Andrey Koreshkov Bio
Andrey Andreevich Koreshkov, born on August 23, 1990, in Omsk, Russia, is a Russian mixed martial artist competing in the welterweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Known by the ring name “The Spartan,” Koreshkov has built a reputation as a balanced, powerful fighter with championship experience at the highest levels of the sport. He is a former Bellator Welterweight World Champion and trains out of RusFighters Sport Club in his home country.
Early Life and Background
Koreshkov was born and raised in Omsk, a major city in southwestern Siberia, where he still maintains his residence. Growing up in Russia, he was introduced to hand-to-hand combat at a young age, training in pankration, a discipline that blends striking, grappling, and wrestling from ancient Greek and modern combat sports. His early grounding in pankration helped shape his versatile skill set, allowing him to transition into mixed martial arts with a well-rounded base.
Standing 185 centimeters tall with a 193-centimeter reach, Koreshkov developed the physical tools that would later serve him against elite international opposition. He committed himself to combat sports as a teenager, and by the time he was ready to turn professional, he had already established the technical foundation and discipline that defined his approach inside the cage.
Path to MMA
Koreshkov made his professional MMA debut in October 2010 at the age of twenty. In his early years, he competed exclusively in his native Russia, building an undefeated record of 8–0 with five technical knockouts and three submissions. Notably, none of those early fights went to a decision, signaling his ability to finish opponents and dominate within the cage.
His growing reputation caught the attention of major international promotions, and in January 2012, it was announced that he would make his United States debut for Bellator. Before that move, the MMA news site Bloody Elbow had listed Koreshkov as the top welterweight prospect in its 2012 scouting report, highlighting the international interest in his talent.
Andrey Koreshkov Career
Early Career (2010–2011)
Between October 2010 and late 2011, Koreshkov competed exclusively in Russia, working his way through the regional circuit with an unbeaten 8–0 mark. His finishing rate during this stretch was remarkable, as he stopped every opponent either by technical knockout or submission, never requiring the judges to determine a winner. This period established him as one of the most promising welterweight talents in his home country.
The combination of his pankration background and his finishing instincts gave him a versatile identity in the cage, comfortable both on the feet and on the ground. By the time he was ready to test himself against international competition, Koreshkov had already proven that he could handle pressure, pace, and high-level opposition at home.
Bellator Breakthrough (2012–2014)
Koreshkov made his Bellator debut on March 30, 2012, at Bellator LXIII, defeating Tiawan Howard via knockout in the first round. He followed that with a third-round TKO win over Derrick Krantz at Bellator LXIX and a unanimous decision victory over Jordan Smith at Bellator LXXIV. In the tournament semifinals, he stopped Marius Zaromskis via technical knockout, and in the final he defeated Lyman Good by unanimous decision, earning both the tournament title and a shot at the Bellator Welterweight Championship.
On July 31, 2013, at Bellator 97, Koreshkov faced Ben Askren for the Bellator Welterweight Championship, losing the bout via technical knockout in the fourth round. Undeterred, he returned to the tournament path in March 2014, entering the Bellator Season Ten Welterweight Tournament. He won the quarterfinal against Nah-Shon Burrell via TKO in the first minute, then knocked out Justin Baesman with a flying knee in the semifinals before defeating Adam McDonough by unanimous decision in the final to claim his second tournament title and another championship opportunity.
Bellator Championship Era (2015–2017)
Koreshkov captured the Bellator Welterweight Championship on July 17, 2015, at Bellator 140, defeating Douglas Lima by unanimous decision. He made his first title defense on April 22, 2016, at Bellator 153, dominating former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson across three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Those wins cemented his place among the top welterweights in the world.
On November 10, 2016, at Bellator 164, Koreshkov faced Douglas Lima in a rematch, this time losing by knockout in the third round and surrendering the title. He was later scheduled to face Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 174 in March 2017, but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Returning on August 25, 2017, at Bellator 182, he finished Chidi Njokuani in the first round with a combination of punches and elbows, and on July 14, 2018, at Bellator 203, he knocked out Vaso Bakočević with a spinning back kick to the midsection early in the first round.
PFL Era (2024–Present)
In his PFL debut on April 19, 2024, at PFL 3, Koreshkov faced Magomed Umalatov and lost via unanimous decision, surviving a difficult fight in which he was close to being finished. He bounced back on June 28, 2024, at PFL 6, defeating Goiti Yamauchi by unanimous decision. On February 11, 2025, the promotion officially announced that Koreshkov would join the 2025 PFL Welterweight Tournament, marking a new chapter in his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Koreshkov fights from a pankration base, blending powerful striking with high-level grappling and submission skills. His finishing instinct remains one of his defining traits, as evidenced by his early career record of 8–0 with no decisions and his continued ability to score knockouts with techniques such as the flying knee and the spinning back kick. His composure in championship rounds, combined with his finishing variety, makes him a constant threat across all areas of the fight.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Koreshkov’s signature moments are his 2015 unanimous decision victory over Douglas Lima to claim the Bellator Welterweight Championship, his first-round flying knee knockout of Justin Baesman in 2014, and his spinning back kick finish of Chance Rencountre at Bellator 274, which broke five of his opponent’s ribs and punctured his lung in just 38 seconds. He also became the first fighter to defeat former UFC champion Benson Henderson at welterweight inside the Bellator cage.
Andrey Koreshkov Career Wins
Across his professional career, Andrey Koreshkov has compiled a record of 28 wins against 6 losses in 34 total bouts, with 2 wins by knockout, 2 by submission, and 2 by decision. His victories span multiple promotions, including Bellator, PFL, AMC Fight Nights, and Shlemenko Fighting Championship, demonstrating his durability and ability to compete at a high level for more than a decade.
Bellator Highlights
Within Bellator, Koreshkov captured the welterweight title and made one successful defense, highlighted by his dominant decision over Benson Henderson at Bellator 153. He also won two Bellator welterweight tournaments, the first in 2012 and the second in 2014, establishing himself as one of the promotion’s most consistent tournament performers.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of Bellator, Koreshkov earned a first-round armbar submission win over Adriano Rodrigues at AMC Fight Nights: Sochi in February 2021, and a second-round ground-and-pound TKO of Leonardo Cavalheiro at Shlemenko Fighting Championship 4 in June 2022. In PFL, he added a unanimous decision victory over Goiti Yamauchi at PFL 6 in 2024 to his list of international wins.
Andrey Koreshkov Family
Family Background and Lineage
Andrey Koreshkov was born and raised in Omsk, Russia, where he continues to reside and train with RusFighters Sport Club. Details about his parents and broader family background have not been publicly confirmed through verified sources.
Personal Life
Koreshkov trains out of RusFighters Sport Club in Omsk, which serves as the base for his professional career. Publicly verified personal details about his marital status, spouse, or children are not available.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025, Andrey Koreshkov entered the PFL Welterweight Tournament following the promotion’s official announcement in February. He faced Jason Jackson in the opening round at PFL 1 on April 3, 2025, and lost the fight via technical submission from a rear-naked choke in the second round, exiting the tournament bracket in its first stage.
Despite the early setback, Koreshkov remained active within the PFL structure and continued to compete at the welterweight level. His veteran experience, combined with his finishing pedigree, kept him positioned as a relevant figure in the promotion’s welterweight division throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Koreshkov’s combination of championship experience and finishing ability suggests he will remain a factor in the PFL welterweight division. His continued training with RusFighters Sport Club and his history of bouncing back from losses point to a fighter determined to add another chapter to a career already defined by tournament titles and a Bellator world championship.