Vice President of ACA, **Aslanbek Badaev**, expressed his expectations for the RCC middleweight title fight between Belarusian **Vladislav “Belaz” Kovalyev** and Russian **Alexander Shlemenko**. Their rematch is scheduled for September 12 in Chelyabinsk. In late May, Kovalyev defeated former Bellator champion Shlemenko by a split decision in Yekaterinburg.

“I believe that Belaz will approach this fight with more confidence. Last time, there were concerns about his lack of experience and limited fights. We saw him start off a bit tense, but he gradually found his rhythm. By the third round, it felt like he was really getting into it. If Vlad can start off the fight with the same intensity he showed in the third round of their first encounter, he could secure a win even more convincingly. The outcome of the rematch will largely depend on Vlad’s mindset and attitude.

Alexander wasn’t in the best shape either, and that’s well-known. Plus, he has age on his side, but if it comes down to a hard hit, Belaz can take it. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to recover and outmaneuver a younger opponent effectively. Also, Vlad has grappling skills. I predict a clearer victory for Belaz by decision,” Badaev shared in an interview with sports journalist Alexander Frolov from “Championship.”