Watch: How Bellator Welterweight champ Yaroslav Amosov protected his belt while sheltering from bombings in Ukraine
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Yaroslav Amosov
Yaroslav Amosov (26-0) was scheduled to defend his championship against Michael Page on May 13 in London, but withdrew from the bout in late February to defend his country. He is one of several combat sports athletes to do so, including retired boxers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko and active boxers Vasiliy Lomachenko and Oleksandr Usyk.
In the video, Amosov is shown emerging from an underground room with a bag that contained his Bellator strap. In a translation provided by Bellator officials, Amosov credited his mother for stashing the belt where it “survived the bombing.”
Friday, Amosov and Bellator shared a video and image of him on the ground in Ukraine, wearing his military gear from head to toe. The Bellator welterweight title was present with him. Amosov, crawling out of an underground dwelling in one video, opens a bag to reveal his prize inside. A follow-up image showed Amosov and other military troops posing with the title.
Related: “Going to fight” Bellator MMA champion Yaroslav Amosov plans to stay and defend Ukraine
“If I were you, I wouldn’t even watch your news” Yaroslav Amosov addresses the Russian fans
Because of his commitment to Ukraine, Yaroslav Amosov withdrew from his in-cage battle against Page. An interim belt will be implemented in the welterweight division. With the war ongoing, there is no timeline for his return.
“I love this country, our own,” Yaroslav Amosov said in February when he announced he’d be defending his country. “Russia came to our house and started a war here, many people are dying – innocents, women, and children. We have to defend this country, and we succeed, friends. And we will succeed because the truth is behind us.”
“I would like to address those who subscribed to me from Russia. What is shown to you on TV, you may not watch – this is not true. If I were you, I wouldn’t even watch your news. We are in a real war. I cannot understand those people who do not believe that Russian troops entered Ukraine. I see it with my own eyes, I hear it. Terrible things are happening here. We can do this,” he concluded.
Related: “As long as the war goes,” Vasiliy Lomachenko to stay and fight for Ukraine as per manager
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