Sasha Palatnikov

Last updated
Sasha Palatnikov
Born (1989-03-15) March 15, 1989 (age 35)
British Hong Kong
NationalityAmerican [1]
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Division Welterweight
Reach72+12 in (184 cm) [2]
Fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
TeamWarrior Academy (until 2019)
Syndicate MMA (2019–present) [3]
Years active2017–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins8
By knockout4
By decision4
Losses6
By knockout3
By submission3
University University at Buffalo
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Sasha Palatnikov (born March 15, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He currently competes in Karate Combat.

Contents

Background

Palatnikov, the son of a Russian father, who was a professional high diver, and a Scottish mother, was born and raised in Hong Kong but spent many summers in Brooklyn as a kid, specifically Brighton Beach. Due to this, he has a conversational level of knowledge in Cantonese. His parents put him in Karate at the age of five. He started playing rugby at the age of six and would train Muay Thai and boxing in the off seasons. He played rugby professionally, but due to an injury, decided to retire and go pursue an education. [4]

Sasha was the Hong Kong Heavyweight Amateur Boxing Association Champion in 2012, wanting to represent Hong Kong at Olympic qualifiers but due to politics and the fact that he was not ethnically Chinese[ dubious discuss ], he was prohibited from doing so. [4] [5]

Sasha also spent time in the United States and Canada throughout his college career, studying and playing American football and rugby at Concordia University, Hudson Valley Community College, and the University of Buffalo, graduating with a communications degree and minored in computer science. [4] During this time he also obtained a US citizenship from his time studying. [1]

In 2014, Palatnikov was sentenced to a 2-year prison sentence by the Hong Kong District Court for a robbery in 2013. The incident occurred when Sasha was helping a South African citizen recover a HK$10,000 debt from an Australian man. HK$70,000 in cash was stolen after the pair forced their way into his flat. At the time, Sasha was a computer programmer who was described as "a straight-A student" and excellent rugby player, claimed he had agreed to help his friend in what he thought would be a purely verbal confrontation with the Australian. Dawson, the Australian, was kicked and punched by the South African while being held by Palatnikov, the court heard. [6] After serving 16 months, Palatnikov was released in 2015. [7]

Within a month of his release, Palatnikov went to the Philippines to compete in a jiu-jitsu competition, then moved to Florida to train at the Blackzilians team gym in Boca Raton. [7]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After making his debut in 2017, losing to Emmanuel Verdier via TKO in the second round at Fight Time 36, in 2018, he returned to Hong Kong with his girlfriend, initially just for two weeks on holiday to get his permanent ID renewed. A friend put him in touch with local promotion Just MMA, who asked if he wanted to fight on their upcoming card. He won the bout via knockout in the second round and his opponents manager became his manager as well. [7]

After a one off unanimous decision win against Jeremy Bastian at Combat FC 1 in China, Sasha joined the Angel Fight Championship, where he won his first bout against Jae Young Ahn at AFC 10 on January 28, 2019, via unanimous decision. He then moved up to Middleweight for his next bout in the promotion, winning the AFC Middleweight Championship against Sun Won Son at AFC 12. In the process, Palatnikov became the first Hong Kong-born MMA champion. [8]

Sasha then fought for the UAE Warriors promotion, where he faced fellow future UFC fighter, Mounir Lazzez at UAE Warriors 8. He lost the bout via TKO at the end of the first round. [9]

Palatnikov faced late replacement Paulo Henrique at UAE Warriors 13 in a catchweight bout, winning the bout in the first round. [10]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Palatnikov made his promotion debut against Louis Cosce on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255. He won the bout via TKO in the third round. [11] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night awards. [12]

In his sophomore appearance in the organization, Palatnikov faced Impa Kasanganay on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland. [13] He lost the fight via second-round submission. [14]

Palatnikov faced Ramiz Brahimaj on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum. [15] He lost the fight via technical submission due to a rear naked choke in round one. [16]

On February 10, 2022, it was announced that Palatnikov was released by UFC. [17]

Post UFC

Palatnikov faced Kyron Bowen on April 2, 2022 at XMMA 4. [18] He won the bout via TKO stoppage due to punches and elbows. [19]

Palatnikov faced Joshua Jones on May 20, 2022 at Tuff-N-Uff 128. He won the bout via split decision. [20]

Palatnikov faced Tanner Saraceno at XMMA 5 on July 23, 2022. He lost the bout via rear-naked choke in the third round. [21]

Palatnikov is scheduled to face Francisco Trinaldo at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 on October 28, 2023. [22]

Karate Combat

Palatnikov signed with Karate Combat on December 17, 2022, winning his debut against Canadian Rob Buxton by knockout in the first round at Karate Combat 37. [23]

Palatnikov next faced Adrian Hadribeaj of Albania at Karate Combat 38 on April 1, 2023, losing by split decision. [24]

Palatnikov faced former karate and kickboxing champion Raymond Daniels at Karate Combat 39 on May 20, 2023, where he lost by unanimous decision. [25]

Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA

Palatanikov faced Francisco Trinaldo at Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 6 on November 10, 2023. [26] He lost the fight via TKO due to injury in the first round. [27]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Karate Combat record

Professional record breakdown
3 matches1 win2 losses
By knockout10
By decision02
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss1–2 Raymond Daniels Decision (unanimous)Karate Combat 39May 20, 202333:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Loss1–1Adrian HadribeajDecision (split)Karate Combat 38April 1, 202333:00 Miami, Florida, United States
Win1–0Rob BuxtonTKO (punches)Karate Combat 37December 17, 202212:38 Orlando, Florida, United States

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
14 matches8 wins6 losses
By knockout43
By submission03
By decision40
Res.RecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Loss8–6 Francisco Trinaldo TKO (knee injury)Gamebred Fighting Championship 6November 10, 202311:55 Biloxi, Mississippi, United StatesBare knuckle MMA.
Loss8–5Tanner SaracenoSubmission (rear-naked choke)XMMA 5July 23, 202234:08 Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Win8–4Joshua JonesDecision (split)Tuff-N-Uff 128May 20, 202235:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win7–4Kyron BowenTKO (punches and elbows)XMMA 4April 2, 202214:03 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Loss6–4 Ramiz Brahimaj Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum August 21, 202112:33 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss6–3 Impa Kasanganay Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland April 10, 202120:26 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win6–2Louis CosceTKO (punches) UFC 255 November 21, 202032:27 Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesFight of the Night.
Win5–2Paulo HenriqueTKO (punches)UAE Warriors 13September 25, 202011:23 Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesCatchweight (182 lb) bout.
Loss4–2 Mounir Lazzez TKO (elbows and punches)UAE Warriors 8October 18, 201914:48 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win4–1Sung Won SonDecision (unanimous)AFC 12June 10, 201955:00 Seoul, South KoreaWon vacant AFC Middleweight Championship. Middlweight bout.
Win3–1Jae Young AhnDecision (unanimous)AFC 10January 28, 201925:00 Seoul, South Korea
Win2–1Jeremy BastianDecision (unanimous)Combat FC 1: InceptionJune 10, 201835:00 Dingcheng, China
Win1–1Seok Hyun KoKO (punch)Just MMA 3March 16, 201821:22 Wan Chai, Hong KongWelterweight debut.
Loss0–1Emmanuel VerdierTKOFight Time 36April 7, 201724:40 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

[28]

See also

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