On February 24, 2022, the life of Yaroslav Amosov changed forever.
From celebrating the 26th straight victory of his perfect professional MMA career and being crowned Bellator’s Welterweight Champion in the process, he was now facing war.
Amosov drove his wife and baby son for 36 hours without sleep to ensure their safety, before heading back into the heart of the fight, where he would hold a gun for the first time.
Having been born in the city of Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv in 1993, 29 years later Amosov was one of many civilian soldiers tasked with defending it against Russian forces.
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And after being thrust into military action with no experience, Amosov knows his life will never be the same as he now steps up to defend his Bellator title – 624 days after winning it in June of 2021.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport during fight week, Amosov said: “I had to fight because my heart told me to. People told me that maybe I didn’t need to join the fight. But I had to help my country and my city.
“I know I have changed as a person. Of course, people are different now and all Ukrainian people are.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Amosov has spent the war guiding men, women and children to safety, handing out supplies and fighting Russian troops. But his return to MMA comes at the request of his people.
Having witnessed first-hand the realities of an invasion that has led to the deaths of more than 7,000 civilians, leaving to return to his day job did not come without long consideration.
Amosov added: “When I went to war I knew that my career might’ve been over. If it wasn’t for the Ukrainian people telling me to defend my belt then I might not be here at all.
(Image: Getty Images)
“It’s been a long time without fighting and now I understand that it’s my duty.
“I started training and the first two weeks it was very hard. My body was not ready and I had no conditioning. I was skinny. But I had to recover – getting back to normal life with my family is important.”
Not only did the presence of Amosov, Vitali and Wladimir Vitali Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk and Vasiliy Lomachenko among others provide motivation for the public, but the defending of his belt this weekend might just do the same.
(Image: @BellatorMMA/Twitter)
He said: “I think it was important. When people see sportsmen, politicians and actors it’s a motivation to carry on. It was a motivation for me too. I saw many people staying and helping who understand the situation first hand and it’s important.”
One deeply significant moment from Amosov’s time fighting in Ukraine was the recovery of his welterweight belt from his mother’s house, which was bombed after she hid it in the basement then fled.
Amosov nodded and smiled when asked if the recovery of the gold felt symbolic – a moment captured on camera when he brushed off the rubble while still wearing his army uniform, before his MMA training could resume.
(Image: @BellatorMMA/Twitter)
Having touched down in Ireland after spending time training with American Top Team, the 29-year-old will aim to defend his belt against interim champion Logan Storley in a repeat of a 2020 bout won by the Ukrainian.
Amosov said: “It’s a good fight and a good rematch. Now I am a different fighter from the first fight with him, although I have had many problems since, I’m feeling good and my condition is now the best, I don’t know how he is, but I am very good.”
As well as planning to spend time with his young family, whatever happens at the 3Arena this weekend, Amosov has no doubt his return to Ukraine will follow.
He concluded: “After the fight I need to be with my wife and my son. I see him in videos and I think ‘wow, this guy is getting bigger everyday and growing up’. I need to see it.
“When I see them I feel like crying, for three or four days I will be with my family and then I will go back to my country. I hope they can join me later in a safe city.
“I want to win and to win for my country. Many people might not understand what is still going on in Ukraine and I want to talk about it – and make them proud.”
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