Yaroslav Amosov and Scott Coker at Bellator 291 [Photo credit: Lucas Noonan / Bellator MMA]
It was a special night at the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland as Yaroslav Amosov made his return to the cage in the main event of Bellator 291. The Bellator Welterweight champion has been out of action as he served in the Ukrainian army during a difficult time for the nation.
Bellator Middleweight champion Johnny Eblen was in the arena supporting his friend and American Top Team teammate and was visibly emotional when the video package aired on the broadcast, showing what the Welterweight champion was dealing with in Ukraine.
Amosov had a spectacular performance as he defeated interim Welterweight champion Logan Storley via unanimous decision. It was a dominant performance and very impressive, especially considering that he hasn’t fought since 2020 when he defeated Douglas Lima to become the new champion.
‘Dynamo’ had no signs of ring rust or fatigue during the fight. He got the better of Storley in every area. His timing and speed made him successful in their striking exchanges and allowed him to dictate the pace of the fight.
During his post-fight press conference, Amosov was asked whether he believes he’s the top welterweight in the world regardless of promotion. He mentioned that he believes he’s the best but isn’t looking to leave Bellator and join the UFC. Instead, he offered another suggestion, saying:
“I think yes, [that was my best performance]. Of course [I think I’m the best welterweight in the world]. I am here. If a UFC champion wants to fight, come to Bellator. Scott Coker will give the contract, and we’ll make the fight.”
Who will challenge Amosov next?
The big question following Bellator 291 is who will challenge Yaroslav Amosov next? Bellator has some options in the welterweight division, but the fight that would be logical is Amosov vs. Jason Jackson, who has been on an impressive run of his own as of late.
Jackson is currently riding a 6-fight winning streak that includes wins over Paul Daley, Neiman Gracie, former UFC Lightweight champion Benson Henderson, and former Bellator Welterweight champion Douglas Lima.
