Bellator MMA Signs ACA Light Heavyweight Champ Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov

Bellator MMA continues to bolster its light heavyweight division, as the California-based promotion has signed Absolute Championship Akhmat title holder Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov to an exclusive contract.

Sherdog.com confirmed the deal following an initial report from MMAjunkie.com. A date for Yagshimuradov’s debut is currently unknown.

A 31-year-old native of Turkmenistan, Yagshimuradov will enter his Bellator debut on an eight-bout winning streak. Yagshimuradov claimed ACA gold with a second-round submission of Batraz Agnaev in May 2018 and has since defended the crown with a TKO of Karol Celinski and a decision win against Aleksei Butorin.

Other notable fights on Yagshimuradov’s resume include a first-round KO of ex-UFC competitor Joachim Christensen and a unanimous decision loss to currentl UFC light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankaleav. He has finished 15 of his 18 victories inside the distance.

Yagshimuradov joins other recent signees such as Anthony Johnson and Yoel Romero in Bellator’s light heavyweight division.