Yaraoslav Amosov was able to get the better of Ed Ruth at Bellator 239 in a close welterweight tilt that served as the evening’s main event.
The main event of Bellator 239 represented a trial by fire for Ed Ruth. The talented wrestler had long carried the label of “top prospect” in Bellator’s welterweight division. His only misstep had come against Neiman Gracie in the promotion’s welterweight grand prix. After bouncing back from that loss with a couple of wins, he was in the first main event of his career.
Opposite Ruth in the headliner in Thackerville, Oklahoma on Friday was Yaroslav Amosov. The undefeated ‘Dynamo’ entered the night with an imposing record of 22-0, with wins over Gerald Harris, Erick Silva, and David ‘Caveman’ Rickels inside the Bellator cage.
Surprisingly, Amosov opted to try his hand at wrestling early as the main event got underway. The undefeated fighter went for a single-leg, which Ruth easily fought off. Ruth then went after a takedown of his own, but Amosov used a throw to put Ruth on the ground. That didn’t last; Ruth was soon back up, and briefly powered through a takedown of his own, only for Amosov to immediately escape.
Amosov changed tactics with some kicks, to the leg and body. Ruth answered back with a couple of his own. Amosov’s kicks, however, mainly the leg kicks, seemed to have a little more on them. Ruth got his hands going, and both men landed a couple clean strikes before Ruth again dropped for a takedown. Amosov, however, was right back up. A close battle with a lot of wrestling through the opening frame.
In the second, Amosov got his hands going early, connecting several times while on the attack, backing Ruth up to the fence. Amosov would also connect with a knee in the clinch, while Ruth was thinking takedown. Through to the midway point, Amosov arguably had a slight edge, both in the striking and wrestling department. He’d once again change levels, getting Ruth down, but in a rare misstep, he gave up his back, allowing Ruth to get in control.
What a transition from@EdRuth67! Every round is a war between these two men.
The #Bellator239 main event is LIVE now on @ParamountNet! pic.twitter.com/TuD4IkkTzX
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 22, 2020
The third round looked to be key to winning the fight for either man. Amosov landed a right hand early. Ruth answered back. Amosov worked in a leg kick. Ruth landed a counter-punch. An active enough opening minute, with a lot on the line. Ruth would find success with his right hand, while Amosov would look for a way in. Just as Ruth seemed to be turning up the heat, Amosov briefly landed a takedown. Then went for another, looking to take the back. Ruth reversed, but Amosov escaped. Amosov would later put Ruth on his backside with a kick, but it was more of a slip. Ultimately they’d go the distance in a close fight. Amosov took the win in the end, 29-28 on all three scorecards.
If Bellator 239 was a test to see where Ed Ruth was at, the results weren’t entirely clear. It was a loss, not a blowout, against an undefeated fighter. Amosov, who moved to 23-0, might have had a case for a title shot with a definitive win, but the end result wasn’t exactly a statement. Besides which, welterweight champion Douglas Lima is already set to move up to middleweight against Gegard Mousasi later this year. Which means Amosov may have to take another fight first.
Official Result: Yaroslav Amosov def. Ed Ruth by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
