Mikhail Zayats (Russian: Михаил Заяц;born October 14, 1981) is an ethnic Russian former professional mixed martial artist currently competing in Bellator's Light Heavyweight division. He has also competed in M-1 Global.
| Mikhail Zayats | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 14, 1981 Karachev, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Residence | St. Petersburg, Russia[1] |
| Nationality | Russian[1] |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14.6 st)[1] |
| Division | Light Heavyweight Middleweight |
| Reach | 74 in (188 cm) |
| Style | Combat Sambo, Jujutsu |
| Fighting out of | Bryansk, Bryansk Oblast, Russia St. Petersburg, Leningrad Oblast, Russia |
| Team | Red Devil Sport Club RusFighters Sport Club (Saturn.Profi) Alliance Gym RusFighters Sport Club (USA) |
| Trainer | Andrey Kochergin |
| Rank | Master of Sports in Combat Sambo[2] Master of Sports in Hand-to-hand combat Black belt in Ju-Jitsu Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| Years active | 2006-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 32 |
| Wins | 24 |
| By knockout | 4 |
| By submission | 12 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 2 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  Russia | ||
| Men's Combat Sambo | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2008 St. Petersburg | -90 kg |
Mixed martial arts career
M-1 Global
Mikhail Zayats defeated powerful Georgian wrestler David Tkeshelashvili by rear-naked choke submission at 2:26 in the first round.[3]
Zayats faced Malik Merad on April 28, 2011, at М-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Enomoto. He won via TKO (punches) in the second round.[4]
Zayats faced Vinny Magalhães on October 14, 2011, at М-1 Challenge XXVII: Garner vs. Grishin for the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship. He lost via TKO (head kick and punches) in the third round.
Bellator MMA
Zayats was signed in Bellator and will perform on Bellator Fighting Championships: Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament Opening Round in 2013 on Spike TV.[5]
In his Bellator debut, Zayats faced Brazilian MMA legend and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral in the Light Jeavyweight Yournament on January 17, 2013, at Bellator 85.[6] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.
In the semifinal, Zayats faced Jacob Noe. This fight is expected to occur on February 21, 2013, at Bellator 90.[7] He won the fight in dominant fashion, ending it with an armbar submission in the first round.
Zayats faced Emanuel Newton on March 28, 2013, in Bellator Season Eight Light Heavyweight Tournament at Bellator 94. He lost via unanimous decision. Post-fight, Zayats confirmed that he suffered a rib injury just days before the fight. The injury would keep him out of the upcoming Bellator Summer Series.[8]
Zayats faced Aaron Rosa on October 11, 2013, at Bellator 103. He won the fight via Kimura submission.[9]
Zayats entered into the Bellator season ten Light Heavyweight tournament on February 28, 2014. He faced Muhammed Lawal in the semifinals at Bellator 110 and lost the fight via unanimous decision.[10]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Bellator MMA
- M-1 Global
- M-1 Challenge 2008 Championships.[11]
Ju-Jitsu
- Ju-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF)
- Ju-Jitsu European Champion.[11]
ARG (Army Hand-to-Hand Combat)
- Russian Union of Martial Arts
- Russian National Champion of Army Hand-to-Hand Combat[11]
Sambo
- All-Russian Sambo Federation
- Combat Sambo Russia National Champion.[11]
- Federation International Amateur de Sambo (FIAS)
Mixed martial arts record
| 32 matches | 24 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 3 |
| By submission | 12 | 2 |
| By decision | 8 | 3 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 24–8 | Caio Magalhaes | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 91 - Swain vs. Nuertiebieke | May 12, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Shenzhen, China | Middleweight debut |
| Win | 23–8 | Marcus Vanttinen | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 82 - Vanttinen vs. Zayats | August 5, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Loss | 22–8 | Muhammed Lawal | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 110 | February 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Season 10 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 22–7 | Aaron Rosa | Submission (kimura) | Bellator 103 | October 11, 2013 | 1 | 0:47 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 21–7 | Emanuel Newton | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 94 | March 28, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Final. |
| Win | 21–6 | Jacob Noe | Submission (armbar) | Bellator 90 | February 21, 2013 | 1 | 3:38 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 20–6 | Renato Sobral | TKO (spinning back fist and punches) | Bellator 85 | January 17, 2013 | 1 | 4:49 | Irvine, California, United States | Bellator Season 8 Light Heavyweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 19–6 | Marcin Elsner | Submission (guillotine choke) | Abu Dhabi Warriors 1 | November 2, 2012 | 2 | 4:44 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 18–6 | Mathias Schuck | Decision (unanimous) | Cup of Peresvet | September 27, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Bryansk, Russia | |
| Win | 17–6 | Alexei Varagushin | TKO (punches) | League S-70: Russian Championship Finals | August 11, 2012 | 1 | 3:17 | Sochi, Russia | |
| Win | 16–6 | Bogdan Savchenko | Submission (guillotine choke) | IMAT: Third Round | April 27, 2012 | 2 | 1:28 | Bryansk, Russia | |
| Win | 15–6 | Juha Saarinen | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Cage 18: Turku | March 3, 2012 | 2 | 3:36 | Turku, Finland | |
| Loss | 14–6 | Vinny Magalhães | TKO (head kick and punches) | M-1 Challenge 27: Magalhaes vs. Zayats | October 14, 2011 | 3 | 1:13 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | For the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 14–5 | Malik Merad | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 25: Zavurov vs. Enomoto | April 28, 2011 | 2 | 0:49 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 13–5 | David Tkeshelashvili | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 22: Narkun vs. Vasilevsky | December 10, 2010 | 1 | 2:26 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 12–5 | Matias Baric | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 21: Guram vs. Garner | October 28, 2010 | 3 | 3:12 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 11–5 | Toni Valtonen | Submission (armbar) | Fight Festival Goes Kaisaniemi | June 16, 2010 | 1 | 4:45 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Loss | 10–5 | Robert Jocz | TKO (punches) | BOTE: Chahbari vs. Souwer | March 13, 2010 | 2 | 4:05 | Zutphen, Netherlands | |
| Win | 10–4 | Lee Sang-Soo | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 20: 2009 Finals | December 3, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 9–4 | Lucio Linhares | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Global: Breakthrough | August 28, 2009 | 1 | 1:00 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 9–3 | Alexandre Machado | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 15: Brazil | September 5, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Jae Young Kim | TKO (head kick) | M-1 Challenge 12: USA | February 21, 2009 | 2 | 4:02 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | David Haagsma | Submission (armbar) | M-1 Challenge 11: 2009 Challenge Finals | January 11, 2009 | 1 | 3:25 | Amstelveen, Netherlands | Won M-1 Challenge GP team. |
| Win | 8–1 | Seung Bae Whi | Decision (majority) | M-1 Challenge 9: Russia | November 21, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 7–1 | Alexei Kalistartov | Submission (armbar) | RMAU: Battle of the Champions 3 | May 10, 2008 | 1 | 2:24 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 6–1 | John Cornett | Submission (hand injury) | M-1 Challenge 7: UK | September 27, 2008 | 2 | 0:44 | Nottingham, England | |
| Win | 5–1 | Lucio Linhares | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 4: Battle on the Neva 2 | June 27, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Daniel Tabera | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 MFC: Fedor Emelianenko Cup | May 15, 2008 | 1 | 1:59 | Belgorod, Russia | |
| Win | 4–0 | Christophe Daffreville | Decision (unanimous) | M-1: Slamm | March 2, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Almere, Netherlands | |
| Win | 3–0 | Lukasz Jurkowski | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva | July 21, 2007 | 3 | N/A | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 2–0 | Jin O'Kim | Submission (armbar) | M-1 MFC: Russia vs. Korea | January 20, 2007 | 1 | 2:00 | Seoul, South Korea | |
| Win | 1–0 | Christophe Durant | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 MFC: Mix-Fight | October 7, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Belgorod, Russia |
