Belyaev: Eastern Europe’s Tactical Middleweight
Oct 15, 2010
(PRESS RELEASE) -- M-1 Global veteran and Action Force Fight Team
standout Alexey Belyaev is looking to get back in the ‘win’ column
when he faces Alexei Nazarov in a middleweight contender clash
October 28th at M-1 Challenge XXI: Guran vs. Garner.
Since making his successful mixed martial arts debut over Vakhtang Kintsurashvili at M-1 / MFC New Blood in 2005, the St. Petersburg, Russia native has quickly racked up a respectable 10-4 record in the face of Europe’s stiffest competition. Standing 5’10” and 31 years old, Belyaev is known for his high-level wrestling skills and ability to take down his foes effortlessly; in a fashion reminiscent of Branden Lee Hinkle, once Belyaev is in a dominant top position, he is able to impose his will and wear down his opponents on route to securing victory.
As the Eastern Europe M-1 Selection runner-up, Belyaev had a spectacular run through the 2010 tournament earning a close spit-decision victory over Gasan Imalatov in the opening bracket and securing the unanimous decision over Murad Magomedov in the semi-finals. But the chase for the championship came to an abrupt end at the M-1 Selection Eastern & Western Europe finals thanks to Magomed ‘The White Wolf’ Sultanakhmedov’s world-class striking; the referee intervened shortly into the second round, stopped the fight and handed Belyaev his first ever TKO loss.
Even with the tournament hopes dashed, Belyaev’s performance throughout has proved he is capable of returning to the M-1 ring with the desire to achieve an even higher goal: winning the M-1 Challenge Middleweight Championship belt. Without doubt, Belyaev will be watching the middleweight title showdown between Selection Champs Rafal ‘Kulturysta’ Moks and Magomed ‘The White Wolf’ Sultanakhmedov the same night and should he dispose of Alexei Nazarov, Belyaev will begin clawing his way to the top of the contenders ladder in search of his shot at the M-1 Challenge gold in 2011.
Since making his successful mixed martial arts debut over Vakhtang Kintsurashvili at M-1 / MFC New Blood in 2005, the St. Petersburg, Russia native has quickly racked up a respectable 10-4 record in the face of Europe’s stiffest competition. Standing 5’10” and 31 years old, Belyaev is known for his high-level wrestling skills and ability to take down his foes effortlessly; in a fashion reminiscent of Branden Lee Hinkle, once Belyaev is in a dominant top position, he is able to impose his will and wear down his opponents on route to securing victory.
As the Eastern Europe M-1 Selection runner-up, Belyaev had a spectacular run through the 2010 tournament earning a close spit-decision victory over Gasan Imalatov in the opening bracket and securing the unanimous decision over Murad Magomedov in the semi-finals. But the chase for the championship came to an abrupt end at the M-1 Selection Eastern & Western Europe finals thanks to Magomed ‘The White Wolf’ Sultanakhmedov’s world-class striking; the referee intervened shortly into the second round, stopped the fight and handed Belyaev his first ever TKO loss.
Even with the tournament hopes dashed, Belyaev’s performance throughout has proved he is capable of returning to the M-1 ring with the desire to achieve an even higher goal: winning the M-1 Challenge Middleweight Championship belt. Without doubt, Belyaev will be watching the middleweight title showdown between Selection Champs Rafal ‘Kulturysta’ Moks and Magomed ‘The White Wolf’ Sultanakhmedov the same night and should he dispose of Alexei Nazarov, Belyaev will begin clawing his way to the top of the contenders ladder in search of his shot at the M-1 Challenge gold in 2011.
