Mikhail Zayats

Mikhail Vladimirovich Zayats (;born October 14, 1981) is a Russian former professional mixed martial artist who competed in Bellator's Light Heavyweight division as well as M-1 Global.

Mixed martial arts career

M-1 Global Mikhail Zayats defeated powerful Georgian wrestler David Tkeshelashvili by rear-naked choke submission at 2:26 in the first round.

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.

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

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. 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. 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.

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

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.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Bellator MMA Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Runner-Up M-1 Global M-1 Challenge 2008 Championships.

Ju-Jitsu Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) Ju-Jitsu European Champion.

ARG (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat) Russian Union of Martial Arts Russian National Champion of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat

Sambo All-Russian Sambo Federation Combat Sambo Russia National Champion. Federation International Amateur de Sambo (FIAS) 2008 FIAS World Combat Sambo Championships Gold Medalist.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Caio Magalhaes Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 91 - Swain vs. Nuertiebieke

Shenzhen, China Middleweight debut Win

Marcus Vanttinen Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 82 - Vanttinen vs. Zayats

Helsinki, Finland Loss

Muhammed Lawal Decision (unanimous) Bellator 110

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Aaron Rosa Submission (kimura) Bellator 103

Mulvane, Kansas, United States Loss

Emanuel Newton Decision (unanimous) Bellator 94

Tampa, Florida, United States Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. Win

Jacob Noe Submission (armbar) Bellator 90

West Valley City, Utah, United States Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. Win

Renato Sobral TKO (spinning back fist and punches) Bellator 85

Irvine, California, United States Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. Win

Marcin Elsner Submission (guillotine choke) Abu Dhabi Warriors 1

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Mathias Schuck Decision (unanimous) Cup of Peresvet

Bryansk, Russia Win

Alexei Varagushin TKO (punches) League S-70: Russian Championship Finals

Sochi, Russia Win

Bogdan Savchenko Submission (guillotine choke) IMAT: Third Round

Bryansk, Russia Win

Juha Saarinen TKO (doctor stoppage) Cage 18: Turku

Turku, Finland Loss

Vinny Magalhães TKO (head kick and punches) M-1 Challenge 27: Magalhaes vs. Zayats

Phoenix, Arizona, United States For the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship. Win

Malik Merad TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 25: Zavurov vs. Enomoto

St. Petersburg, Russia Win

David Tkeshelashvili Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 22: Narkun vs. Vasilevsky

Moscow, Russia Win

Matias Baric Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 21: Guram vs. Garner

St. Petersburg, Russia Win

Toni Valtonen Submission (armbar) Fight Festival Goes Kaisaniemi

Helsinki, Finland Loss

Robert Jocz TKO (punches) BOTE: Chahbari vs. Souwer

Zutphen, Netherlands Win

Lee Sang-Soo Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 20: 2009 Finals

St. Petersburg, Russia Loss

Lucio Linhares Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Global: Breakthrough

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Loss

Alexandre Machado Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 15: Brazil

São Paulo, Brazil Loss

Jae Young Kim TKO (head kick) M-1 Challenge 12: USA

Tacoma, Washington, United States Win

David Haagsma Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 11: 2009 Challenge Finals

Amstelveen, Netherlands Won M-1 Challenge GP team. Win

Seung Bae Whi Decision (majority) M-1 Challenge 9: Russia

St. Petersburg, Russia Win

Alexei Kalistartov Submission (armbar) RMAU: Battle of the Champions 3

Moscow, Russia Win

John Cornett Submission (hand injury) M-1 Challenge 7: UK

Nottingham, England Win

Lucio Linhares Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 4: Battle on the Neva 2

St. Petersburg, Russia Loss

Daniel Tabera Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 MFC: Fedor Emelianenko Cup

Belgorod, Russia Win

Christophe Daffreville Decision (unanimous) M-1: Slamm

Almere, Netherlands Win

Lukasz Jurkowski Submission (arm-triangle choke) M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva

St. Petersburg, Russia Win

Jin O'Kim Submission (armbar) M-1 MFC: Russia vs. Korea

Seoul, South Korea Win

Christophe Durant Decision (unanimous) M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight

Belgorod, Russia