• Advertise
  • Contact us
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Inside Reports
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Health
  • Data Report
  • Investigation & Features
  • BBN Update
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Health
  • Data Report
  • Investigation & Features
  • BBN Update
No Result
View All Result
Inside Reports
No Result
View All Result
Home Sports

PFL London: MMA fighter Olena Kolesnyk on fighting for Ukraine

August 20, 2022
in Sports
0
PFL London: MMA fighter Olena Kolesnyk on fighting for Ukraine
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Raddit


Olena Kolesnyk is 7-4 in her pro career but on a two-fight winning streak

One early morning in February, as Russia invaded Ukraine, Olena Kolesnyk had 15 minutes to pack her things and leave her home in Kyiv. She ran to safety underground early in the morning when it was still dark outside, with Russian forces entering the city.

Six months after the war began, while heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk defends his world titles against Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, Kolesnyk will be fighting for Ukraine at London’s Copper Box Arena.

The 32-year-old will face Brazil’s Larisa Pacheco at the season’s ninth Professional Fighters League mixed martial arts event.

“There’s pressure because [Ukrainian soldiers] in the war saw the PFL post my photo and sent me photos from the war. They were near the broken Russian tanks,” she told BBC Sport.

“So for them, I’m like a rocket from the Ukraine in a woman’s appearance.”

‘I need to represent my country with pride’

On Saturday, the PFL makes its debut in London as Kolesnyk takes on Pacheco in the women’s lightweight division, in a rematch of their 2021 fight, which the Ukrainian lost by knockout.

But this time, she says, there’s much more at stake, with so many people back home sending her messages of support.

“They all believe in me and they all hope that I’ll win so for me it’s like, in one way, it helps. Good energy, good vibes,” she said.

“In another way, I need to represent my country with pride.”

After escaping Ukraine, Kolesnyk had to make the hardest decision of her life and choose whether to go back and fight for her country in the war, or to fight for her country in a different way – by continuing her MMA journey and having a platform to speak about what is going on in her home.

She chose the MMA cage.

And the decision has paid off; the lightweight, who lost her two 2021 fights, says she has no choice but to win for the people watching back home and has won both of her 2022 fights, against Abby Montes and Vanessa Melo.

She puts her successes this year down to how much her life has changed and says she has been more focused and motivated to win, saying she is “more cold and less emotional” which she believes has affected her style of fighting.

“I have a responsibility not only for myself, not only to fight to have fun, now I have a responsibility for my people,” she said. “So it’s a huge motivation to improve myself from fight to fight.”

‘A responsibility I have for other people’

Olena Kolesnyk aims a punch at her opponent
Kolesnyk is one win away from the final

The PFL brands itself as one of the fastest growing sports leagues in the world. Unlike the UFC and Bellator, it operates in a sports-season format where fighters compete in a league before progressing to the knockout stages.

Prize money of $1m (£850,000) makes the league hugely attractive to fighters.

Kolesnyk wants to put that money to good use back home. The 32-year-old says her hometown, Odessa, was attacked by a rocket this week, so she wants to use the money back to help people there.

“When you grow up in a poor family and especially nowadays with what’s going on in my country, one million dollars can save lives,” she said.

“I appreciate that a lot of Ukrainians now are saving our lives.

“To be in the PFL and to have the opportunity to fight for $1m is not just what I dream about for myself, but a responsibility I have for other people.”

Kolesnyk, who hopes Ukrainians in London will come to watch her fight this weekend, says the PFL is “something huge and big, like a Chinese dragon which will attack the MMA world”.

“[The PFL] has a great future and it’s a great opportunity for us as fighters,” she added.

Last time out, Kolesnyk only found out she was fighting Pacheco at two weeks’ notice. This time, she says has been preparing for much longer, that she is focused, and wants revenge as she aims to win in her first PFL play-off appearance.

“It will be a much better fight than it was [last year]. It will definitely be interesting,” she said, promising to show how much she has grown as a fighter since the last fight.

Kolesnyk, a huge Harry Potter fan, says if she wins, she hopes to go on a tour of the Warner Brothers studios in Hertfordshire where the films were shot, and would love to meet one of the actors from the series.

“It was a childhood dream to visit London,” she said.



Source link

FREE SUBSCRIPTION

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Knocks as NBC revokes AIT, Silverbird, others’ licences

Next Post

I want to liberate Ebonyi – APGA gov candidate

Editor

Editor

RelatedNews

US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety
Football

US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety

January 30, 2023
Valencia sack manager Gattuso with team near relegation zone
Football

Valencia sack manager Gattuso with team near relegation zone

January 30, 2023
Wrexham vs. Sheffield United – Football Match Report – January 29, 2023
Football

Wrexham vs. Sheffield United – Football Match Report – January 29, 2023

January 30, 2023
Purdue unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25
Basketball

Purdue unanimous No. 1 in AP Top 25

January 30, 2023
Liverpool FA Cup exit deepens woes while Bayern Munich in crisis
Football

Liverpool FA Cup exit deepens woes while Bayern Munich in crisis

January 30, 2023
Amid chaos and uncertainty, U.S. takes the long view
Football

Amid chaos and uncertainty, U.S. takes the long view

January 30, 2023
Next Post
I want to liberate Ebonyi – APGA gov candidate

I want to liberate Ebonyi – APGA gov candidate

The world’s rivers are drying up in drought and heat. Here’s how 6 look from space

The world's rivers are drying up in drought and heat. Here's how 6 look from space

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Video: Controversial Cross Dresser, James Brown's Sex Tape Leaks

Video: Controversial Cross Dresser, James Brown’s Sex Tape Leaks

October 10, 2022
VIEWER DISCRETION: More Videos of Fed Uni Lafia Lecturer Striping and Beating Student Over Sugar Daddy

VIEWER DISCRETION: More Videos of Fed Uni Lafia Lecturer Striping and Beating Student Over Sugar Daddy

October 22, 2022
Wife of celebrity designer Seyi Vodi attacks alleged side chic, strips her naked (Video)

Wife of celebrity designer Seyi Vodi attacks alleged side chic, strips her naked (Video)

October 1, 2022
Update: Why Police Released Six Davido's Workers, Detained Two Arrested Over Ifeanyi's Death

Update: Why Police Released Six, Detained Two Davido’s Workers Arrested Over Ifeanyi’s Death

November 2, 2022
Video: Controversial Cross Dresser, James Brown's Sex Tape Leaks

Video: Controversial Cross Dresser, James Brown’s Sex Tape Leaks

1
Video: Lady weeps bitterly over alleged demise of Davido’s son, Ifeanyi

Video: Lady weeps bitterly over alleged demise of Davido’s son, Ifeanyi

1
Wizkid announces joint tour with Davido

Wizkid announces joint tour with Davido

1

NGX committed to building structures towards SMEs funding

0
Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

January 31, 2023
AfDB plans $1.5bn food  facility for Nigeria, others

AfDB plans $1.5bn food facility for Nigeria, others

January 30, 2023
US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety

US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety

January 30, 2023
New NYSC DG takes charge, unveils five-point agenda

New NYSC DG takes charge, unveils five-point agenda

January 30, 2023

Recent News

Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

January 31, 2023
AfDB plans $1.5bn food  facility for Nigeria, others

AfDB plans $1.5bn food facility for Nigeria, others

January 30, 2023
US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety

US Soccer announces program to ensure player safety

January 30, 2023
New NYSC DG takes charge, unveils five-point agenda

New NYSC DG takes charge, unveils five-point agenda

January 30, 2023
Inside Reports

Inside Reports is a Nigerian media outlet aiming to advance democracy through disseminating credible news. In the era of fake news and infodemic, Inside Reports is the online media outlet to go to in search of credible, verifiable and factual news.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • AFRICAN NEWS
  • Basketball
  • BBN Update
  • Business
  • Campus gist
  • Celebrity gossip
  • Climate & Environment
  • Crime
  • Crypto
  • Data Report
  • Education
  • English premier league
  • Entertainment
  • Featured
  • Football
  • Foreign
  • Gadget
  • Golf
  • Health
  • Investigation & Features
  • Jobs
  • Laliga
  • Mobile
  • Movies
  • Music
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Sure betting odds
  • Technology
  • Tennis
  • TRENDING VIDEO
  • Uncategorized
  • Video

Recent News

Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

Attacks on PDP members won’t stop Lagos APC defeat – Chairman

January 31, 2023
AfDB plans $1.5bn food  facility for Nigeria, others

AfDB plans $1.5bn food facility for Nigeria, others

January 30, 2023
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy

© 2022 Inside Reports - All Rights Reserved .

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sports
    • Football
      • English premier league
      • Laliga
    • Basketball
    • Golf
    • Tennis
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Campus gist
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
    • BBN Update
    • Celebrity gossip
  • Music
  • Video
  • Health
  • Technology
    • Gadget
      • Mobile
  • Investigation & Features
  • Climate & Environment
  • Data Report
  • Jobs
  • Sure betting odds

© 2022 Inside Reports - All Rights Reserved .

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist