Vitaly Minakov

Vitaly Viktorovich Minakov (; born February 6, 1985) is a Russian mixed martial artist, sambist and judoka who competed in the heavyweight division. A professional competitor from 2010 till 2021, he competed for Bellator MMA, where he is the former Bellator MMA Heavyweight World Champion, M-1 Global and Fight Nights Global.

Mixed martial arts career MMA career Minakov made his professional MMA debut in November 2010. He is a Sambo World Champion, (2008–2011).

Minakov defeated UFC and Bellator veteran Eddie Sanchez on June 7, 2012 at Fight Nights - Battle of Moscow 7. He won via KO in the first round.

Minakov defeated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and UFC veteran Fabiano Scherner on September 17, 2012 at Fight Nights - Battle of Desne. He won via KO in the first round.

Bellator MMA In June 2012, Minakov was signed in Bellator.

He made his debut the following fall at Bellator 79 on November 2, 2012. He defeated a Moldavian National Champion & Judo Black Belt Vladimir Starcencov via TKO in the second round to win his Bellator and North American debut.

Minakov faced Ron Sparks on June 19, 2013 in the Bellator Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. He won in the first round by technical knockout.

Minakov faced Ryan Martinez at Bellator 97 in the finals on July 31, 2013. He got the TKO victory via punches in the third round, after he took Martinez down and secured full mount.

Minakov faced and defeated Alexander Volkov on November 15, 2013 at Bellator 108 to win the Bellator Heavyweight Championship.

Minakov faced Bellator Season 9 Heavyweight Tournament winner Cheick Kongo at Bellator 115 on April 4, 2014. He won via unanimous decision to retain the Bellator Heavyweight Championship.

Minakov was stripped of his Bellator MMA title on May 14, 2016 due to inactivity.

Post-Bellator After leaving Bellator MMA, Minakov returned to fight in his native Russia, under Fight Nights Global promotion. He fought seven times since July 2015 and won all seven of his bouts by finishes.

Return to Bellator On August 23, 2018 it was revealed that Minakov and his management team had reconciled with Bellator and reached an agreement for a new contract. The new contract was for six bouts at $300,000 per fight, with his win bonuses applied on top of that fee.

On January 16, 2019, RusFighters LLC, Minakov's agent and manager, filed a lawsuit in the Orange County Superior Court against Minakov and Ali Abdelaziz, claiming Minakov breached the agreement with RusFighters when he used Abdelaziz to sign the new contract with Bellator. On February 28, 2020, the courts agreed that RusFighters LLC is owed 20% of any gross performance compensation of any bout during the term of his six-bout Bellator contract.

In his return, Minakov faced Cheick Kongo in a rematch at Bellator 216 on February 16, 2019. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, marking his first professional loss in MMA.

Minakov was to face Javy Ayala at Bellator 225 on August 24, 2019. However, on the day of the fight, it was announced that Ayala was pulled from the bout due to undisclosed medical reasons. Minakov instead faced Tim Johnson. Minakov won the bout via first round knockout.

Minakov was rescheduled to meet Ayala at Bellator 232 on October 26, 2019. However, Minakov was unable to obtain visa for the bout, leading to Ayala being pulled from the card also.

Minakov was scheduled to face Tyrell Fortune on October 23, 2021 at Bellator 269. However in August, it was announced that Fortune pulled out for unknown reasons and was replaced by Said Sowma. He lost the bout after it was stopped due to a broken finger.

Championships and accomplishments

Martial arts Bellator MMA Bellator Heavyweight World Championship (One time) One Successful Title Defense. Bellator 2013 Summer Series Heavyweight Tournament Championship. Tied (with Tyrell Fortune) for most knockout victories in Bellator Heavyweight division (five) Fight Nights Global Undefeated in Fight Nights (9-0) Global-MMA Global-MMA Fighter of the Year 2013.

Sambo Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS) Sambo World Champion (4 time) Russian National Champion (4 time) Russian Presidential Cup Sambo Champion (3 time - 2008, 2009, 2010)

Judo Russian Judo Federation 2006 Russian U23 Championships: 1st place 2005 Russian U23 Championships: 3rd place 2004 Russian U20 Championships: 2nd place

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Said Sowma TKO (finger injury) Bellator 269

Moscow, Russia Win

Timothy Johnson KO (punches) Bellator 225

Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States Loss

Cheick Kongo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 216

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Tony Johnson TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 82: Minakov vs. Johnson

Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia Win

Antônio Silva KO (punches) Fight Nights Global 68: Pavlovich vs. Mokhnatkin

St. Petersburg, Leningrad oblast, Russia Win

DJ Linderman KO (punches) Fight Nights Global 59: Minakov vs. Linderman

Khimki, Moscow Oblast, Russia Win

Peter Graham Submission (armbar) Fight Nights Global 50: Fedor vs. Maldonado

St. Petersburg, Leningrad oblast, Russia Win

Josh Copeland Submission (kimura) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 20

Moscow, Moscow oblast, Russia Win

Geronimo dos Santos Submission (armbar) Fight Nights Global: Dagestan

Kaspiysk, Dagestan, Russia Win

Adam Maciejewski TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global: Sochi

Sochi, Krasnodar krai, Russia Win

Cheick Kongo Decision (unanimous) Bellator 115

Reno, Nevada, United States Win

Alexander Volkov TKO (punches) Bellator 108

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Ryan Martinez TKO (punches) Bellator 97

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Win

Ron Sparks KO (punches) Bellator 96

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Win

Vladimir Starcencov TKO (punches) Bellator 79

Rama, Ontario, Canada Win

Fabiano Scherner TKO (punches) Fight Nights: Battle of Desne

Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia Win

Eddie Sanchez KO (punch) Fight Nights: Battle of Moscow 7

Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia Win

Karol Celinski TKO (corner stoppage) Faxe Forward Challenge 2: Russia vs. Latvia

Riga, Vidzeme, Latvia Win

Ivan Frolov Submission (guillotine choke) AntMMA: Ultimate Fighting of Bryansk

Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia Win

Juan Espino TKO (punches) League S-70: Sambo 70 vs. Spain

Moscow, Russia Win

Valery Scherbakov Submission (armbar) M-1 Challenge 22: Narkun vs. Vasilevsky

Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia Win

Vitalii Yalovenko Decision (unanimous) M-1 Selection 2010: Eastern Europe Finals

Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia Win

Alexander Zubachov Submission (rear-naked choke) Sambo-70/M-1 Global: Sochi Open European Championships

Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Russia Win

Ruslan Kabdulin Submission (armbar) M-1 Selection 2010: Eastern Europe Round 2

Kyiv, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine