A Russian female MMA fighter has highlighted the harsh reality of her career in a Instagram post.
Anastasia Yankova's bruised face has struck a chord with her 132k followers.
The facial injuries were sustained in a bout against US fighter Veta Artega at the Bellator 161 Fighting Championships last Friday. While Yankova may have left a winner, her picture demonstrates that it can often come at a price. A black-eyed, swollen-nosed, bust-lipped, swollen-eared price.
'This is MMA, babe.' Yankova wrote in the caption. 'Had an elbow dance with my girlfriend... now I look like a beggar at a railway station. This is how I will look for the next couple of days.'
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Yankova, known for her defined features and long, blonde hair, had fans expressing concern for just that. One wrote: 'Such beauty should be protected.'
Bellator, founded in 2008, is notorious for its rough style - even by MMA standards.
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Yankova bagged $100,000 from her second-round win against Artega in Cedar Park, Texas, which in turn landed her a world title fight against the current world champion in her weight class.
Featured image credit: Instagram/Anastasia Yankova
Featured Image Credit:Topics: MMA