UNCASVILLE, Conn. – After nearly two years away from Bellator, in part thanks to visa issues, former welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov had a statement win in his return.
Koreshkov (24-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) outworked a tough and game Sabah Homasi (15-10 MMA, 4-4 BMMA) for a unanimous decision in the Bellator 264 co-main event at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. It was Koreshkov’s first fight for Bellator since an October 2019 loss to Lorenz Larkin.
Koreshkov, who picked up a win in his home country of Russia earlier this year, said it took him a few minutes to find his groove against Homasi, and then settled in thanks to his corner.
“I was nervous – very nervous – because two years I (was on) hold and waiting till my visa was open,” Koreshkov told MMA Junkie after the fight. “Now I’ve come back, and it was a good win. Maybe the first round, I was a little bit unsure. Then I felt good and listened to my corner, listened to my coach, and did everything he said. You saw many flying knees – that was his command. I did it, and it was great.”
Knees were the name of the game for Koreshkov, who often fired them with precision at Homasi, both on the feet and when the fight hit the canvas. Koreshkov credited Homasi for his “hard, stone chin,” particularly after his TKO loss to Paul Daley in April. Koreshkov wondered if that loss was a sign he might be able to take Homasi out, but ultimately he had to go to the judges.
Still, after such a long time away from the Bellator cage, Koreshkov thinks his return puts him right back into the welterweight title picture. Koreshkov won the 170-pound title in 2015 against Douglas Lima and defended it against Benson Henderson. Then he lost it back to Lima in November 2016.
Since then, he’s gone 5-2 – including another loss to Lima in the 2018 welterweight grand prix. But with a win over Homasi, who had a four-fight winning streak before his back-to-back losses to Daley and Koreshkov, Koreshkov is ready for some focused callouts.
“I tried to show everybody I’m here and I can beat anyone,” he said. “I think I’m one of the top fighters in this division. In my opinion, I must fight someone for third, second or first (in the rankings). I’m open to anybody – it doesn’t matter: Neiman Gracie, Jason Jackson, Paul Daley, Michael ‘Venom’ Page … anybody.”
Andrey Koreshkov thinks he’s back in contention, makes Page and Daley his key Bellator callouts