UNCASVILLE, CONN. — Valentin Moldavsky was crowned interim heavyweight champion with a unanimous decision over Lamberton, Minn., native Tim Johnson on Friday night at Bellator 261.
Moldavsky, the No. 3-ranked heavyweight in the mixed martial arts competition, won the five-round fight 50-45, 49-46, 49-46.
Johnson, a 36-year-old former Minnesota State Moorhead wrestler who had won his previous three matches to become the No. 1-ranked heavyweight, fell to 15-7 in his MMA career.
Moldavsky, a 29-year-old from Russia, improved to 11-1 in his career. He had the advantages in most categories: strikes landed (72-33), punches landed (46-26) and knees landed (22-4).
