Yaroslav Amosov Brings the Squeeze
On December 13, 2025, Yaroslav Amosov introduced himself to UFC audiences by submitting Neil Magny with a first-round anaconda choke. The former Bellator welterweight champion immediately demonstrated that his grappling could travel with him into a new promotion.
A Champion Before the Octagon
Amosov won Bellator’s welterweight championship by defeating Douglas Lima via unanimous decision at Bellator 260 on June 11, 2021. He later unified the title against interim champion Logan Storley at Bellator 291 on February 25, 2023, winning another unanimous decision.
That victory extended his unbeaten professional record to 27–0. Jason Jackson ended the streak at Bellator 301 on November 17, 2023, stopping Amosov in the third round and taking the championship. It was a major setback for a fighter who had yet to experience a professional defeat.
Two Submissions Announce a New Chapter
The Magny finish gave Amosov a successful UFC debut. He followed it by submitting Joel Álvarez with an arm-triangle choke in the second round at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026.
The two victories provided concrete evidence of his finishing threat against UFC opposition. Different opponents and different chokes produced the same outcome: Amosov forcing a tap.
His story now connects a Bellator championship run with an effective start in the Octagon. The names and results matter more than promotional comparisons: Lima and Storley established his credentials, Jackson exposed his vulnerability, and Magny and Álvarez marked the beginning of his UFC chapter.
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Yaroslav Amosov, Neil Magny, Joel Alvarez, Bellator, UFC welterweight
