Anastasia Yankova Staying Positive After First Career Defeat: ‘This Is Just the Beginning’

Anastasia Yankova tasted defeat for the first time in her young MMA career last week, as she dropped a unanimous decision to Kate Jackson at Bellator 200 in London.

Yankova recently released a statement via Instagram following that loss. The message was positive, as the Russian kickboxer vowed to return to action soon.

“[Friday] I lost, but if you choose to be a fighter, take challenges, fight strong opponents, then you also accept the fact that this can happen,” Yankova wrote. “..To those who stay with me, regardless of the fact that [at Bellator 200] the referee [didn’t raise my hand], I am very grateful and happy that [you’re] in my life…Nothing ends, it's just the beginning. My face is slightly dented, but I don’t have injuries, so I'll see you soon.”

Yankova wasn’t especially competitive against Jackson in their flyweight bout. Jackson controlled the contest with takedowns and ground-and-pound, leaving her opponent’s nose a mangled mess at the conclusion of their 15 minutes in the cage. The 27-year-old Moscow native began her professional tenure with five straight victories, including wins over Elina Kallionidou, Veta Arteaga and Anjela Pink.

Thank you for all this great support! I did not expect so many kind words! I appreciate it and I am very grateful to each of you! Yesterday I lost, but if you choose to be a fighter, take challenges, fight strong opponents, then you also accept the fact that this can happen. The main bonus of lose - I can note the abrupt disappearance or even gloating of the people of the format: "we are with you, only when everything fine with you”... To those who stay with me, regardless of the fact that yesterday the referee raised not my hand, I am very grateful and happy that you in my life. I have the best team #weareAKA in the sport and the best coach @mike_swick it’s a lot, for the rest I just need time. Nothing ends, it's just the beginning. My face is slightly dented, but I am don’t have injuries, so I'll see you soon. Спасибо вам за всю эту огромную поддержку! Я не ожидала, что будет так много добрых слов! Я это ценю и очень благодарна каждому из вас! Вчера я проиграла, но если ты выбираешь быть бойцом, принимать вызовы, сражаться с сильными соперниками, то ты, так же, принимаешь тот факт, что такое может произойти. Как бонус от поражения могу отметить резкое исчезновение или даже злорадство людей формата: «мы с тобой, только тогда, когда у тебя всё хорошо». А тем, кто остаётся со мной, независимо от того чью руку вчера поднял рефери, я очень благодарна и счастлива, что вы у меня есть. У меня лучшая команда в мире #weareaka и лучший тренер @mike_swick для остального мне просто нужно время. Ничего не заканчивается, это только начало. Лицо немного помято, но я без травм, так что скоро увидимся! #bellator200 #bellatormma #akathailand

A post shared by anastasia_yankova (@anastasia_yankova) on May 26, 2018 at 7:03am PDT