Mikhail Zayats (Russian: Михаил Заяц;born October 14, 1981) is an ethnic Russian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Light Heavyweight division. He has also competed in M-1 Global.

Mikhail Zayats
Born (1981-10-14) October 14, 1981 (age 42)
Karachev, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
ResidenceSt. Petersburg, Russia[1]
NationalityRussian[1]
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)[1]
DivisionLight Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach74 in (188 cm)
StyleCombat Sambo, Jujutsu
Fighting out ofBryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia
St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia
TeamRed Devil Sport Club
RusFighters Sport Club (Saturn.Profi)
Alliance Gym
RusFighters Sport Club (USA)
TrainerAndrey Kochergin
RankMaster of Sports in Combat Sambo[2]
Master of Sports in Hand-to-hand combat
Black belt in Ju-Jitsu
Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2006-present
Mixed martial arts record
Total32
Wins24
By knockout4
By submission12
By decision8
Losses8
By knockout3
By submission2
By decision3
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
Mikhail Zayats
Medal record
Representing  Russia
Men's Combat Sambo
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 St. Petersburg -90 kg

Mixed martial arts career edit

M-1 Global edit

Mikhail Zayats defeated powerful Georgian wrestler David Tkeshelashvili by rear-naked choke submission at 2:26 in the first round.[3]

Zayats faced Malik Merad on April 28, 2011, at М-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Enomoto. He won via TKO (punches) in the second round.[4]

Zayats faced Vinny Magalhães on October 14, 2011, at М-1 Challenge XXVII: Garner vs. Grishin for the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship. He lost via TKO (head kick and punches) in the third round.

Bellator MMA edit

Zayats was signed in Bellator and will perform on Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Opening Round in 2013 on Spike TV.[5]

In his Bellator debut, Zayats faced Brazilian MMA legend and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral in the Light Jeavyweight Yournament on January 17, 2013, at Bellator 85.[6] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

In the semifinal, Zayats faced Jacob Noe. This fight is expected to occur on February 21, 2013, at Bellator 90.[7] He won the fight in dominant fashion, ending it with an armbar submission in the first round.

Zayats faced Emanuel Newton on March 28, 2013, in Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament at Bellator 94. He lost via unanimous decision. Post-fight, Zayats confirmed that he suffered a rib injury just days before the fight. The injury would keep him out of the upcoming Bellator Summer Series.[8]

Zayats faced Aaron Rosa on October 11, 2013, at Bellator 103. He won the fight via Kimura submission.[9]

Zayats entered into the Bellator season ten Light Heavyweight tournament on February 28, 2014. He faced Muhammed Lawal in the semifinals at Bellator 110 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.[10]

Championships and accomplishments edit

Mixed martial arts edit

Ju-Jitsu edit

ARG (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat) edit

  • Russian Union of Martial Arts
    • Russian National Champion of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat[11]

Sambo edit

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
32 matches 24 wins 8 losses
By knockout 4 3
By submission 12 2
By decision 8 3
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 24–8 Caio Magalhaes Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 91 - Swain vs. Nuertiebieke May 12, 2018 3 5:00 Shenzhen, China Middleweight debut
Win 23–8 Marcus Vanttinen Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 82 - Vanttinen vs. Zayats August 5, 2017 3 5:00 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 22–8 Muhammed Lawal Decision (unanimous) Bellator 110 February 28, 2014 3 5:00 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 22–7 Aaron Rosa Submission (kimura) Bellator 103 October 11, 2013 1 0:47 Mulvane, Kansas, United States
Loss 21–7 Emanuel Newton Decision (unanimous) Bellator 94 March 28, 2013 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Final.
Win 21–6 Jacob Noe Submission (armbar) Bellator 90 February 21, 2013 1 3:38 West Valley City, Utah, United States Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 20–6 Renato Sobral TKO (spinning back fist and punches) Bellator 85 January 17, 2013 1 4:49 Irvine, California, United States Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 19–6 Marcin Elsner Submission (guillotine choke) Abu Dhabi Warriors 1 November 2, 2012 2 4:44 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 18–6 Mathias Schuck Decision (unanimous) Cup of Peresvet September 27, 2012 3 5:00 Bryansk, Russia
Win 17–6 Alexei Varagushin TKO (punches) League S-70: Russian Championship Finals August 11, 2012 1 3:17 Sochi, Russia
Win 16–6 Bogdan Savchenko Submission (guillotine choke) IMAT: Third Round April 27, 2012 2 1:28 Bryansk, Russia
Win 15–6 Juha Saarinen TKO (doctor stoppage) Cage 18: Turku March 3, 2012 2 3:36 Turku, Finland
Loss 14–6 Vinny Magalhães TKO (head kick and punches) M-1 Challenge 27: Magalhaes vs. Zayats October 14, 2011 3 1:13 Phoenix, Arizona, United States For M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship.
Win 14–5 Malik Merad TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 25: Zavurov vs. Enomoto April 28, 2011 2 0:49 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 13–5 David Tkeshelashvili Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 22: Narkun vs. Vasilevsky December 10, 2010 1 2:26 Moscow, Russia
Win 12–5 Matias Baric Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 21: Guram vs. Garner October 28, 2010 3 3:12 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 11–5 Toni Valtonen Submission (armbar) Fight Festival Goes Kaisaniemi June 16, 2010 1 4:45 Helsinki, Finland
Loss 10–5 Robert Jocz TKO (punches) BOTE: Chahbari vs. Souwer March 13, 2010 2 4:05 Zutphen, Netherlands
Win 10–4 Lee Sang-Soo Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 20: 2009 Finals December 3, 2009 3 5:00 St. Petersburg, Russia
Loss 9–4 Lucio Linhares Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Global: Breakthrough August 28, 2009 1 1:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Loss 9–3 Alexandre Machado Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 15: Brazil September 5, 2009 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Loss 9–2 Jae Young Kim TKO (head kick) M-1 Challenge 12: USA February 21, 2009 2 4:02 Tacoma, Washington, United States
Win 9–1 David Haagsma Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 11: 2009 Challenge Finals January 11, 2009 1 3:25 Amstelveen, Netherlands Won M-1 Challenge GP team.
Win 8–1 Seung Bae Whi Decision (majority) M-1 Challenge 9: Russia November 21, 2008 2 5:00 St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 7–1 Alexei Kalistartov Submission (armbar) RMAU: Battle of the Champions 3 May 10, 2008 1 2:24 Moscow, Russia
Win 6–1 John Cornett Submission (hand injury) M-1 Challenge 7: UK September 27, 2008 2 0:44 Nottingham, England
Win 5–1 Lucio Linhares Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 4: Battle on the Neva 2 June 27, 2008 2 5:00 St. Petersburg, Russia
Loss 4–1 Daniel Tabera Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 MFC: Fedor Emelianenko Cup May 15, 2008 1 1:59 Belgorod, Russia
Win 4–0 Christophe Daffreville Decision (unanimous) M-1: Slamm March 2, 2008 2 5:00 Almere, Netherlands
Win 3–0 Lukasz Jurkowski Submission (arm-triangle choke) M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva July 21, 2007 3 N/A St. Petersburg, Russia
Win 2–0 Jin O'Kim Submission (armbar) M-1 MFC: Russia vs. Korea January 20, 2007 1 2:00 Seoul, South Korea
Win 1–0 Christophe Durant Decision (unanimous) M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight October 7, 2006 3 5:00 Belgorod, Russia

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Mikhail Zayats". Sherdog.com. Retrieved April 17, 2011.
  2. ^ "Наша гордость". Archived from the original on September 15, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Mikhail Zayats vs. National Champion in Freestyle wrestling David Tkeshelashvili". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  4. ^ "M-1 Challenge 25: Zavurov vs Magumedov 2 | MMA Event".
  5. ^ "Mikhail Zayats signed in Bellator". valetudo.ru. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  6. ^ "Bellator Premieres Jan. 17th on Spike, Announces Lineups for First Two Cards". MMAjunkie.com. 11 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  7. ^ "Bellator 90 card complete with six prelims, including Chase Beebe-Travis Marx". MMAjunkie.com. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-16.
  8. ^ "An injury kept Mikhail Zayats out of the upcoming Summer Series light heavyweight tournament – The MMA Report". Themmareport.com. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 2016-04-27.
  9. ^ "Bellator MMA - Bellator 103".
  10. ^ "Rampage vs. M'Pumbu Results: Winner, Recap and Analysis from Bellator 110". Bleacher Report.
  11. ^ a b c d e "achievement Mikhail's". Mixfight.ru. Retrieved April 1, 2011.

External links edit