Ukrainian MMA star Olena Kolesnyk’s hometown targeted by Russian drones but brave fighter vows to inspire nation in cage
UKRAINIAN MMA star Olena Kolesnyk returns to this season's Professional Fighters League ready to inspire a nation.
Kolesnyk is one of the eight female featherweight's vying for the PFL's $1million prize cheque and title belt this year.
But she does so still with her homeland at war with Russia as Ukraine fiercely fight off the invasion of the city of Bakhmut.
Kolesnyk's hometown of Odessa was even targeted by drone strikes just days before she is due back in the cage.
The contender - who lives and trains out of Las Vegas - leaves behind loved ones who are going through the nightmare of living in a battleground.
And the constant messages sent to her from back home leave the brave and determined fighter with an unbreakable mindset.
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Kolesnyk, 32, said: "Every day since the war started, there isn't one day where people don't send me videos from Bakhmut.
"Yesterday, my hometown where my home family and sister are, was attacked by Russian rockets.
"So guys, if you ask me my motivation, physical, mental pain is f***ing nothing when there are people in your nation going through this.
"I see everyday how many people I know that have died. My coach and team-mates are now in the war. My whole life has changed."
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The PFL is MMA's only seasonal format, consisting of qualification and knockout stages.
Points are earned per method of victory in the opening two bouts, with the top four in each weight progressing into the semi-finals.
From there, it is victory-or-go-home, culminating in a winner-take-all finale fight where the cash prize and title belt lays in wait.
Last year, Kolesnyk got to the lightweight last four but was beaten by eventual champion Larissa Pacheco, 28.
Both are in the featherweight bracket this season, with Kolesnyk kicking off her 2023 campaign against ex-UFC contender Aspen Ladd, 28.
And Kolesnyk hopes to do her nation proud when she carries the colours of Ukraine into the cage.
She said: "There's pressure on me, I take responsibility but meanwhile there's people from the war that send me videos.
"So on one scale there's pressure, on the other there's huge motivation to represent Ukraine."
