Anatoly Tokov

Anatoly Aleksandrovich Tokov (; born 17 February 1990) is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Middleweight division. Tokov has previously fought in promotions such as:Bellator MMA, M-1 Global, Fight Nights Global, Rizin Fighting Federation and Absolute Championship Berkut where Tokov became the one-time Middleweight champion.

Background Anatoly Tokov was born on February 17, 1990, in the city of Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region to a Russian father and Kabardian mother. From adolescence, the boy liked to watch action films with the participation of Jean Claude Van Damme, Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris, which determined his hobbies in the future. Tokov took the first steps at age 15, enrolling in the hand-to-hand combat section under the guidance of trainer Andrei Mikhailovich Sabarov. Just three years after the start of training, he achieved an outstanding result - a victory at the national championship in hand-to-hand combat. A year later, he decided to move to the rapidly gaining popularity of mixed martial arts and decided to pursue a career in mixed martial arts following the birth of his first daughter at the age of 18. Tokov initially wanted to train and pursue a career in boxing; however, in his city of Tobolsk, only hand-to-hand combat was available. Tokov also would have pursued a career in judo, although this dream was short lived for it was too difficult to commit with because of the distance required to travel to train.

He achieved his first success at the adult level in the 2008 season, when he became the champion of Russia in the ARB, won several tournaments of Russian and international significance, and fulfilled the standard of a master of sports. He also competed several times in pankration and combat sambo tournaments. He made his professional debut not long afterwards at the qualifying tournament of the M-1 Global organization in St. Petersburg, defeating his opponent Anatoly Vintovkin by technical knockout with Nemkov at the 2nd minute of the 2nd round finishing the fight with powerful knee blows to the body. Over the next two years, he had six victorious fights, including winning the M-1 Challenge tournament in Astrakhan. He suffered the first defeat in his career in December 2011 by knockout from Magomed Magomedkerimov at the Russian Championship under the S-70 League. Already at the start of the fight, Magomed transferred Anatoly to a defensive position, lying on his back and delivered a knockout blow to the jaw. In 2012, he participated in the M-1 Fighter reality show, broadcast on the Fighter TV channel, and won all three grand prix fights there.

Anatoly had to fight with the Chechen fighter Arbi Aguev in the 2015 ACB Lightweight Grand Prix Finals for inaugural ACB Middleweight Championship . In the first 3 rounds, the advantage passed from one athlete to another - both fighters showed beautiful combinations in striking technique, however, Tokov was better at fighting on the ground. At the end of the 3rd round, Aguev makes an attempt to throw the opponent over the thigh, but he himself finds himself below and takes several powerful blows to the head - a gong saves the Chechen athlete from a possible knockout. In round 4, Arby looks more tired and begins to miss more and more direct single blows. At the 4th minute of the round, Anatoly takes the opponent to the ground and carries out a series of finishing blows, after which the referee stops the fight, and Tokov goes to get ready to receive the championship belt.

After leaving ACB due to a contract dispute, He also had one fight in the Fight Nights promotion, where he defeated the representative of Serbia, Vladimir Filipovich, by unanimous decision.

Six months later, Tokov participates in the M-1 Challenge 73 tournament, where he suffers his 2nd defeat in MMA. Ramazan Emeev managed to win the close bout via majority decision.

Bellator MMA In 2017, he signed a contract with the major American organization Bellator MMA and made his debut on the North American continent in February, defeating Francisco France at Bellator 172 by technical knockout.

The second match in the promotion at Bellator 200, Anatoly already in the first minute of the first round grabbed Vladimir Filipovich's neck and choked him out with a guillotine.

Tokov was expected to face John Salter at Bellator 188 on November 16, 2017. However, Tokov pulled out of the bout due to an ACL injury and was replaced by Jason Radcliffe.

In October 2018, he met in the Bellator cage with the titled compatriot Alexander Shlemenko at Bellator 208. The fight turned out to be equal and protracted - in the 15 minutes allotted by the regulations for the duel, none of the fighters could finish the confrontation ahead of schedule. After the end of the 3rd round, Anatoly was recognized as the best by the unanimous decision of the judges.

After successful fights in Bellator, Tokov signed a new, more profitable contract with the promotion for another 3 fights.

Tokov's last fight in Bellator in 2019 was against Hracho Darpinyan at Bellator 229, in which he finished the fight with a TKO stoppage with elbows from crucifix.

After a long layoff, Tokov returned on October 23, 2021, at Bellator 269 against Sharaf Davlatmurodov, winning the bout via split decision.

After the win, Tokov signed another long term contract with the promotion.

In his only bout of 2022, Tokov faced Muhammad Abdullah on June 24, 2022, at Bellator 282, finishing the bout in the first round via ground and pound TKO stoppage.

Tokov faced reigning champ Johnny Eblen for the Bellator Middleweight Championship on February 4, 2023, at Bellator 290. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Return to Russia Tokov had a one off bout with ACA, defeating Sharaf Davlatmurodov on April 19, 2024 at ACA 174 via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Absolute Championship Akhmat ACA Middleweight Championship (One time) 2015 ACB Middleweight Grand Prix

Personal life Anatoly married at the age of 19 to Maria, who are still together to this day and raise 2 daughters, Liza and Snezhana. Despite the fact that the athlete spends a lot of time at training camps in Stary Oskol and other cities of Russia, he connects his future exclusively with Tobolsk. He has a younger brother, Vladimir Tokov, who is also a mixed martial artist.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Alexander Shlemenko Decision (split) RCC 21

Yekaterinburg, Russia Win

Sharaf Davlatmurodov Decision (unanimous) ACA 174

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Johnny Eblen Decision (unanimous) Bellator 290

Inglewood, California, United States Win

Muhammad Abdullah TKO (punches) Bellator 282

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Sharaf Davlatmurodov Decision (split) Bellator 269

Moscow, Russia Win

Hracho Darpinyan TKO (elbows) Bellator 229

Temecula, California, United States Win

Gerald Harris Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 218

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Alexander Shlemenko Decision (unanimous) Bellator 208

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Vladimir Filipovic Technical Submission (guillotine choke) Bellator 200

London, England Win

Francisco France TKO (punches) Bellator 172

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Ramazan Emeev Decision (majority) M-1 Challenge 73

Nazran, Russia Win

Vladimir Filipovic Decision (unanimous) Fight Nights Global 50

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Arbi Aguev TKO (punches) ACB 38

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

A.J. Matthews KO (punch) Rizin World Grand Prix 2015: Part 1 - Saraba

Saitama, Japan Win

Adam Zajac TKO (punches) ACB 19

Kaliningrad, Russia Win

Sergiu Breb KO (punch) Steel Battle 2

Stary Oskol, Russia Win

Maxim Shvets Submission (guillotine choke) ACB 15

Nalchik, Russia Win

Enoc Solves Torres TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 54

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Jordan Smith Decision (unanimous) Plotforma S-70

Sochi, Russia Win

Vadim Feger KO (punch) SOMMAF: Steel Battle 1

Stary Oskol, Russia Win

Albert Duraev KO (punches) M-1 Challenge 46

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Reinaldo da Silva Decision (unanimous) TFN: Western Siberian Cup

Tyumen, Russia Win

Islam Yashaev Submission (guillotine choke) Voronezh MMA Federation: Fight Riot 2

Voronezh, Russia Win

Adam Polgar TKO (retirement) ANMMA: Liberation

Belgorod, Russia Win

Magomed Ismailov Submission (kimura) M-1 Challenge 39

Moscow, Russia Win

Yuri Shurov Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge: Grand Finale

Moscow, Russia Win

Rustam Gadzhiev Submission (choke) M-1 Fighter 2012 Semifinals

Moscow, Russia Win

Pavel Pokatilov Decision M-1 Fighter 2012 Quarterfinals

Moscow, Russia Loss

Magomed Magomedkerimov KO (punch) League S-70: First Round

Volgograd, Russia Win

Artur Korchemny KO (punch) TFN: Siberia vs Urals

Tyumen, Russia Win

Jan Zdansky TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 28

Astrakhan, Russia Win

Arsen Magomedov TKO (punches) Corona Cup 2

Moscow, Russia Win

Zurab Kurabanov KO (punches) Pankration Cup Of Call 2011

Omsk, Russia Win

Rustam Abdurapov Submission (armbar) L-1: Marshal Govorov Memorial 2010

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Alexey Katukov KO (punch) Russian Cities Cup 2010

Lipetsk, Russia Win

Anatoly Vintovkin TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge: 2009 Selections 9

Saint Petersburg, Russia