Home
Bellator MMA

Bellator signs heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov to an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract

The MMA Report Staff

The latest edition to the Bellator MMA roster is Russian heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov as he has signed an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract with the California based promotion.

The signing of Kharitonov was officially announced in a press release on Wednesday afternoon.

“I have had the best seat in the house for some of Kharitonov’s heavyweight outings and I know Sergei [Kharitonov] can come in and make an immediate impact on our heavyweight division,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said. “He is an extremely skilled and experienced fighter who can end a fight in the blink of an eye, and we look forward to having him do just that inside the Bellator cage. Plus, he’s already competed at one ‘Dynamite’ event before, maybe he could do so again in the future!”

Kharitonov (23-5) has won five in a row since losing to Josh Barnett at a Strikeforce event in 2011 and his most recent win came in July of last year against Kenny Garner at M-1 Challenge 59. The victory over Garner came by TKO in the first round and his last four wins have come by TKO.

The Bellator debut of Kharitonov will take place later this year.

Previous Tony Martin explains why he feels win at UFC on FOX 18 is his most gratifying submission victory
Next Legacy FC 51’s Manny Vazquez: I know that I belong there and I know I am better than Ricardo Ramos

Related Posts

15 Responses

  1. When will the Bellator 148 fighter salaries come out?

    I’m thinking about getting either a Xbox One or PS4. But I can’t decide which one to get. How is the Xbox One you got?

    Do you think Bellator signed Kharitonov bc they thought they had a real good chance to sign Overeem. That must have been part of it. They fought couple times before. They’re 1-1 against each other.

    You think Mitrione retires?

    I think Overeem and Sterling will re-sign with the UFC prolly next week. I just don’t see Overeem going to Bellator. Sterling might tho.

    Bellator will prolly make Brooks vs Thomson next now that Girtz is out for like a yr. I rather see Chandler vs Thomson and Brooks vs Pitbull. Hbu?

    You think Hendricks will get the next title shot if he wins 2morro? Or do you think the UFC goes with the rematch Lawler vs Condit II?

    1. I have a request for the Bellator 148 salaries into the California State Athletic Commission. I am hoping to receive them at some point today.

      I like the XBox One. For me, I enjoy playing sports games so EA Access is a great deal. $30 for 1 year and you can download older games.

      When it comes to Overeem and Bellator, there is different information out there. Signing Kharitonov is not going to stop Bellator from being able to sign Overeem. It’s clear that Bellator is opening up the check book to bring in the talent they feel can help take the promotion to another level.

      On Mitrione, really not sure. My guess is that he fights again and I think it’s more likely he ends up back in the UFC. Time will tell on that.

      Brooks vs. Thomson is the way to go. Pitbull needs to put back to back wins together before getting a title shot.

      If Condit wants to fight again, look for him to get an immediate rematch. If he decides to retire, I expect Woodley to get the next title shot.

      1. Did they fix all the issues with Xbox One and PS4?

        Do you know what the relationship is with Bellator and Ed Soares/ RFA? Some of their champs and other fighters got signed by Bellator over the last few months.

        WIth all the issues with Russian fighters over the last few yrs with Bellator. They just signed another Russian in Kharitonov. Haven’t they learned their lesson? I guess not huh.

        I wanna see Kharitonov’s debut in May to be against Tony Johnson Jr or Overeem trilogy fight if he signs with them.

        Overeem can fight in Bellator, kickboxing, and boxing if he signs with them. I think UFC will match tho. Or Overeem might take less to be back with the UFC.

        1. What were the issues? I haven’t had any issues since I got the Xbox One. In terms of the relationship with Bellator and RFA, what do you mean? Ultimately, it’s a fighters choice what promotion he signs with.

  2. There were some issues with them. I think they fixed them.

    I meant does RFA now have a UFC and Bellator fighter out clause? RFA, CES MMA, Shamrock FC all have Bellator out clauses. Most of them have only UFC out clauses.

  3. Did you get a package deal with the Xbox One. Like any free games?

    I hate that non tent poles fighter salaries are so low and only the tent pole salaries are high.

    The Phil Davis, Benson Henderson, and Kharitonov signings are what I like to see Bellator do. Not signing guys on losing streaks and way past their primes. I mean for crying out loud they got 2 50 yr old’s fighting in the main event at Bellator 149…

  4. And I said prolly one of the reasons why Bellator signed Kharitonov was bc they thought they had a good chance of signing Overeem. To give him some competition and a big payday. And maybe have a 4 man Heavyweight tournament.

    What do you think is the reason why Bellator hasn’t stripped Minkaov of his belt?

    1. When it comes to Minakov, it’s likely has to do with his contract more than anything else why he has not been stripped.

  5. Is it Wandy or Leben that Scott Coker will announce on Inside MMA? Or both? What are you hearing?

    There’s nothing leaked online. Man, Bellator is really good at not letting some of their signings/ fight announcements out in the public.

    1. No one is talking as of right now. Honestly, I would be surprised if the announcement is Wanderlei Silva. The reason I say that is due to Wanderlei still being under suspension by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Signing of Leben would make sense.

  6. Kharitonov has ducked fights before. Twice he ducked Damian Grabowski in M1.

    Whenever Wandy gets his issues resolved with the athletic commission. I’d love to see Wandy vs Leben II. Maybe they can do that in Rizin. And it can air on Spike.

    What are you hearing on the remaining free agents?

    You think Leben to less money to sign with Bellator or do you think he’s getting paid really well?

    1. When it comes to Sterling, sounds like it’s not going well for him in terms of the offers he has received. As I have said on the Insiders Podcast several times, being a bantamweight has hurt his ability to get big money. On Leben, he had no leverage in signing with Bellator since UFC had no interest at all in bringing him back.

      1. How about Overeem? Is he considering leaving the UFC for Bellator? And is the rumored offer from Bellator true?

        1. As I said on Thursday’s podcast, when it comes to free agency — no matter what the sport is, there are always going to be multiple rumors out there. I have heard there was a potential offer made, but I have also heard that Overeem is asking for more money than Bellator is willing to pay. Ultimately, you are only worth what someone is willing to pay you. If promotions are unwilling to pay Overeem the money that he wants, just shows he has overvalued his services.

Comments are closed.