PFL featherweight Olena Kolesnyk feared for her mother's life moments before making the walk for her make-or-break showdown with Abby Montes last summer amid the war in Ukraine.
Kolesnyk was riding a five-fight losing streak that had most recently seen her knocked out within a round when she faced Montes in Arlington, Texas, while her rival had just handed Claressa Shields her only defeat as a professional fighter. And seconds before having her hands wrapped, she sent a message to her mother at home in the heavily-hit Ukrainian town of Odessa.
And as her preparations for the crunch fight continued, the text remained unanswered, with the fighter ultimately heading to her ring walk not knowing if her mother was alive or dead. She picked up a split decision victory and immediately broke down in tears, allowing the moment to completely overtake her in the cage.
