21 Facts About Anatoly Tokov

Anatoly Aleksandrovich Tokov is a Russian mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Middleweight division.

Tokov has previously fought in promotions such as:Bellator MMA, M-1 Global, Fight Nights Global, Rizin Fighting Federation and Absolute Championship Berkut where Tokov became the one-time Middleweight champion.

Anatoly Tokov was born on February 17,1990, in the city of Tobolsk, in the Tyumen region to a Russian father and Kabardian mother.

Anatoly Tokov took the first steps at age 15, enrolling in the hand-to-hand combat section under the guidance of trainer Andrei Mikhailovich Sabarov.

Anatoly Tokov initially wanted to train and pursue a career in boxing; however, in his city of Tobolsk, only hand-to-hand combat was available.

Anatoly Tokov achieved his first success at the adult level in the 2008 season, when he became the champion of Russia in the ARB, won several tournaments of Russian and international significance, and fulfilled the standard of a master of sports.

Anatoly Tokov competed several times in pankration and combat sambo tournaments.

In 2009, Anatoly Tokov joined the fighting club Red Devil Fighting Team after being invited, along with Sidelnikov, the Nemkov brothers and Moldavsky, to become a part of Fedor Emelianenko's fight team to help as preparation for Emelianenko's comeback into professional mixed martial arts.

Anatoly Tokov made his professional debut not long afterwards at the qualifying tournament of the M-1 Global organization in St Petersburg, defeating his opponent Anatoly Vintovkin by technical knockout with Nemkov at the 2nd minute of the 2nd round finishing the fight with powerful knee blows to the body.

Anatoly Tokov suffered the first defeat in his career in December 2011 by knockout from Magomed Magomedkerimov at the Russian Championship under the S-70 League.

For 3 years, Anatoly Tokov took part in a large number of tournaments, including M-1, DIA and S-70 League, having established himself as one of the best middleweights in Russian MMA.

Anatoly Tokov had to fight with the Chechen fighter Arbi Aguev in the 2015 ACB Lightweight Grand Prix Finals for inaugural ACB Middleweight Championship.

At the 4th minute of the round, Anatoly takes the opponent to the ground and carries out a series of finishing blows, after which the referee stops the fight, and Tokov goes to get ready to receive the championship belt.

Six months later, Anatoly Tokov participates in the M-1 Challenge 73 tournament, where he suffers his 2nd defeat in MMA.

Anatoly Tokov was expected to face John Salter at Bellator 188 on November 16,2017.

However, Anatoly Tokov pulled out of the bout due to an ACL injury and was replaced by Jason Radcliffe.

Anatoly Tokov's last fight in Bellator in 2019 was against Hracho Darpinyan at Bellator 229, in which he finished the fight with a TKO stoppage with elbows from crucifix.

Anatoly Tokov faced reigning champ Johnny Eblen for the Bellator Middleweight Championship on February 4,2023, at Bellator 290.

Anatoly Tokov had a one off bout with ACA, defeating Sharaf Davlatmurodov on April 19,2024 at ACA 174 via unanimous decision.

Anatoly Tokov married at the age of 19 to Maria, who are still together to this day and raise 2 daughters, Liza and Snezhana.

Anatoly Tokov has a younger brother, Vladimir Tokov, who is a mixed martial artist.