Summary

  • Yaroslav Amosov defeats Logan Storley to retain welterweight world title

  • Amosov took career break to fight in Ukrainian army

  • Amosov extends longest active undefeated record in MMA with unanimous points win

  • Sinead Kavanagh gets win on return from one-year injury lay-off

  • Peter Queally slumps to third defeat in a row against Bryce Logan

  1. Thank you and goodnightpublished at 00:30 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Yaroslav Amosov's dominant win over Logan Storley to unify the welterweight division brings our coverage of Bellator 291 in Dublin to a close.

    You can read my colleague Coral Barry's report on Amosov's win here.

    Elsewhere, Ireland's Sinead Kavanagh returned to action following a devastating knee injury last February with a win over Janay Harding, but team-mate Peter Queally suffered defeat to Bryce Logan.

    Read Coral's report on the rest of the action here.

    You can also rewatch the entire event on BBC iPlayer.

    Media caption,

    Ukrainian Amosov makes dominant return to MMA

  2. Bellator confirm second 2023 Dublin datepublished at 00:15 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

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  4. 'Ukrainian people I love you'published at 00:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Yaroslav Amosov was clearly emotional after his win and dedicated it to his people back home.

    Amosov also criticised Russia's president Vladimir Putin.

    "Ukrainian people I love you," Amosov said in the cage afterwards.

    "I want to say thank you my Ukrainian army for defence, thank you for helping my country. Please don't forget what's happening [in Ukraine]."

  5. Postpublished at 00:03 Greenwich Mean Time 26 February 2023

    Following victory, Amosov, while holding back tears, dedicates his victory to Ukraine.

    Amosov helped defend his country against Russia's invasion last February and has said he will return to Ukraine following this fight.

    The 29-year-old has extended his unbeaten record to 27 wins which is the current longest unbeaten streak in MMA.

    And he did it in style. That was a masterful performance.

  6. Amosov beats Storley via unanimous decisionpublished at 23:55 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    The judges confirm Yaroslav Amosov's dominance by announcing a unanimous decision victory over Logan Storley.

    Draped in a Ukrainian flag, Amosov receives his undisputed welterweight title from Bellator president Scott Coker.

  7. Postpublished at 23:53 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 4

    Amosov is not slowing down in the fifth, he's speeding up!

    The Ukrainian pushes forward landing a flurry of punches and kicks.

    The fight finishes following a takedown from Amosov.

    Emphatic.

  8. Postpublished at 23:50 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 5

    Yet another takedown attempt from Storley is stopped by Amosov.

    Blood is pouring down Storley's face now while Amosov is relatively unblemished.

    Just over two minutes of the fight to go.

  9. Postpublished at 23:47 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 4

    Storley has absorbed over 210 strikes from Amosov in this fight and we still have a round to go.

    He needs something extraordinary in the final five minutes.

  10. Postpublished at 23:44 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 4

    "You're looking at the best welterweight in the world right now - he can do it all," says John McCarthy on commentary, in reference to Amosov.

    Storley tries to take down Amosov again but can't complete the manoeuvre.

    Credit to Storley - despite taking a lot of damage in this fight he is still pushing forward.

  11. Postpublished at 23:40 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 3

    I can only imagine what Storley's calves feel like right now as another leg kick from Amosov audibly finds its mark.

    The bell signifies another round in the bank for Amosov.

  12. Postpublished at 23:37 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 3

    Storley works for a single-leg takedown early in the third round but again it's prevented from Amosov.

    Storley is getting out-struck and out-grappled so far.

    A left hook midway through the round from Amosov then stuns Storley.

  13. Postpublished at 23:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 2

    A flurry of left jabs is followed up by a high kick from Amosov.

    The variety of Amosov's attacks combined with his takedown defence is proving an impossible puzzle for Storley to solve.

    Stats show Amosov has landed 23 kicks to Storley's 0.

  14. Postpublished at 23:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 2

    "You're doing great," says Amosov's coach Mike Brown.

    Cameras show a deep cut just above Storley's right eye. Ouch.

    Storley shoots for a takedown early in the second round but it's stopped by Amosov.

  15. Postpublished at 23:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 1

    Amosov is winning the striking exchanges and has Storley on the back foot.

    Stats show Amosov has out-struck Storley 40-15 so far.

    Big opening round for the welterweight champion.

  16. Postpublished at 23:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 1

    Amosov is pushing forward with punching combinations and seems to hurt Storley a bit.

    Storley is cut below his right eye.

    A chant of "Ukraine" rings out from the Dublin crowd in support of Amosov.

  17. Postpublished at 23:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Amosov v Storley - Round 1

    The main event introductions are done. The fighters touch gloves.

    Undisputed welterweight title on the line.

    Here we go.

  18. Tale of the tapepublished at 23:21 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    There has been a lot of respect between Yaroslav Amosov and Logan Storley in the build-up to this fight.

    Amosov inflicted the sole defeat of Storley's 15-fight career when the pair first met in 2020.

    Amosov's 26-fight unbeaten run is the currently the longest in professional MMA.

    Welterweight champion v interim title holder. Something has to give tonight.

    Split picture of Yaroslav Amosov and Logan StorleyImage source, Getty Images
  19. 'I hid my title from Russian soldiers'published at 23:15 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine one year ago, many civilians were thrust into war with no military experience.

    One of those was Yaroslav Amosov, who chose to stay in Ukraine and defend his country after driving 36 hours to get his family to safety.

    Amosov helped defend & reclaim his hometown Irpin from Russian soldiers, but it came at an immeasurable emotional cost.

    "What kind of soldier would follow these kind of orders? What kind of person would give these kind of orders to slaughter innocent civilians that have nothing to do with anything, in their own country?" said Amosov.

    You can read more about his story, which includes digging up the title which his mother had hid from Russian soldiers at their family home, here.

    Media caption,

    Bellator MMA: From MMA to war against Russia - Amosov's story

  20. What happened the first time Amosov and Storley met?published at 23:12 Greenwich Mean Time 25 February 2023

    Yaroslav Amosov and Logan Storley's clash in the main event shortly is a rematch of their encounter in November 2020, where Amosov won by split decision.

    The fight was a grapple-heavy contest so wise money is on tonight's rematch following a similar pattern.

    You can watch highlights of the fight below.

    Media caption,

    Yaroslav Amosov defeats Logan Storley by split decision at Bellator 252 in November 2020.