From War to the Octagon: Yaroslav Amosov Finally Gets His Shot in the UFC

The wait is over. Yaroslav Amosov, the Ukrainian welterweight who spent years defending his country against invasion and then building an undefeated record that made him the most dominant 170-pounder outside the UFC, will finally step into the Octagon. On December 13, 2025, at UFC Vegas 112 inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Amosov will make his historic UFC debut against one of the most accomplished welterweights in the promotion's history: Neil Magny.

The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Amosov arrives in the UFC not as an unknown prospect, but as a fully formed elite fighter. His resume speaks for itself: a perfect 28-1 record that included a dominant run as the Bellator Welterweight Champion. He defeated legitimate elite competition during his time at Bellator, including Olympic wrestler Ed Ruth, multiple-time title challenger Douglas Lima, and noted grappler Logan Storley. This is not a fighter learning on the job. This is a fighter arriving at the highest level already battle-tested at the sport's second-highest tier.

What makes Amosov's journey even more remarkable is the context beyond fighting. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Amosov made the choice to stay and defend his homeland alongside millions of Ukrainians. While holding the Bellator welterweight championship, he stepped away from fighting to take up arms in his country's defense. That decision speaks to his character and his priorities. His return to fighting represented not just a personal ambition to compete at the highest level, but a statement that Ukraine had survived and that its people—including its warriors and athletes—could reclaim their futures.

Amosov spent 2024 as a free agent following his departure from Bellator after six years with the promotion. His only professional loss came in November 2023 when Jason Jackson caught him with a knockout while Amosov was a significant betting favorite. That loss, while significant, cannot define a career that was nearly perfect in a promotion that produced legitimate elite talent. In 2025, Amosov signed with CFFC and immediately reminded observers of his caliber by submitting former UFC veteran Curtis Millender, proving his striking and grappling remained sharp during his time away from the Octagon.

Now comes the test that every great fighter outside the UFC eventually faces: can he perform at the sport's highest level? Amosov is being matched against Neil Magny, a man with one of the most impressive resume of accomplishments in UFC welterweight history. Magny holds the record for most wins in the division with 24 victories. He's competed at the highest level for years and has faced the best competition the UFC has to offer. More importantly for Amosov, Magny is a living example of what success looks like in the UFC—longevity, consistency, and the ability to adapt to the promotion's elite level of competition.

The matchup is fascinating precisely because both fighters represent different paths. Magny built his resume through years of grinding, fighting whoever the UFC put in front of him, accumulating victories through volume and consistency. Amosov arrives with a smaller number of fights but with the clarity of a fighter who dominated his competition. Can peak-level performance in a secondary promotion translate to success against Magny's experience and winning record at the UFC level? That's the central question.

For Amosov, this is more than just another fight. It's validation. It's the moment where years of preparation—both in the cage and defending his country—meet the world's biggest stage. He arrives as one of the most accomplished fighters to make their UFC debut in recent memory. Whether he can prove that his Bellator dominance translates to the Octagon will define not just his UFC career, but whether he becomes a legitimate contender in a welterweight division that is as deep and talented as it has ever been.

December 13 cannot come soon enough.