Hands remember! Minakov returned and brutally beat the British fort.
Igor Nekrasov March 30, 2024, 01:10 Moscow time
Vitaly took revenge on Oleynik and won a brilliant victory.
The next REN TV Fight Club tournament took place in Moscow. The main event of the night pitted former Bellator heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov against former UFC fighter Oli Thompson. They fought according to the rules of boxing, but with small mixed martial arts gloves.
Main tournament events:
“Fight Club REN TV”: just like old times! Minakov returned and won a brilliant victory.
Minakov returned to the cage after a long break of two and a half years. Vitaly was one of the most famous Russian heavyweights. He began his sporting career in sambo, where he became a four-time world champion. Minakov made his debut in mixed martial arts in 2010, and his debut was very successful: the Russian fighter had four fights, winning all of them, three of which were early. Vitaly continued to perform in various Russian leagues, amassed a 9-0 record and ended up in one of the strongest leagues in the world – Bellator. There he scored three victories, won the Heavyweight Grand Prix and then knocked out Alexander Volkov and became the organization’s champion.
After a successful defense of the belt, Minakov returned to Russia and won seven more fights, including defeating Bigfoot. The second trip to Bellator was less successful for the Russian. In 2019 he suffered his first defeat against Cheick Kongo, whom, by the way, he had already defeated previously. Minakov then rehabilitated himself by defeating Timothy Johnson, and after losing to Said Souma, Vitaly did not appear in the cage again. He fought his last fight in October 2021.
More on Minakov’s career:
Minakov could become cooler than Fedor. What ruined the career of Russia’s best heavyweight?
Minakov’s opponent, Oli Thompson, became known to the Russian public after a powerful performance at one of the REN TV Fight Club tournaments. Last May, the Briton brutally knocked out Alexei Oleynik, thus increasing his ratings in Russia. Oli was supposed to have a rematch with Alexey in Yekaterinburg, but the fight fell through. Thompson is an experienced fighter who has competed in many leagues, including the UFC and Bellator.
Minakov started the fight with pressure. Vitaly advanced, started aiming, Thompson responded and tried to get involved with powerful overhands. At the end of the first round, Thompson landed a right hand and Vitaly was knocked down, but was able to continue the fight.
Minakov went to counterattack at the beginning of the second round, but Olya landed a good right hand again. Time and time again, the Brit threw his right hand, despite Vitaly’s pressure. Vitaly received a cut, but the Russian continued to apply pressure and himself smashed his opponent’s face.
At the beginning of the third round, Minakov went on the attack and dropped the Brit with a powerful side kick. Thompson was knocked down, but managed to continue the fight, although with great difficulty. Vitaly continued attacking and finishing off Olya, but the British tried to respond, although it was extremely difficult for him. Minakov continued the pressure until the end of the fight.
As a result, the battle spread throughout the distance. Vitaly Minakov won by unanimous decision and made a brilliant return to the octagon.
