In another universe, Alexander Shlemenko could have easily been a dude that would be at the top of our list of Denny’s Street MMA exhibitions. He fights like he’s always in the process of falling down, and that’s why we love him at MiddleEasy. We knew of his ability to effortlessly pull off a spinning backfist before most did, so I guess we truly are MMA hipsters. There’s no way we’re rocking a handlebar mustache like Ian McCall though. That guy is the king of all hipsters in Southern California. If aliens came down to earth and requested a diplomat from each fashion scene to be taken aboard their mothership, hipsters across the world would scribble Ian McCall’s name on a piece of paper so underground that you probably didn’t even know it existed.
Fortunately for the fashion industry, Shlemenko doesn’t know it exists. If he did, everyone would be rocking Russian track suits and backfisting every inanimate object in sight. Tonight at Bellator 88, Shlemenko proved why he’s been hovering on our Top Ten Frate List by landing an array of body shots on Miguel Falcao to set up an on-the-ground TKO, making him the new Bellator middleweight champion.
After he grabbed his snazzy belt, Alexander snatched the microphone from Jimmy Smith’s hand and cut the greatest promotion MMA has seen this year.
I am champion of Bellator. I am face of Bellator now. Who want with belt? Come on with cage. I am beat you.
Chael Sonnen, good luck trying to pull off a better post-fight promo than that. Here’s a tip: It’s impossible.
