Yaroslav Amosov, 32, one of the most promising Ukrainian MMA fighters, also present at the front in 2022, when he participated in the defense campaign of Kiev, easily defeated Neil Magny in his UFC debut, then criticized the clichés about “warriors” often found in mixed martial arts, he writes Kyiv Post.
Yaroslav “Dynamo” Amosov, a Ukrainian welterweight MMA fighter with an impressive personal record (29-1), had an unforgettable debut in the UFC, defeating the experienced American Neil Magny by choke in the first round at UFC Vegas 112 in Las Vegas in mid-December.
Immediately following his decisive victory, the former Bellator champion used the moment to deliver an impactful message about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the quoted source notes.
Amosov, a former champion in Bellator (a lesser-known fight promotion), needed less than five minutes to prove why he is considered one of the most dangerous athletes in the welterweight category (up to 77.1 kg).
After a brief tactical exchange, Amosov executed a flawless ground design, then applied an irresistible “Anaconda” choke and forced his opponent to submit. The win improved Amosov's professional record to 29 wins and one loss.
Yaroslav Amosov, carrying the flag of Ukraine on his shoulders / Photo source: Imago Images
“War Is Not In The Octagon”
In the discussion with journalists after the match, Amosov addressed a cliché often used in contact sports, that of “going to war” carried in the cage. Amosov strongly denied this claim, according to the Kyiv Post.
The Ukrainian fighter emphasized that real war is nothing like the grueling training camps or the difficult process of losing weight in order to reach a weight class.
“If you don't know what war really is, you better shut up,” said Amosov “War is not the octagon! It's not a hard training camp or a complicated weight loss. It's a reality where you or your friend can die at any second. My country has been living this for four years.”
Amosov revealed that wartime memories often come back to him during difficult moments in competitions and serve as a source of inspiration, a type of motivation that pushes him to keep going.
“When the going gets tough in a fight, I think about how hard it was for me during the war. After that, everything in sports seems easier”he explained.
For Amosov, the fight is no longer just about titles or rankings, but also about representing Ukraine and lifting the morale of his compatriots in a time of national trauma.
“If I can give even a little positive emotion to our soldiers, I'm happy. If I can do something good for my country, that's the most important thing,” he said.
In 2022, Amosov answered the present and went to the front
Amosov's words carry the weight of experience accumulated on the front.
In early 2022, at the height of his career, he pulled out of a major fight to join the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine. He spent months in the field during the defense of the Kiev regionlater posting a viral video of him retrieving his world championship belt from the ruins of his family's home in Irpin after the withdrawal of Russian troops.
