Vyacheslav Vasilevsky

Biography and career

Vasilevsky was born and raised in the Siberian closed town of Zelenogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai. He began training in judo at age 9, ultimately becoming the junior judo champion of Krasnoyarsk Krai, earned national youth judo championship medals, and becoming the judo champion of Siberia as an adult. By age 19, he was training in boxing and combat sambo, and his success in combat sambo led to invitations to compete in MMA. With just 10 days of preparation, he won a first-round submission victory over Ladislav Zak with a rear naked choke hold.

His next fight was against Spaniard Daniel Tabera which he lost by unanimous decision. Vasilevsky has only lost on one other occasion, losing another unanimous decision to Maiquel Falcão. amassing 15 victories in a row before the loss to Falcao, and since then has gone 2-0 with both wins coming by TKO. Vasilevsky currently holds 7 wins by KO/TKO, 5 by submission, and 6 by Decision.

Due Vyacheslav's extensive ground fighting background in Sambo and Judo, he was awarded a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu only after a few months of training. His BJJ trainer is Cornel Zapadka, a black belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter from Poland.

M-1 Global

Vasilevsky's road to the 2010 M-1 Global light heavyweight championship bout was not easy. It began with a hard fought split decision victory over Sergey Guzev. Two other bouts in the selection – against Xavier "Professor X" Foupa-Pokam and Shamil Tinagadjiev. – went into the third round, though he also achieved a first-round victory over Alihan Magomedov. By contrast, none of Tomasz Narkun's professional fights have gone beyond the first round. The difference in experience between Narkun and Vasilevsky has been touted as potentially significant in their title bout on December 10.

Vyacheslav Vasilevsky defeated Tomasz Narkun via second round TKO at M-1 Challenge XXII to become the inaugural M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Champion. Declined from a belt at light weight, moved to the middle weight. April 28 in St. Petersburg on the M-1 Challenge XXV: Zavurov vs. Enomoto be deterred by the belt be afraid Viktor Nemkov and Vinny Magalhaes.

Bellator MMA

Vasilevsky joins Bellator after an incredibly successful career in Russia where "Slava" compiled a dominating 15-1 record. Currently riding a 14-fight win streak, the 23-year-old prodigy will be fighting at middleweight in the Bellator cage. The two-time Sambo World Champion has had success at light heavyweight but feels at home at 185 pounds and immediately adds more world-class depth to the Bellator middleweight roster. While in the U.S., Vyacheslav Vasilevsky trains under Murat Keshtov at K Dojo Warrior Tribe in Fairfield, NJ.

Vyacheslav faced Victor O'Donnell on March 16 at Bellator LXI He won the fight via unanimous decision (28–29, 28–29, 28–29) to advance to the semifinal round.

In the semifinal round, Vyacheslav faced Maiquel Falcão on April 20 at Bellator LXVI. He lost the fight via unanimous decision (28–29, 28–29, 28–29).

Vasilevsky was expected to face Doug Marshall in the Bellator Season Eight Middleweight tournament before being replaced by Andreas Spang.

Return to M-1 Global

Vasilevsky defeated Charles Andrade on May 23, 2013 at M-1 Challenge 39. He won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27). Vasilevsky then faced Vitor Nobrega on October 20, 2013 at M-1 Challenge 42. He won via TKO (punches) in the first round.

He then faced Ramazan Emeev for M-1 Challenge Middleweight Championship at M-1 Challenge 51 on September 7, 2014. Vasilevsky won the fight via TKO in the fourth round.

Vasilevsky faced former Bellator MMA Middleweight Champion Alexander Shlemenko on February 19, 2016 at M-1 Challenge 68. He lost this fight via split decision.

Vasilevsky returned to M-1 four months later he replaced the injured Ramazan Emeev and to face Alexander Shlemenko in a rematch on June 16, 2016 at M-1 Challenge 64. Despite being battered by Vasilevsky in the first two rounds, Shlemenko rallied and won the fight via guillotine choke in the third round.

Absolute Championship Berkut

On 16 September 2016 Vasilevsky signed with the ACB.

Vasilevsky was expected to face Albert Duraev on December 18, 2016, at ACB 50 for vacant middleweight title. Vasilevsky however, pulled out of the fight after got injury ear, the bout was cancelled.

Vasilevsky was expected to face Albert Duraev on April 15, 2017 at the ACB 57: Payback for vacant middleweight title. However, Duraev pulled out of the fight on 7 April and was replaced by Ibragim Chuzhigaev.

Vasilevsky faced Will Noland n July 22, 2017 at ACB 65: Silva vs. Agnaev. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Mixed martial arts

Sambo

Hand-to-Hand Combat

Mixed martial arts record

Except where otherwise indicated, details provided in the record box are taken from Sherdog