Heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov explained his two-year absence from Bellator.
It has been 19 months since heavyweight champion Vitaly Minakov defended his title against Cheick Kongo at Bellator 115.
Since that night in Reno, Nevada, Minakov has not fought under the Bellator banner. He compiled a 3-0 record while fighting for Russian regional promotion Fight Nights, which is owned and operated by his manager Kamil Gadzhiev. Most recently, the undefeated Russian beat former UFC fighter Josh Copeland by submission.
So why did Minakov opt to fight in his native land instead of for the promotion he was contractually obligated to?