Denis Goltsov

Denis Alexandrovich Goltsov (; born 10 June 1990) is a Russian sambo competitor, mixed martial artist, and former amateur boxer. As a sambist, Goltsov is a two-time world champion, two-time European champion, and three-time Russian champion. As a mixed martial artist, he is currently signed to the MMA promotion Professional Fighters League (PFL) in the heavyweight division, and was the 2024 PFL Heavyweight Champion. As of August 21, 2026, he is #2 in the PFL heavyweight rankings.

Sambo career

Denis Goltsov, originally from St. Petersburg, grew up in a sports-oriented family, though he initially lacked interest in team sports. At 15, inspired by his brother Sergei’s boxing trainer, he took up boxing and eventually earned a Master of Sport in the discipline, placing second in the national youth championship.

Goltsov studied geology at Saint Petersburg State University but shifted his focus to combat sambo, joining a gym that specialized in mixed martial arts (MMA). His transition was highly successful: within three and a half years, he became the European champion in MMA and continued to secure victories on both national and international stages, making MMA his primary career by 2021.

In sambo, Goltsov won 11 Russian championship medals, including three gold. He earned European Championship gold in 2012 and 2017 and achieved World Championship gold in 2016 and 2017, along with a silver medal in 2021. At the World Sambo Championships, Goltsov won the gold medal in 2016 and 2017 and the silver medal in 2021.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career In 2010, Denis made his debut in M-1 Global, later moving to ProFC. Although facing the first defeat of his career, he continued to persevere, maintaining a 5-4 record across both leagues. His journey took him through various organizations until he found success in Tech-Krep FC, where he scored four consecutive victories. These wins positioned him as the top contender for the championship belt.

Goltsov faced Kelvin Tiller at PFL 6 on August 8, 2019, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He won the bout via ezekiel choke in the second round.

Goltsov faced Satoshi Ishii in the 2019 heavyweight quarterfinal bout at PFL 9 on October 31, 2019. He won the fight by majority decision. Heading into the semifinals, Goltsov faced Ali Isaev later in the night. He lost the bout in the third round by technical knockout.

2021 season Goltsov faced Muhammed DeReese at PFL 3 on May 6, 2021. He had originally been scheduled to face Justin Willis on the card, but Willis was pulled from the bout after the weigh-ins due to being not medically cleared and replaced by DeReese. Goltsov won the bout via first-round technical knockout.

Goltsov faced Brandon Sayles on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6. He won the bout by first-round technical knockout.

Goltsov faced Ante Delija on August 19, 2021, at PFL 8. He lost the belt by unanimous decision.

2022 season Goltsov was scheduled to face Sam Kei on April 28, 2022, at PFL 2. However, Kei would later pull out of the bout and was replaced by Cody Goodale. Goltsov won the bout via first-round TKO.

Goltsov faced Maurice Greene on June 24, 2022, at PFL 5. He won the bout via unanimous decision, having out-wrestled Greene throughout the bout.

Goltsov was scheduled to face on 2021 PFL Champion Bruno Cappelozza on August 13, 2022, at PFL 8. However, after picking up an injury, Cappelozza was unable to continue in the tournament and replaced by Matheus Scheffel. After visa issues forced Goltsov to pull out of his bout due to visa issues, he was replaced by Juan Adams.

2023 season Ante Delija was scheduled to face Yorgan De Castro on April 7, 2023, at PFL 2. However, Delija pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Goltsov. In turn, Goltsov withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Danilo Marques.

Goltsov faced Cezar Ferreira on April 14, 2023, at PFL 3. He won the bout in the first round by knockout via ground and pound.

Goltsov faced Yorgan De Castro on June 16, 2023, at PFL 5. He won the bout by knockout just 18 seconds into the first round.

In the semi-finals, Goltsov faced Jordan Heiderman on August 18, 2023, at PFL 8. He won the fight by arm-triangle choke in the first round.

In the final, Goltsov faced Renan Ferreira on November 24, 2023, at PFL 10. He lost the bout by second-round TKO.

2024 season Goltsov faced Linton Vassell at PFL 1 on April 4, 2024 and won the fight by technical knockout.

Goltsov was expected to face Sergei Bilostenniy at PFL 4 on June 13, 2024. However, Bilostenniy was removed from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Thiago Santos. Goltsov won the bout via TKO in the first round.

Goltsov next faced Timothy Johnson in the semifinals of the 2024 Heavyweight tournament at PFL 7 on August 2, 2024. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.

Goltsov next faced Oleg Popov in the finals of the 2024 Heavyweight tournament at PFL 10 on November 29, 2024 and won the tournament via a triangle choke submission in the first round.

2025 Goltsov faced Corey Anderson at PFL Champions Series 2 on July 19, 2025, and lost the bout via technical knockout in the second round.

2026 Goltsov was scheduled to face Hasan Mezhiev on July 25, 2026, at PFL Washington DC. However, the bout was removed from the event for unknown reasons. The bout was re-scheduled and eventually took place on August 7, 2026, at PFL Charlotte. Goltsov won the fight via knockout with the opening minute of the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Professional Fighters League 2024 PFL Heavyweight Championship Absolute Championship Akhmat ACA Heavyweight Championship (One time) Tech-KREP FC Tech-KREP FC Heavyweight Championship (One time) Three Successful title defenses MMA Fighting 2024 First Team MMA All-Star

Sambo Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS) Sambo World Champion (2 times) Sambo European Champion (2 times) Russian National Champion (3 times)

Amateur boxing Russian Boxing Federation 2008 Anapa Russian Junior National Championships (+91 kg)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Hasan Mezhiev TKO (head kick and punches) PFL Charlotte: Battle vs. Rosta

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Loss

Corey Anderson TKO (elbows) PFL Champions Series 2

Cape Town, South Africa Win

Oleg Popov Technical Submission (triangle choke) PFL 10 (2024)

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Win

Timothy Johnson TKO (punches) PFL 7 (2024)

Nashville, Tennessee, United States Win

Thiago Santos TKO (punches) PFL 4 (2024)

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Linton Vassell TKO (punches) PFL 1 (2024)

San Antonio, Texas, United States Loss

Renan Ferreira TKO (punches) PFL 10 (2023)

Washington, D.C., United States Win

Jordan Heiderman Submission (arm-triangle choke) PFL 8 (2023)

New York City, New York, United States Win

Yorgan De Castro KO (punch) PFL 5 (2023)

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Cezar Ferreira KO (punches) PFL 3 (2023)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Maurice Greene Decision (unanimous) PFL 5 (2022)

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Cody Goodale TKO (punches) PFL 2 (2022)

Arlington, Texas, United States Loss

Ante Delija Decision (unanimous) PFL 8 (2021)

Hollywood, Florida, United States Win

Brandon Sayles TKO (punches) PFL 6 (2021)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Muhammed DeReese TKO (punches) PFL 3 (2021)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Ali Isaev TKO (punches)

Win

Satoshi Ishii Decision (majority)

Win

Kelvin Tiller Submission (Ezekiel choke) PFL 6 (2019)

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jared Rosholt TKO (punches) PFL 3 (2019)

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Ednaldo Oliveira Submission (brabo choke) S-70: Plotforma Cup 2018

Sochi, Russia Win

Atanas Djambazov Submission (Ezekiel choke) RCC 2

Yekaterinburg, Russia Win

Chase Gormley KO (punch) ACB 77

Moscow, Russia Loss

Mukhomad Vakhaev TKO (submission to punches) ACB 67

Grozny, Russia Win

Salimgerey Rasulov Decision (unanimous) ACB 50

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Paul Buentello KO (head kick) ACB 41

Sochi, Russia Win

Mike Kyle Technical Submission (triangle choke) ACB 32

Moscow, Russia Win

John Hawk TKO (punches) Tech-Krep FC: Prime Selection 7

Krasnodar, Russia Win

James McSweeney TKO (head kick and punches) Tech-Krep FC: Prime Selection 4

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Peter Graham Submission (kimura) Tech-Krep FC: Ermak Prime Challenge

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Zoumana Cisse Submission (armbar) Tech-Krep FC: Battle of Heroes

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Brett Rogers Decision (unanimous) Tech-Krep FC: Prime 3

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Roy Boughton Decision (unanimous) Tech-Krep FC: Prime Crimea

Simferopol, Crimea Win

Ivo Skopljak Submission (armbar) Tech-Krep FC: Prime 1

Krasnodar, Russia Win

Szymon Bajor KO (punch) Union of Veterans: Cup of Champions 2013

Novosibirsk, Russia Win

Dritan Barjamaj Submission (guillotine choke) S-70: Plotforma Cup 2013

Sochi, Russia Win

Tadas Rimkevičius TKO (punches) Global Fight Club 1

Novorossiysk, Russia Win

Yuri Gorbenko KO (head kick) Lion's Fights 2

Kolpino, Russia Loss

Akhmed Sultanov Submission (heel hook) M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Konstantin Erokhin KO (backfist) League S-70: Russian Grand Prix 2011 3rd Round

Moscow, Russia Win

Teymur Aslanov Submission (triangle choke) M-1 Challenge 29

Ufa, Russia Loss

Alexander Volkov TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 25

Saint Petersburg, Russia Loss

Dmitry Poberezhets Submission (rear-naked choke) ProFC 26: Union Nation Cup 14

Rostov-on-Don, Russia Win

Ilya Dzhadugishvili TKO (punches) ProFC 25: Union Nation Cup 13

Kharkiv, Ukraine Loss

Ibragim Ibragimov Submission (heel hook) ProFC 23: Union Nation Cup 11

Babruysk, Belarus Win

Marat Aliaskhabov Submission (straight armbar) M-1 Challenge 21

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Igor Kukurudziak Decision (unanimous) M-1: Battle On The Neva 4

Saint Petersburg, Russia