Valentin Moldavsky

Valentin Igorevich Moldavsky (Russian: Валенти́н И́горевич Молда́вский; born 6 February 1992) is a Russian mixed martial artist and combat sambo practitioner. He is currently signed to Bellator MMA, where he is a former interim Bellator Heavyweight Champion. He is also a two-time world and one-time European Sambo Champion in the +100 kg division. As of March 14, 2023, he is #2 in the Bellator Heavyweight Rankings.[1]

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming conventions, the patronymic is Igorevich and the family name is Moldavsky.
Valentin Moldavsky
Valentin Moldavsky in 2016
Born (1992-02-06) 6 February 1992
Novopskov, Ukraine
Native nameВалентин Молдавский
NationalityRussian
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight238 lb (108 kg; 17 st 0 lb)
DivisionHeavyweight
Reach75 in (191 cm)
StyleCombat Sambo
TeamFedorTeam
TrainerFedor Emelianenko
Years active2014–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total16
Wins12
By knockout1
By submission3
By decision8
Losses3
By knockout1
By decision2
No contests1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Medal record
Men's combat sambo
Representing  Russia
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2020 Novi Sad+100 kg
Gold medal – first place2018 Bucharest+100 kg
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2018 Athens+100 kg
Bronze medal – third place2014 Bucharest–90 kg

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]

Sambo

In 2018, Moldavsky won the European Sambo Championships in Athens, Greece and the World Sambo Championships in Bucharest, Romania in the +100 kg 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 +100 kg category.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.[7]

Moldavsky faced Linton Vassell on March 22, 2019 at Bellator 218, winning the bout by unanimous decision.[8]

Moldavsky faced Javy Ayala at Bellator 239 on February 21, 2020.[9] Using takedowns and dominating Ayala on the ground, Moldavsky won the fight by unanimous decision.[10]

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.[11]

With heavyweight champion Ryan Bader moving on in the Bellator Light Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament, Moldavsky faced Timothy Johnson for the Bellator Interim Heavyweight World Championship at Bellator 261 on June 25, 2021.[12] He won the bout and the title by unanimous decision.[13]

Moldavsky faced Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader to unify the Heavyweight titles on January 29, 2022 at Bellator 273.[14] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[15] 7 out of 11 media scores gave it to Moldavsky.[16]

Moldavsky faced Steve Mowry at Bellator 284 on August 12, 2022.[17] Less than a minute into the bout, Moldavsky accidentally eye poked Mowry, rendering him unable to continue, resulting in a no contest.[18]

Moldavsky rematched Linton Vassell on March 10, 2023 at Bellator 292.[19] He lost the bout in the first round, getting dropped on the feet and knocked out by elbows from mount.[20]

Moldavsky had a rematch Steve Mowry on August 11, 2023 at Bellator 298.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
16 matches 12 wins 3 losses
By knockout 1 1
By submission 3 0
By decision 8 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 12–3 (1) Steve Mowry Decision (unanimous) Bellator 298 August 11, 2023 3 5:00 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Loss 11–3 (1) Linton Vassell KO (punches and elbows) Bellator 292 10 March 2023 1 3:03 San Jose, California, United States
NC 11–2 (1) Steve Mowry No Contest (accidental eye poke) Bellator 284 12 August 2022 1 0:54 Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Loss 11–2 Ryan Bader Decision (unanimous) Bellator 273 29 January 2022 5 5:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States For the Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Win 11–1 Timothy Johnson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 261 25 June 2021 5 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Won the interim Bellator Heavyweight World Championship.
Win 10–1 Roy Nelson Decision (unanimous) Bellator 244 21 August 2020 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States
Win 9–1 Javy Ayala Decision (unanimous) Bellator 239 21 February 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 2 4:02 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: 1st 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

See also

References
  1. "Bellator Rankings". www.bellator.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  2. Молдавский Валентин Игоревич
  3. Steve Juon (November 11, 2020). "Bellator heavyweight Valentine Moldavsky takes home the gold". mmamania.com.
  4. Fedor Team
  5. Schälander, Daniel (2016-09-25). "Albrektsson Loses by Decision in Rizin Grand Prix". Nordic MMA Everyday at MMA Viking. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  6. "VIDEO Pogledajte tko je Amir Aliakbari, suparnik Cro Copa u finalu Rizina!". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  7. Валентин Молдавский / Valentin Moldavsky
  8. Anderson, Jay (22 March 2019). "Bellator 218 Results: Valentin Moldavsky Outlasts Linton Vassell For Decision Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  9. Nolan King (January 15, 2020). "Bellator 239 adds Tyrell Fortune vs. Timothy Johnson, Denise Kielholtz vs. Kristina Williams". mmajunkie.com.
  10. Mike Bohn (February 21, 2020). "Bellator 239 results: Valentin Moldavsky mauls Javy Ayala to pair of 30-24 scores". mmajunkie.com.
  11. "Bellator 244 Results: Bader vs. Nemkov". MMAFighting.com. August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  12. Heck, Mike (2021-05-07). "Tim Johnson vs. Valentin Moldavsky set for promotion's first interim heavyweight title fight at Bellator 261". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-08.
  13. Mike Heck (June 25, 2021). "Bellator 261 results: Valentin Moldavsky outlasts game Timothy Johnson to capture interim heavyweight title". MMAFighting.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  14. "Ryan Bader to defend heavyweight title vs. Valentin Moldavsky at Bellator 273". MMA Junkie. 2021-12-13. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  15. Anderson, Jay (2022-01-30). "Bellator 273: Ryan Bader Retains Heavyweight Title in Decision Against Valentin Moldavsky". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  16. "Ryan Bader def. Valentin Moldavsky :: Bellator 273 :: MMA Decisions". www.mmadecisions.com. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  17. "Bellator 284 lineup announced, including Neiman Gracie vs. Goiti Yamauchi headliner, Ilima-Lei Macfarlane, more". MMA Junkie. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  18. Porto, Chad (2022-08-12). "Disappointment is the only winner after Valentin Moldavsky and Steve Mowry no contest". FanSided. Retrieved 2022-08-13.
  19. King, Nolan (18 January 2023). "Bellator 292 adds return of Keri Taylor-Melendez, Valentin Moldavsky vs. Linton Vassell rematch". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  20. Anderson, Jay (2023-03-10). "Bellator 292: Linton Vassell Gets Revenge on Moldavsky, Earns Number One Contender Status". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  21. Anderson, Jay (2023-05-22). "Storley vs. Ward, Moldavsky vs. Mowry Among Fights Announced for Bellator 298". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  22. Anderson, Jay (2023-08-12). "Bellator 298: Blanketing Wrestling Pushes Valentin Moldavsky Past Steve Mowry". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
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