Bellator MMA continues to bolster its light heavyweight division,
as the California-based promotion has signed Absolute Championship
Akhmat title holder Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov
to an exclusive contract.
Sherdog.com confirmed the deal following an initial report from
MMAjunkie.com. A date for Yagshimuradov’s debut is currently
unknown.
A 31-year-old native of Turkmenistan, Yagshimuradov will enter his
Bellator debut on an eight-bout winning streak. Yagshimuradov
claimed ACA gold with a second-round submission of Batraz
Agnaev in May 2018 and has since defended the crown with a TKO
of Karol
Celinski and a decision win against Aleksei
Butorin.
Other notable fights on Yagshimuradov’s resume include a
first-round KO of ex-UFC competitor Joachim
Christensen and a unanimous decision loss to currentl UFC light
heavyweight contender Magomed Ankaleav. He has finished 15 of his
18 victories inside the distance.
Yagshimuradov joins other recent signees such as Anthony
Johnson and Yoel Romero
in Bellator’s light heavyweight division.