Bellator 274: Andrey Koreshkov Wants Top Guy, Then Title Shot

Former welterweight champ Andrey Koreshkov was supposed to take part in Bellator’s debut in Moscow, Russia last October— only for a highly anticipated fight against Rustam Khabilov to fall through.

Admittedly a bit disappointed, Koreshkov was then promised a new fight in the new year — which brings us to Bellator 274 this Saturday. As luck would have it, Koreshkov’s original opponent, Mukhamed Berkhamov, was also forced out of the bout, but this time, a replacement was found in UFC veteran Chance Rencountre.

“Really, for me it doesn’t matter which will fight,” Koreshkov (24-4) told Cageside Press during the Bellator 274 media day on Thursday. “If you speak about Chance and Mukhamed, they have the same [height], same reach, same stance, southpaw, little bit same style. Almost nothing changed.”

Heading into Saturday’s show, where Koreshkov anchors the co-main event, the Russian has built up a little head of steam. Two straight wins, albeit one outside the promotion during the pandemic. Ranked #9 in the welterweight division, the ex-champ has been on the outside looking in the past couple of years — but there’s a feeling that could soon change.

“This question, right now I have one win in Bellator, and if I win [against] Chance, I want to fight some top guy, who is [higher] than me in the rankings,” Koreshkov replied when asked where a win against Rencountre would leave him. “And after the next win, maybe I can fight [for] the title.”

Who holds that title is something that has Koreshkov’s attention. Asked for his prediction for Yaroslav Amosov vs. Michael Page, the Russian opined that “this will be a very interesting fight, because Michael ‘Venom’ Page has outstanding skills. He’s very uncomfortable for any fighter.” On the other side of that May title fight, “Yaroslav Amosov has good wrestling. I think if he finds his distance and can takes down ‘Venom’ Page, he’s won this fight. If he can’t find the distance, he has a big problem.”

Watch the full Bellator 274 media scrum with Andrey Koreshkov above. The event takes place this Saturday, February 19, 2022 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. More coverage from Thursday’s media day can be found below.