Issue 145
September 2016
Bellator champ Andrey Koreshkov is out to prove he’s the best 170lb’er on the planet
Andrey Koreshkov
Bellator Welterweight champion
Alias: partan
Age: 25
Team: Rusfighters Sports Club
Record: 19-1
Few gave Russian Andrey Koreshkov much of a chance against former UFC champion Benson Henderson in April. But by outclassing the Arizona native to retain the welterweight belt, the 19-1 Omsk-born, California-based former pankration world champion proved he’s one of the leading 170lb fighters in MMA. Next, the 25-year-old ‘Spartan’ intends to prove he’s the number one.
How do you feel about ruining Benson Henderson’s highly-anticipated Bellator debut?
A (Laughs) This fight was a great opportunity for myself to show the world that I am a much better fighter than he is. That’s all I was thinking about, proving to everybody that I am better than him.
Were you surprised by how well you controlled the fight?
A The outcome was no surprise. I kept my distance, controlled the distance and I used my knees. I listened to my coaches and my corner. I put him against the cage, I used my flying knee many times and I hurt him.
Is that your favorite performance in Bellator so far?
A Beating Benson was a great moment. He was brought in to be the new champion. But I knew I was better than him. But, honestly, the night I beat Douglas Lima, where I became the champion, was very special. I fought as a very different fighter than I usually am. I came in with a different game plan, approached the fight differently and I fought differently. It was a big success and I won the title that night, so I am most proud of that performance.
What was going through your mind when you won the belt from Douglas Lima in July?
A I was very happy and I was also very relieved that I didn’t fail my coaches, my team, my camp, my school and everyone that was rooting for me. I didn’t fail them. I made good and I won the title. How great is that?
You won the title in Connecticut and made your first defense in Uncasville too. Does it have a special significance for you?
A First of all, I enjoy fighting in Connecticut because it’s a great venue and it’s a great place to go to visit. It was actually my third fight in this venue and I’ve now won all my fights there. For me, yes, it’s good to fight in Connecticut. However, I don’t really see connections in some geographical place on the map and having success in the cage. I don’t really care where I fight as long as I fight.
As a Russian competing in the US, do you feel pressure from your home country to succeed?
A I think for any fighter from any country, it’s a great honor to be able to represent your country and especially to do so on such a high level of the sport. It definitely comes with responsibility. I am very proud to represent my country and at the same time it is motivation for me to perform above and beyond my abilities. I never want to let anybody down.
Your nickname, ‘Spartan’, is one you adopted for the US. Why did you choose that?
A Initially I had a Russian nickname and it was very difficult to translate it. So I wanted to take on a nickname that needed no explanation for anybody – for MMA fans from any part of the world. We thought the name Spartan needed no explanation. Everybody understands what that name means.
True friends
Q What’s the best advice your trainer (former 185lb champion Alexander Shlemenko) has given you?
A. Alexander is in the room with us right now, so he wants to share some advice, if that’s OK…
My advice is this: When you’re winning everybody needs you. Everybody is around you. Everybody supports you. But once you lose nobody is around, only your close, true friends stay with you and support you. That’s something I’ve experienced myself that I wanted to share.
