Yaroslav Amosov sets sights on UFC after Bellator departure: ‘I’ll take this belt’

October 9, 2024 8:00 pm ET

Yaroslav Amosov hopes to claim gold once again, but this time in the UFC.

Approaching one year since his most recent fight, the Ukrainian star Amosov (27-1) is a free agent. His sights are firmly set on the same end location they’ve been for a few years now behind the scenes.

“We have a plan,” Amosov recently told MMA Junkie in his first interview since his Bellator departure. “We want to sign a contract for just one fight (somewhere). After one fight, we want to go to the UFC.”

According to Amosov, the conclusion of his Bellator contract was the result of an expiration of time, not the conclusion of fights. Amosov says he informed the promotion in 2022 or 2023 of his plans to explore free agency and thinks perhaps that’s what led to a delayed exit.

When he withdrew from a bout vs. Michael Page to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, Amosov said one year was tacked onto the end of his contract – but claims he was not offered additional fights during this time.

“In 2023, one maybe two years ago, we said, ‘Bellator, we have plan. We don’t want to sign new contract. After finishing the contract, we’ll go outside.’ I think that’s maybe why they continued my contract one year. Maybe that’s why. But yes, we have plan to go to the UFC.”

Manager Andriy Spivachuk hinted his client might already know where he’s going next, but elected to not yet publicly announce.

“They promised, but they didn’t give,” Spivachuk said.

Amosov aims for a January 2025 return to action. Renowned for his strong grappling abilities, Amosov thinks he might have to show more exciting aspects of his game to twist the arm of UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby.

That’s why he’s training boxing with WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk (19-0), a fellow countryman.

“I feel I can change my style,” Amosov said. “That’s why I’m an MMA fighter. That’s why I’m an MMA fighter because I can fight in striking, grappling. Now, the last couple months, I trained in boxing. Maybe a couple months ago, I’ve been in boxing camp. Then, maybe now I go to boxing camp again now in Spain. … For me, I think I can grapple and striking. Sometimes, for me, I feel better if I do takedowns and ground-and-pound. Maybe submissions. It’s maybe better for me. I feel it’s, for me, comfortable.”

Despite the result of his last fight, a TKO loss to Jason Jackson in November 2023 that shocked bookmakers, Amosov said he asked for a rematch that he did not receive. Since then, he’s identified the problems that went wrong and is not deterred from UFC title gold aspirations.

“I had in my last fight it was many problems in my camp,” Amosov said. “I had many situations close to my family about my country and I had a couple problems. It’s just my problem and he’s a very hard guy. 100 percent. But my last fight was me, but not me.

“… Of course, I have big motivation because my last fight was not so good. I want to show this world I’m a good fighter and I will be champion. My last fight is my fault. I want to show it’s just a mistake. I show this world this mistake. … I think I can do this. I will do this. Maybe that’s better. I’ve trained with many guys, many years and I feel I can do this. I’ll take this belt.”

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