Former Bellator MMA welterweight king Yaroslav Amosov (28-1) is back in the win column — and he wants UFC gold next. The Ukrainian fighter returned on August 9 at CFFC 140: Rzgoev vs. Roberts, where he faced veteran Curtis Millender. Amosov needed less than a round, locking up an anaconda choke at 4:18 of Round 1 to secure the submission victory.
This quick finish reminded fans of why Amosov was once considered one of the best welterweights outside the UFC. After dropping his Bellator belt to Jason Jackson in 2023 (Fight Replay), Amosov’s future was uncertain. That TKO loss marked his first professional defeat, ending an unbeaten streak that stretched over a decade. Now, with his Bellator contract expired and a fresh win under his belt, Amosov is a free agent aiming directly for UFC contention.
Throughout his career, Amosov built his reputation on relentless grappling pressure, but his latest performance showed more fluidity and sharp transitions. Training alongside WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk, Amosov has been sharpening his boxing, hoping to combine improved striking with his dangerous ground game. “It was me, but not the real me against Jackson,” Amosov admitted, pointing to a disrupted camp at the time. With momentum regained, he insists he’s ready for the next level.
Before CFFC 140, Amosov already had notable victories in Bellator, including a dominant showing against Millender years earlier (Full Fight) and a decision over striking ace Michael Page. But UFC fans have long questioned how he’d stack up against top welterweights on the sport’s biggest stage.
Now, the answer may come sooner rather than later. “Bellator was one chapter,” Amosov said after his latest win. “I want to prove myself in the UFC. I’ll take the belt — that’s the goal.”
With his free agency wide open, and momentum from a slick submission at CFFC 140, Yaroslav Amosov has firmly put himself on the radar of UFC matchmakers and fans eager to see him tested against the elite.
