UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Valentin Moldavsky knew the dangers involved in facing a hard-hitter like Roy Nelson and wasn’t going to take any chances.
Moldavsky (10-1 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) outpointed former UFC heavyweight and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 10 winner Nelson 30-27 across the board at Bellator 244 on Friday as he notched his fifth win in a row.
After his victory, Moldavsky acknowledged that it wasn’t the most entertaining battle. But, with Nelson’s infamous overhand right a constant threat, he explained that he didn’t want to expose himself to being knocked out in a fight he felt he was controlling.
“I was a little bit more cautious than usual because he has a very unorthodox overhand right,” Moldavsky told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at the post-fight news conference. “I obviously didn’t want to get caught, so I had to sacrifice the excitement of the fight in view of winning it, but I got it done.”
He continued, “I felt like I could have done more in the standup, and I would interrupt my own sequences because a lot of times Roy would cover up and take a lot of punches then throw that one punch. And, in the heavyweight division, that lucky punch could end it, so I would unload with my hands then (I) would clinch him, just to kinda break that sequence so he doesn’t tie me and hit me. I just wanted to be cautious.”
Check out Valentin Moldavsky’s full Bellator 244 post-fight news conference in the video above.
Bellator 244 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun Arena. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
