Alexander Sarnavskiy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Sarnavskiy
Sarnavsky in 2023
Born	(1989-01-17) January 17, 1989 (age 36) Omsk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Other names	Tiger
Nationality	Russian
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st)
Division	Lightweight
Reach	70.5 in (179 cm)
Style	Kickboxing, Hand-to-hand combat
Fighting out of	Lake Forest, California, U.S
Team	RusFighters Sport Club Reign Training Center BJ Penn's MMA Storm Fight School
Trainer	Alexander Shlemenko
Rank	Master of Sport in HTHC
Years active	2008–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total	50
Wins	41
By knockout	12
By submission	21
By decision	8
Losses	9
By knockout	1
By submission	2
By decision	6

Alexander Sarnavskiy (born January 17, 1989) is a Russian mixed martial artist. He is known for competing in the lightweight division. Sarnavskiy has been a professional MMA fighter since 2008. He has mostly fought in his home country, Russia. He is a well-known fighter from M-1 Global and used to compete in Bellator Fighting Championships.

Mixed Martial Arts Journey

Starting Out

Alexander Sarnavsky was born in 1989 in a village in Kazakhstan. In 1998, his family moved to Omsk, Russia. This is where he started his sports journey.

His first sport was kickboxing. He trained for two years and did well in local competitions. Later, he became interested in pankration. This is a mix of wrestling and boxing. Alexander then switched to hand-to-hand combat and combat sambo. He trained at the Saturn-Profi martial arts school.

When he was 18, his hobbies became a professional goal. Sarnavsky decided to try mixed martial arts (MMA). His coach, Alexander Shlemenko, inspired him to take this step.

Fighting in M-1 Global

Alexander Sarnavskiy started his MMA career with an impressive record. He won 8 fights without any losses. After this, he joined M-1 Global. This was a big MMA organization.

Tournament Success

He entered a special tournament. His first fight was against Maxim Kuptsov. Sarnavskiy used a move called a rear naked choke. This made his opponent give up.

Next, he faced Karen Grigoryan. Sarnavskiy won this fight by a split decision. This meant the judges had different opinions. But he still moved on to the final round.

After these wins, a sports website called Sherdog ranked him. They said he was the best undefeated European prospect. This was a big honor for him.

Key Fights

Sarnavskiy fought Victor Kuku at an event called M-1 Challenge XXI. He started the fight very fast. He used a spinning back fist to knock Kuku down. Then, he finished the fight with more punches. This was a quick knockout win.

He also made his first fight appearance in the U.S.. This was on March 25, 2011, in Virginia. He won this fight by submission in the second round.

Competing in Bellator MMA

On June 19, 2012, Sarnavskiy joined Bellator. This is another major MMA organization. He left M-1 Global to join Bellator.

Bellator Tournaments

Sarnavskiy joined the Bellator Season Seven lightweight tournament. His first fight was on October 19, 2012. He fought Rich Clementi and lost by a split decision.

He then defeated Tony Hervey in November 2012. He won this fight by a unanimous decision. This means all the judges agreed he won.

In 2013, Sarnavskiy entered another Bellator tournament. He fought Thiago Michel in the quarter-finals. Sarnavskiy won this fight by submission in the second round. However, he broke his hand in this fight. This injury forced him to leave the tournament.

Return to Bellator

Later in 2013, Sarnavskiy entered yet another Lightweight tournament. He faced Marcus Davis in the quarter-finals. Sarnavskiy knocked Davis down with a punch. He then used a rear naked choke to win the fight.

In the semifinals, he fought Ricardo Tirloni. Sarnavskiy won quickly with a triangle choke in the first round.

He reached the finals of the tournament. There, he faced Will Brooks. Sarnavskiy lost this final fight by unanimous decision.

After almost a year, Sarnavskiy returned to Bellator. He was supposed to fight John Gunderson. But Gunderson retired. Then, Derek Campos was set to replace him, but he also got injured. Finally, Sarnavskiy fought Dakota Cochrane. He won this fight by submission in the first round.

His last fight in Bellator was against Marcin Held in April 2015. Sarnavskiy lost this fight. After this, he left the Bellator organization.

After Bellator MMA

After leaving Bellator, Sarnavskiy continued to fight. He faced Jesse Ronson in October 2015. He won this fight by unanimous decision.

Fighting in Eurasia Fight Nights Global (EFN)

Sarnavskiy fought Murad Machaev in February 2016. He lost this fight by unanimous decision.

He then fought Dmitry Bikrev in April 2016. Sarnavskiy won this fight by submission in the second round.

Competing in Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB)

Sarnavskiy joined Absolute Championship Berkut (ACB). He fought Ustarmagomed Gadzhidaudov in September 2016. He lost this fight by knockout.

He then won his next fight against Ramazan Esenbaev in December 2016. Sarnavskiy won by TKO (Technical Knockout) in the third round.

More ACB Fights

In April 2017, Sarnavskiy faced Eduard Vartanyan. He lost this fight by submission in the second round.

He fought Shamil Nikaev in February 2018. Sarnavskiy lost this fight by split decision.

Bouncing back, Sarnavskiy knocked out Herdeson Batista in November 2018.

He also knocked out Aurel Pirtea in December 2019. This win came in the third round.

Championship Fight

In September 2020, Sarnavskiy fought for the ACA Lightweight Championship. He faced the champion Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov. Sarnavskiy lost this fight by unanimous decision. He also broke his arm during the fight.

Recent ACA Wins

After recovering, Sarnavskiy fought Artem Damkovskiy in February 2021. He won this fight with a rear-naked choke in the first round.

He then faced Rashid Magomedov in September 2021. Sarnavskiy won this close fight by split decision.

In May 2022, he fought Herdeson Batista again. Sarnavskiy won this fight by TKO very quickly, in less than a minute.

Latest Fights

Sarnavskiy fought Magomed Sulumov in February 2024. This was for the AMC Lightweight Championship. Even though he was hurt early, Sarnavskiy came back. He won the title and the fight with a rear-naked choke in the third round.

He recently lost the AMC Lightweight Championship to Akhmed Aliev in October 2024.

Championships and Accomplishments

• M-1 Global
  • М-1 Selection Eastern Europe Championship 2010.
• Bellator Fighting Championships
  • Bellator Season 9 Lightweight Tournament Runner-up

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of current Bellator fighters