Few promotions have the unique presentation and theatrics of Fight Nights. If you have followed the promotion for any length of time then you have most likely been entertained. At any rate 18-0 former Bellator champ, Jr. Freestyle Wrestling National Champ and 3x World Sambo Champ Vitali Minakov returns to MMA tomorrow in the main event vs DJ Linderman.
Linderman actually just beat Derrick Mehmen in his last fight. Minakov is gonna have to show up ready to go but it is still likely he wins in the 1st.
I'd set the odds at -900 Minakov.
I'd honestly set the odds at pick-em if Minakov and Miocic got signed to fight in 3 months.
"The New Emperor" is that good.
It is not easy to beat Copeland, Geronimo, Graham, Volkov, Sparks, Kongo, Sherner, Sanchez, etc... Minakov makes it look easy and he just might be the best fighter on the planet. Lets pray this Bellator contract crap gets resolved and we get to see him compete with the best HW's (who happen to be in the UFC now).
BPF, I like Minakov as well but would not consider the Kongo fight a good performance.
I really look forward to his UFC debut.
when does this start?
JakeSweet -when does this start?
doerksenfan - BPF, I like Minakov as well but would not consider the Kongo fight a good performance.
I really look forward to his UFC debut.
You gotta respect Fight Nights ring card girls. Fight Nights always features ring card girls that are thick, fit, but thick. The thick sort of girl real men who eat red meat like, not the extra skinny type of ring card girl featured in some shows, that type is the kind vegan gluten free men like.
Krylov just signed a two year contract with Fight Nights live in the cage.
I am disappoint, there is a DJ, a rapper, and a rock band today but no orchestra at Fight Nights today.
I like when they have the orchestra, it is unique.
Time for Minakov to wreck shop.
Oh shit!!!
Minakov got rocked, stayed on his feet but rocked at the end of the round.
Minakov did not look good there. Saved by the bell in rd1.
Not a great card, theyre usually a lot better.
Minakov did get rocked at the end of the 1st but you saw what he did in the 2nd and 3rd.
He could have got a takedown and looked for a sub or GnP in the 3rd, he clearly just wanted the KO and found it.
Sure a JDS/Ngannou/Lewis could KO him but I consider it more likely he beats any of them with GnP or sub.
Sure Cain could wear him down but I consider it more likely he KO's or finishes Cain via sub.
Miocic, Overeem/Rothwell/Werdum present challenges sure...
If we don't get to see this dude mix it up with the other top HW's it will be a damn shame.
Here is the current fightmatrix ranking of 19-0 Minakov's best wins.
#15 Kongo
#20 Volkov
#28 Geronimo
#47 Copeland
#60 Graham
#85 Maciejewski
#75 Linderman
#122 Scherner
Inactive (last ranking)
#57 Ryan Martinez
#55 Eddie Sanchez
#137 Ron Sparks
Minakov's past 7 wins have been over fighters currently in the top 100. He finished them all via sub or KO except for one.
Lets hope his team can resolve this contract dispute with Bellator so we can see him vs the worlds top 10.
just watched the fight. As usual great performance by Roman Mazurov, GOAT commentator.
Minakov almost got KTFO, for the rest he looked dominant as usual, he stood for the whole first round fighting like the last version of Fedor, then wised up after getting cracked and resorted to use his dominant ground game.
It's kinda hard to gauge how good he is due to the level of his opponents, and his not so great performance against the best ranked he faced (Kongo).
Similar to Ben Askren, who struggled against the only decent well rounded fighter he faced (Jay Hieron 0-4 in the UFC, Askren won by split decision in Bellator).
I don't think its hard to gauge how good he is, when you see what he has done in freestyle, judo, and sambo as well as how he has handled some tough journymen you know a lot.
Minakov is much more complete than Askren. Minakov has big punching power, can finish fights standing, has wrestling but also has some of the best submission ability ever seen at HW.
Minakov is a Big Nog, Mir, Barnett, Werdum level submission expert.
I always wanted to see Barnett vs Minakov but knew it would never happen.
Sure Minakov got rocked.
Miocic, Cain, Big Nog, Fedor, Crocop etc... have all been KO/TKOed, that can happen to all the elite HW's when they fight each other.
You can tell, Minakov is elite level HW capable of winning titles. Sure he can get KO'ed just like the greats but he can also get big KOs and big submissions.
Right now, after a great camp, Minakov is the favorite to beat anyone in my mind and that includes Miocic, Cain, Werdum, JDS, and Overeem.
Minakov last fought in Bellator 3 years ago.
That is an incredibly long contract dispute and I can't think of one that has gone on longer in MMA.
The MMA media has barely covered it.
I knew of Minakov's sambo world titles when I started watching him fight MMA but did not know about his jr. national titles in freestyle wrestling and judo.
For sure one of the most decorated combat sports athletes to ever transition to MMA.
He gets no credit for it but going 9-0 vs "top 100" fighters is not easy at HW, not to mention he finished 8/9.
Can't help to hold out hope he gets to become a UFC HW because Bellator is putting very little effort into having a real, active, and healthy HW division.