wrote:monaroCountry wrote:Good and bad news I guess, Slava still had some great fights in M1 and should not have just jumped ship. On the other hand It seems that the only way to be recognized as a great fighter by zombies is to fight in American shores, this move should boost up his ranking immensely.
I am afraid this may be the fate of most top European fighters in the near future. At least we are seeing competition between promotions. Nevertheless, Slava should've honored his contract.
I find it hard to understand why they just cant copromote or just work with other promotions for certain fights, like the Japanese Pride.
- brace
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Re: Bellator Signs Russian Striker Vyacheslav Vasilevsky
Wed Nov 16, 2011 1:10 am
monaroCountry wrote:brace wrote:monaroCountry wrote:Good and bad news I guess, Slava still had some great fights in M1 and should not have just jumped ship. On the other hand It seems that the only way to be recognized as a great fighter by zombies is to fight in American shores, this move should boost up his ranking immensely.
I am afraid this may be the fate of most top European fighters in the near future. At least we are seeing competition between promotions. Nevertheless, Slava should've honored his contract.
I find it hard to understand why they just cant copromote or just work with other promotions for certain fights, like the Japanese Pride.
I don't know, maybe it's the mentality to monopolize as much as you can, propagated by the UFC, which Bellator model themselves after. But at the same time Alvarez is rumored to fight Aoki next year as a Dream co promotion.
Maybe it's not a big deal, as long as neither contract is exclusive, so he could fight for both promotions. I know M-1 have non exclusion clauses for some fighters, not too sure about Bellator. They do like their Russians tho..
- Despite contract dispute, CEO says Vyacheslav Vasilevsky will fight at Bellator 66
- Bellator signs Russian prospect Magomed Saadulaev
- Russian-Dagestani Fighter Shamil Zavurov Signs With Bellator FC
- Bellator Fighting Championships signs Russian Mikhail Malyutin
- Bellator signs Russian heavyweight prospect Ruslan Magomedov
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