Joni Salovaara Loses Split Decision in Russia

Finn Joni Salovaara (14-8-2) lost a split decision tonight to Salman “The Angry” Zhamaldaev (10-1) on the undercard of the Akhmat-2 Fight Show – Grozny Battle 13.

#Repost @espoon_kehahait with @repostapp. ・・・ Joni Salovaara taisteli miehekkäästi ja voitti kolmannen erän hyvien lopetusyritystensä myötä, mutta sai kuitenkin tyytyä pistetappioon tänään Venäjällä. #kehähait #finmma #finnmma #vapaaottelu #MMA @josamma

A photo posted by Ryan O'Leary – mmaviking.com (@mmaviking) on Dec 26, 2015 at 10:02am PST

The featherweight was in trouble early, but was able to battle back in the second round and even threaten with submissions in the third round. In the end, two judges gave it to Zhamaldaev and only one for the Espoon Kehahait fighter.

Salovaara previously had a No Contest bout with Rafael Macedo da Silva at Cage 32 for his only other fight of 2015.