Often, jokingly or seriously, I am asked the question “how to become an MMA fighter?” But most of the time, people don't realize that this is a bit of a misleading question. There is no such thing as an MMA fighter. To understand this, you first need to understand the concept of a fighter in general.
Anyone and anything can be a fighter, just like being an athlete or just doing some kind of martial arts. But not everyone can do this. Not everyone will be able to enter the cage, the ring, the tatami. To be an athlete of a certain style and perform in certain leagues, first of all, you have to want it. Having a desire is the most important thing.
But if your desire is to go there to make money, then most likely you will hardly succeed. And you shouldn’t assume that you can earn a lot of money there; you’re more likely to leave your health there. Many professional athletes They will agree that we have a lot of fractures, sprains and other injuries. At the age of 40 you can already register for disability.
You need to understand what you want to achieve from your chosen sport, who you want to be in it. If you just want to wave your arms or be a punching bag, then you are welcome, such guys will be accepted in the sections. And if you want to be respected, then you need to work and respect your comrades and rivals.
You need to train and not just train, but master at least a third of 2-3 styles if you decide to compete in the MMA league. If you come across a wrestler in the ring, fighting him will not do you any good. There is even a saying “don’t fight a fighter, don’t fight a striker.” If I am not a wrestler, then I will not fight a wrestler, because he is a king in his element and will surely beat me.
You have to work, you have to train, you have to want through I don’t want and through I can’t. It won’t be like walking into the hall, sitting down twice and “I can’t.” This kind of behavior won't work. Hundreds, thousands of repetitions of strikes, throws and other techniques.
You must understand that one direct blow must be practiced for months in order for it to work. Not everyone is able to withstand this; many have mental breakdowns. Few people see prospects in this, so out of a thousand only one remains.
I believe that in order to achieve something, first of all you need to think carefully about what you want to get from it, who you see yourself in this or that sport or even in this life. It’s not just “I came to the gym, I want to become a fighter.” These come to me every other day. The warm-up has passed, the man has turned green and there is no fighter. There is no athlete, no fighter, no one. That's it, he left and never appeared again. I'm sure many coaches have had similar experiences.
In fact, anyone can be a fighter. A person may not know martial arts, but he is so strong in spirit that even fire will not be a hindrance to entering the house and saving another. He will never be able to go into the octagon because it’s not his thing, but he has a fighting spirit. Which makes him ready to go through all the difficulties. This is exactly how I understand the word “fighter”. And think about why you should become MMA fighter? Maybe there are ones that are more suitable for you?
Russia is expanding its influence in world sports. Everyone knows that we can rightfully be proud of our traditions in hockey, gymnastics, wrestling, figure skating. And now Russians have also succeeded in very young sports - mixed martial arts or MMA.
So far, society knows little about this sport and often perceives it with a negative connotation. We will try to dot the i's.
Term
MMA - from (eng. Mixed Martial Arts) - Mixed martial arts. This is a combination of many techniques, schools and areas of martial arts. MMA is full contact fighting. Striking and wrestling techniques are used both in a standing position (clinch) and on the floor (grounds).
The term "Mixed Martial Arts" was coined in 1995 by Rick Blum, president of Battlecade, one of the early MMA organizations. Further, the abbreviation successfully took root in many, including non-English-speaking countries.
Misconception
Quite often MMA is mistakenly called “fighting without rules”, this is a key misconception. The competitions have very strict rules and regulations. The rules mainly concern the division into weight categories, the use of special gloves, additional restrictions on permitted techniques and the time frame for fights.
Story
In fact, the origins of MMA go back to the very, very distant past, to the time before our era. The ancient Greeks were the first Olympic Games competed in pankration. You can also remember the gladiator fights. In modern times, until the 1990s, MMA had neither popularity nor special development in the world. The turning point was the formation and development of large promotional organizations, such as “ Ultimate Fighting Championship" (Absolute Fighting Championship), "Pride Fighting Championships" (Fighting Championship "Pride").
The formation of MMA took place in modern history, before our eyes. Early competitions were governed by a very limited set of rules, and were subject to much criticism. The promoters systematically introduced additional restrictions to increase the safety of athletes, “cultivated” the fights, thereby attracting new spectators. Thanks to these efforts, modern MMA is at the moment are one of the fastest growing sports. Growing popularity among the public different countries, sales of paid fight broadcasts, media coverage, an increase in the number of potential fighters, and an increase in sales of MMA-related products are growing.
In Russia, the popularity of mixed martial arts has grown along with huge sporting achievements Fedor Emelianenko, internationally recognized as the best MMA heavyweight fighter. For almost ten years, Fedor Emelianenko remained undefeated, which is unprecedented in the history of MMA. The authority of the great athlete helped the development of MMA in our country: gyms, coaches, and promotional organizations began to appear.
Weight categories
from 120.2 Super heavyweight
93 - 120.2 Heavyweight
83.9 – 93 Light heavyweight
77,1 — 83,9 Average weight(Middleweight)
70.3 - 77.1 Welterweight
65.8 - 70.3 Lightweight
61.2 - 65.8 Featherweight
56.7 - 61.2 Bantamweight
up to 56.7 Flyweight
Possible outcome of the fight
Knockout (only as a result of a legal strike)
Voluntary submission (verbally or by tapping the opponent or the surface with the palm of the hand)
Technical knockout (one of the fighters cannot continue the fight, the referee or doctor, or the “corner” second signals this)
Judges' decision (unanimous, split, draw)
Fighting styles
Each fighter in MMA has his own tactics, his own strengths. This largely depends on what sport the athlete switched to MMA from. However, one can roughly divide tactics on the “first floor” and on the “second floor.”
Basic combat strategies
Wrestling technique - the fighter uses throws, grabs and painful/choking techniques. To improve clinch fighting, popular disciplines are freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo and sambo
Striking technique - when a fighter seeks to win by striking with hands, elbows, knees and legs. To improve stand-up technique, the most popular are boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and karate.
Fighting on the ground (on the floor) is practiced through jiu-jitsu, grappling, judo, and sambo.
Naturally, special attention is paid to practicing painful and choking techniques. It is the successful application of these tactics that often brings victory to a fighter.
How to become an MMA fighter
Becoming a fighter is not as easy as it might seem. “MMA is not just about competition or the desire to fight. For many fighters, this is their job. And bread,” says a young fighter from Dagestan, Abdul Magomedov.
His path to mixed martial arts was very eventful; we will list only some of his regalia: Bronze medalist of the European Championship combat sambo, Champion Rostov region in MMA, Champion of Dagestan in MMA, Silver medalist Dagestan in K1, Champion of the Southern Federal District in judo, Master of Sports of international class in combat sambo, CMS in judo, CMS in K1.
That is, we see what a solid baggage of sports skills and achievements a fighter should have.
In Russia, people most often come to MMA after wrestling: sambo, freestyle wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, judo, grappling.
Trainings and camps
In MMA training, you don't practice the same skills every day. Again, each athlete has his own system, but basically the routine is as follows: Monday - work in kentuses + sparring, Tuesday - grappling day, Wednesday - Muay Thai + sparring with gloves, Thursday - wrestling day + work at the net, Friday - sparring in kentuses or CrossFit jocks. Saturday - morning cross-country.
Everyone has training camps differently, depends on the level and capabilities of the athletes.
For example, Dagestan fighters usually undergo training camps under the guidance of the honored coach of Russia (and the father of UFC No. 1 fighter in 70kg Khabib Nurmagomedov) Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov in the high-mountainous region of Dagestan, in the Tsumadinsky district.
Also, many guys undergo training at one of best trainers Russia, coach of the Dagestan fighter club Mansur Uchakaev. Training camps are held under his leadership best fighters Russia. The training camps take place in the club itself, also in the Khunzakh region and on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
In recent years, many athletes have begun to fly abroad for training camps. Most often they fly to Thailand. In Thailand, two halls are in demand. This is AKA Thailand and Tiger Muay Thai.
Those who are lucky enough to have a visa fly to train in the USA. In the USA the topic has long been developed; there are a huge number of halls with strong fighters, and where Russians are warmly welcomed.
Russian fighters undergo training in such famous gyms as Jakson Wink MMA (Rustam Khabilov UFC fighter, Timur Valiev), AKA gym (Islam Makhachev trains there). The American Top Tim hall is also popular among Russians. However, we note once again that not all children are able to attend training camps in such halls. It's just that not everyone has sponsors. Flying to the USA for training camp will cost a lot of money. Going through a two-month training camp in one of the listed halls (including flights, meals, accommodation, and payment for trainers) will cost approximately 300 - 400 thousand rubles.
Promotion
Since MMA is a commercial sport, it requires a business scheme - promotion. These are organizations that represent fighters, organize competitions, do advertising, promotion, etc.
The best promotion company in the world (and the richest) is, of course, the UFC. The best fighters of their weight categories are gathered there. Actually, this is the highest level of career, and all fighters in the world dream of getting there. Bellator can be placed on the second level in the world. Another thing worth noting is the WSOF organization.
In Russia, the company ACB (Berkut) stands out (and is considered the best). The company has Chechen roots, but is very influential in Russia and known abroad. Excellent refereeing and a very good attitude towards the athletes are noted. Each competition takes place like a big colorful show. Industry professionals also highlight the promotion of the companies “Akhmat” and “Fight Nights”.
Fighter fees
Fees for a fight are different everywhere, depending on the promotion and the contract, and, of course, the reputation and entertainment of the fighter. The highest paying promotion is of course the UFC. There, even debutants receive $10,000 for a fight and the same amount for a victory. Plus about $2500 from the sponsor. And if there is a fight of the evening or even a knockout of the evening, then another $50,000.
For current champions and fighters with the top 5 in weight categories, the amount for entering the fight starts at $400,000. This is only entering the fight, not counting sponsorship payments, payments for victory, payments from sold paid broadcasts (pvp).
In Russia, payments for a fight are also different for all fighters, and the contract and the name of the fighter also influence.
Famous Russians in the UFC
Let's tell you about two Russian fighters popular on both sides of the Atlantic.
Russian fighter of Chechen origin. He fought 30 fights, won 25 victories, 23 of them ahead of schedule. Now he competes in the UFC, has dual citizenship of Russia and Austria, where he has lived since 2002.
Mairbek says to himself that he was born and raised in Staraya Sunzha, where for guys it is a matter of honor to fight. He fought almost every day.
Taisumov has a very interesting sporting destiny. Since childhood, I have been fond of football. He was even a professional football player, played for the backup team of the Grozny Terek, and later - at the base of one of the Austrian clubs.
In 2007, Mairbek retrained in jiu-jitsu and began competing in mixed martial arts.
Mairbek was invited to the UFC after successful performances in the M-1 Challenge, where he had the status of a rising star of European MMA with a reputation as a tough and spectacular fighter.
In short, among professionals Mairbek is considered a fighter with an excellent strike, excellent fighting technique, phenomenal sports uniform and “fantastic performance.”
In life he is a very modest and reasonable person and a serious believer.
Also a Russian fighter of Chechen origin. In the UFC they call him “Warrior”, which means “Warrior”.
Zubaira is a popular guy, with almost 300,000 followers on his Instagram pages. He himself and his sporting successes serve as an excellent motivator for young people.
In life, Zubaira is very shy and does not notice his popularity at all. Over a cup of tea, he said that he came to Moscow very young (16 years old) to improve in MMA: “I really like Moscow. I like everything here, except the attitude of the people. At the age of sixteen, I moved from Chechnya to Moscow to develop in MMA. When I came to Moscow in 2007, I encountered a very hostile attitude towards Caucasians. I was young and hot-tempered, there were fights when I was greatly offended. I never divide people by nationality, I have bad and good people. close friends of different nations. With age, I have become more calm about any conflicts. Previously, many things hurt me, but now I just can’t understand why Caucasians are treated this way in the rest of Russia. Maybe from TV, from newspapers, from the Internet they said a lot that they are Caucasians. bad. And many watched and listened and fell for it.” Zubaira says that sport is very disciplined, and you need to stand out in the ring, and not by external signs in life. - “I don’t like show-offs, I don’t like it. Any success passes, and then there will be an ordinary life. Now my main dream is to win a belt, main title UFC. I also want my sons to also be involved in sports. I advise young fighters to choose olympic events martial arts".
The development of mixed martial arts in our country is proceeding at a very fast pace. New promotions appear, halls open, all kinds of seminars and tournaments are held. Not only the number of ordinary fans of this sport is constantly growing, but also those who do not stop at the role of a contemplator and want to plunge into MMA completely. Especially for these people, our site is starting a section in which, by communicating with various experts from the world of mixed martial arts, we will try to find answers to questions that are of interest not only to beginners, but also to those who have already devoted a sufficient amount of time to martial arts.
In the first article of our series, we will cover such an important issue as choosing the right equipment for MMA training. The role of expert will be played by a person who knows almost everything about choosing a fighting equipment - the founder of the sports brand ATAKA, Evgeniy Korotenko.
Ideal kit for MMA training
If you decide to take up mixed martial arts seriously, then get ready for the fact that your sports bag will significantly increase in volume. Of course, not everything is so bad, hockey players have it harder, but you can’t get away with shorts, a T-shirt and a pair of sneakers.
MMA is a contact and quite traumatic sport, therefore, in addition to the usual things for training (T-shirt/rash guard and shorts), you will have to pay quite a lot of attention to equipment that performs a protective function. Below is a sufficient full list objects that an athlete will encounter on the path to learning mixed martial arts:
- Sportswear (T-shirt/rash guard and sports shorts/pants).
- Boxing gloves.
- MMA gloves.
- Mouth guard (jaw protection).
- Helmet.
- Shin protection.
- Groin protection (shell).
- Sports bandages.
As you can see, the list is not the shortest, but are all the items really necessary already at the first training session? Here's what our expert thinks about this:
“Essentially, MMA is a competition of styles, not a sporting discipline. Therefore, a fighter can train in anything, for example, in his usual clothes: karate-gi, judo-gi, any shorts and any T-shirt. First of all, you need to think about injuries and apply protection, which you cannot do without. What is included in the required kit? Protection of the shin/instep, it will prevent injury to the radius bone, which usually takes a long time to heal. The groin must be protected with a special sink. For sparring, choose boxing or MMA gloves. We protect our mouth with a mouthguard. With this kit you can safely start MMA training.”
Gloves and bandages
Gloves or their likeness are one of the “oldest” pieces of equipment for striking martial arts. Even the ancient Greeks wrapped strips of leather around their fists to protect their wrists. Time passes, but gloves remain the most important item for a fighter, and in the case of serious training in MMA, you will need two types of this equipment at once.
- Classic boxing gloves– for practicing striking techniques during sparring and bag work. Their weight varies quite a lot and can reach 22 ounces (624 grams, approx. website). Using heavier gloves allows you to have better grip during a fight when you have lighter MMA gloves on your hands. In addition, due to the greater amount of padding that is used in classic gloves, during training and sparring, the chance of inflicting or receiving an injury or cut is significantly reduced.
- MMA gloves– for competitions, as well as training, as close as possible to real combat. If we talk about the most famous promotion in the world - the UFC, then the rule “on the mandatory wearing of gloves” appeared there only at the UFC 14 tournament. These pieces of equipment weigh 4 ounces, regardless of the weight category in which the fighter competes. The gloves are as open as possible so that the athlete can carry out painful holds without hindrance. During training, more protective versions of gloves with thicker padding and finger protection are also used.
What should you pay attention to when choosing gloves? Expert opinion:
“To throw a punch, fighters use boxing gloves. If we are talking about children's groups, then it is better to use 10-12 ounce gloves. Faux leather gloves are quite suitable. Professionals usually prefer heavier gloves, these are 12, 14 or 16 ounces. Here you can already consider proposals made from leather or from modern artificial materials, for example Micro-Fiber, which are used by HAYABUSA,FLAMMAand other brands.
We always tell our clients that when choosing gloves you need to pay attention to 2 important points: easy grip, fist formation and good fit. thumb to the main tread. The remaining points depend on the individual characteristics of the athlete’s hand: the length of the fingers, the width of the palm, etc. If there was an ideal universal glove, then that would be what everyone would be selling! It’s better to try on everything you see in the store, and then make a decision based on convenience and financial capabilities.”
Speaking of gloves, we cannot ignore another item of their “real fighter’s kit” that is hidden under them. We are talking about a sports or boxing bandage (it is also called kumpur, approx. website). This product is used to fix the hands and fingers, and it is simply necessary if you care about the health of these parts of your body. Despite the apparent simplicity of the bandages, their prices vary significantly depending on the brand chosen, but does it make sense to pay a kind of tax on coolness?
“How can I show my cool? After all, the bandages are wrapped under the glove :). About bandages we can say that they come in two types. The first is 100% cotton, the second is with the addition of polyester. The first ones are almost not elastic at all and athletes like them much less than the second type. There is also a difference in length, these are 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 meters. There are no recommendations for color, here from simple white to flags of countries, but for this you will have to overpay a little.”
Mouth guard
A mouth guard is also an essential piece of equipment for an athlete involved in mixed martial arts. This word comes from the German Kappe, which translates as cover, cap or lid. You might not be able to tell by looking at it, but such a small object not only protects the jaw to which it is attached, but also significantly reduces the risk of concussion and other traumatic brain injuries.
The prototypes of a modern mouthguard appeared quite a long time ago, but the inventor of this item is considered to be a dentist from London, Wolfe Crouse. In 1892, he introduced his “tooth guard,” which was designed to protect boxers from cuts on their lips. It was made of gutta-percha and was held in place only if the athlete clenched his teeth. Wolfe's son, Philip, improved the invention by using rubber to create it, making it reusable. The first professional fighter to use a mouthguard is considered to be “The Kid” Ted Lewis. The boxer was a friend of Philip Crouse and introduced the fashion for using this invention. It was from boxing that the mouthguard spread to other types of martial arts and other contact sports.
At the moment, mouthguards are conventionally divided into three types:
- Standard (single-layer).
- Thermoplastic.
- Individual (made by a dentist based on a dental impression).
How to choose the right mouthguard?
"Kapa is very important element protection, and its choice must be approached thoroughly and seriously. Beginners are absolutely unaware that any mouth guard must be prepared (cooked) before use. Cheap single-layer mouthguards are not able to mold to the shape of the jaw and reliably protect the teeth and brain in the event of a blow to the head. They should not be used.
Thermoplastic mouthguards are more common; they are molded with boiling water. You can even talk and shout with this mouth guard, and it will remain in your mouth during fights. Such mouthguardscost from 500 rub.. They can be selected by size, age, shape, thickness of the outer and inner layers and design.
If we do not now consider expensive individual mouth guards from dentists, the price of which ranges from 5 thousand rubles to 250 US dollars, then the best option is two-layer mouth guards with gel inside. Manufacturers usually write instructions on how to prepare it.”
Custom body protection for MMA
The kit includes a helmet, groin protector and shin guard. When performing in professional mixed martial arts, only the shell will be a necessary item, but in amateur fights and during training, other items should be used.
Helmet
“The helmet is very important during training process and helps prevent head injuries and traumatic brain injuries. There are both cheaper options made of leatherette, and more expensive, but more durable leather items. When choosing, pay attention to the size - the helmet should fit snugly to your head, but not put too much pressure on it. It should protect the forehead, chin, cheekbones and ears, but still provide enough visibility for a fight or sparring.”
Shin protection
“If you want to save money, you can use stocking-style pads; they are cheaper, do not restrict movement, but are less durable. If there are no problems with finances, then it is better to use two-layer hard linings made of leatherette. They perfectly protect not only the shin, but also the instep, and will last you a long time. True, it’s quite inconvenient to fight in them.”
Shell (groin protection)
“To protect what’s most precious, you need to use shells. There are metal options, they are the toughest, provide maximum protection, but are relatively expensive. We recommend using plastic sinks with a silicone rim; they serve their purpose well, and the silicone inserts absorb the force of impact.”
Rashguard. Real benefit or status item?
At the end of our article, I would like to talk about such a piece of equipment as a rash guard. Ten years ago, people in our country didn’t really know about them, but now it’s impossible to imagine a gym in which at least someone wouldn’t wear these sportswear.
In theory, using a “second skin” during training serves several purposes. Firstly, it has an antibacterial effect. Athletes come into close contact with each other during grappling training, and a rash guard in this case serves as protection for the transmission of skin diseases. Secondly, thanks to special materials, it helps to quickly remove moisture from the surface of the body. Thirdly, it is maintaining optimal temperature body for training during breaks, which avoids sprains and muscle tears.
There are several versions of the appearance of the rashguard, and here are the two main ones:
- Some believe that the martial arts rashguard is a derivative of the surfer's aquasuit. The fact is that wave boarding and jiu-jitsu are both popular in Brazil. Many young people divided their time between these activities, and it happened that they sparred with each other right on the beach, without changing clothes after surfing. Realizing the usefulness of clothing that fits tightly to the body, the fighters came up with an adapted version for martial arts.
- Other contenders for the creation of the first rashguard are the company “Under Armor”. The specialists of this sports brand struggled to solve the problem of constantly changing T-shirts in American football during matches. They noticed the excellent moisture-wicking properties of polyester and created equipment that allows players to stay dry. Rashguards then spread to other sports.
Expert opinion:
“Rashguards are one of the crazes of modern athletes; they are used not only in martial arts, but also in aquatic species sports, athletics, hockey and even worn in everyday life. What's the secret of this thing? Compression clothing is necessary to maintain body temperature and correct pressure on the muscles, thereby protecting them from injury. There is evidence that compression clothing enhances athletic performance, but don't think slipping into tight pants and a tank top will turn you into Conor McGregor.
The big plus of a good rash guard is that it wicks moisture out and leaves your body fairly dry and warm. A couple of drops of water can be used as a quick and effective quality check. Drop them onto the back of the rash guard and pay attention to the speed at which it comes out. If the water is rolling, then it’s not worth buying this copy.”
Many people, especially guys under 25, very often ask the question of how to learn to fight from scratch and become a fighter. There are many articles on the Internet with titles like how to become a fighter in a week and so on...
But in fact, you can’t become a fighter in a week, but you have to work hard, in order to get something you need to invest in it and spend time and energy.
Usually a person goes to a sports section, be it judo, jiu jitsu, all this is good, but this sports sections and along with many useful skills and physical training, a person gains a bunch of sports skills that are not applicable to street fighting.
On the street they usually hit people in the head with their hands - this is the basis. First of all, for those who want to fight well, since the basis of everything is punches to the face. This is how they usually fight outside the gym.
Therefore, there is a need for protection first. Along with protection, it is necessary to provide quick and swipe. A man with a knockout punch is like a man with a gun.
You can look at the statistics - a boxer killed someone with a blow to the head... Conclusion - boxing technique is the basis of all fighting and any effective martial art. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is go boxing for at least a year. At the same time, boxing is the first martial art when working with several opponents, because fast boxing movements and punches to the head are ideal for this.
Along with boxing techniques, knees and low kicks are quite applicable on the street - strikes to the thigh, knee and below, but swinging your legs above the waist on the street is dangerous, because you can fall and be beaten by your opponents.
Setting up low kicks and knees is just as simple and accessible - they are available everywhere. But in Muay Thai Hands and movements are much worse, therefore, as written above, you need to master punches while practicing boxing.
And as a special physical training Wrestling is quite suitable, and mainly in a standing position, because on the street you can’t fight on the ground with 2-3 opponents. Wrestling perfectly loads all the muscles of a person and prepares him well for physical confrontation. You can learn simple throws and practice 2-3 until they become automatic.
Basically, trainees consolidate the skills that they acquire in free combat, that is, in sparring and all sorts of “deadly schools” simply do not work because in a gym you won’t gouge out your eyes or hit you in the groin, therefore, sports schools much stronger than self-defense sections with their deadly techniques. Conclusion: 1-2 years of boxing + six months of Muay Thai and at the same time fighting at least once a week, such classes will make you a trained fighter who will be much more prepared than representatives of schools street fight and just street fighters.
But we are sure that in the process of studying at our martial arts school you will comprehend the philosophy of martial arts and pass psychological preparation such a level that you can resolve all conflicts before the start of a fight with massacres.
35 have currently signed a contract with the UFC Russian fighters. Several dozen more would like to sign it. Match TV asks how to do this.
From 1993 to 2012, five fighters from Russia managed to compete in the UFC, who had 17 fights between them (9 of them were Oleg Taktarov). From 2012 to the present, 46 fighters representing Russia have entered the Octagon. First in new era became Khabib Nurmagomedov (debut on January 20, 2012), in the same year Rustam Khabilov and Azamat Gashimov fought their fights. After this, Russians began to sign contracts with the UFC much more often.
Khabib’s contract was negotiated by his close friend Eldar Eldarov with manager Sam Cardan (real name Shamil Kardanov - Match TV), and Cardan with UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.
Since 2016, Joe Silva has not worked for the UFC, and even earlier, Khabib Nurmagomedov began collaborating with the tandem of managers Rizvan Magomedov and Ali Abdelaziz, considered one of the most influential in the UFC. Abdelaziz and Magmoedov manage the affairs of most fighters from Russia; Sayat Abdrakhmanov is considered the second in the number of signed Russians. Several more fighters from Russia are managed by managers with fewer athletes under contracts. At the same time as more and more fighters from Russia enter into agreements with the UFC, stories when someone failed to get into the organization begin to sound more acute.
Sayat Abdrakhmanov - about the lack of clear criteria
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlhfX7nFxuM/Story: Abdrakhmanov manages the affairs of more than ten fighters signed in the UFC, Petr Yan (No. 4 in the bantamweight ranking) works with him, and the manager himself simultaneously collaborates with the Tiger gym in Thailand.
Nowadays it’s much easier to sign up: there are more tournaments, the geography is expanding, the UFC is interested in new fighters. And there is no clear criterion with which you will definitely be accepted. The advantages remain an undefeated record, spectacular victories, and the ability to somehow stand out. There are many fighters, and other things being equal, they will choose the one who is media, who speaks English, and who has no problems with obtaining a visa. Plus, doping tests are a very relevant issue for the Russian market. Russian organizations do not have them, and accordingly, not all fighters can enter the UFC on short notice in order to immediately pass clean tests.
Statistics 20-0 does not guarantee anything, and, on the contrary, there are examples when people were signed without a record in MMA: they gave a contract to Bilyal Makhov (world champion in wrestling; also fought in the UFC without experience in MMA professional boxer James Toney. - “Match TV”), so if you are very popular or have merit in some other sports, you can sign a contract without experience in MMA. Some fighters were signed with negative statistics and unfinished defeats; the chances in such cases are less, but there were examples.
Give us specific examples. Arman Tsarukyan has excellent statistics, but he is not the most popular fighter in Russia, and among those he has defeated there are no known opponents, but he receives a contract. Sergei Khandozhko at large quantities defeats in last battles- Same. Alexander Shlemenko and Eduard Vartanyan - no.
Arman Tsarukyan signed up for a certain tournament - he needed an opponent for Islam Makhachev. On short notice, there were few people willing to fight Islam. Arman was ready, stylistically and level-wise. Sergey Khandozhko - many say “UFC level or not UFC level.” If they signed you, it means you are UFC level. The UFC has its own reasons, and not every fighter is signed to become a champion (according to Match TV, Sergey Khandozhko was signed with the participation of high-ranking officials from Krasnodar region, where the UFC tournament was previously planned. The approximate place and time of the event were Sochi, August 2019).
Eduard Vartanyan is UFC level as an athlete, but I guess if you want to sign with the UFC, that should be your priority and not a choice between several options. Perhaps he needs to be ready to leave on short notice, be ready to accept a reduction in his fee, but this is only if it is acceptable to him. In general, there may be a situation where a fighter will normally exist without the UFC, and the organization will live without him.
In the case of Alexander Shlemenko, as I can judge from the outside, it was important, firstly, to close the defeats that had happened before, secondly, to understand whether the UFC is ready to pay the same amount as he receives in Russia, thirdly, The UFC seems to have some nuances regarding doping tests for fighters who have had any problems with athletic commissions: if there were complaints against the athlete, then he can be tested for six months before being allowed to compete (Alexander Shlemenko had a trial with the California State Athletic Commission after he was accused of using illegal drugs - Match TV).
- If I have good conditions in Russia, do I have to accept a reduction in my fee when joining the UFC?
The standard fee in the UFC for a beginner is 10+10 thousand dollars, but this does not mean that you cannot get more. For example, they are ready to see how much you received before and can repeat the offer that was from the previous organization.
It is believed that because you work with Dani Rubinstein, who has an established relationship with Sean Shelby, it is easier to sign through you than through your competitors.
All managers who have more than 20 fighters in the UFC, and there are few of them, have direct contacts and built relationships with matchmakers. This is a matter of relationships, and there is no favoritism, it is a reputation that is earned over the years, which is guided by. It is important for a matchmaker that if he turns to you, you will be ready to help.
- How many people write to you asking someone to watch, someone to help?
In the direct message, requests for correspondence stopped at +99 and remain the same, although I often look through and try to respond, suddenly out of thousands of messages I come across something especially valuable. But I have so many fighters that I have to focus on those who are currently working with me and take care of their careers. Those with whom I work already have relationships, there is trust in each other, so it is very difficult to imagine that I would start working with someone completely unfamiliar - only if one of my friends or acquaintances recommends a specific person to me .
Alexander Skaredin - why fighters refuse to wait for the UFC
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be7xhQ6Aj--/Story: signed Roman Kopylov to the UFC, negotiated for a long time to sign Nikolai Aleksakhin, but in the end Aleksakhin, continuing to work with Skaredin, signed a contract with PFL.
Matchmakers are primarily involved in signing fighters in the UFC: Mick Maynard is responsible for the middle to heavyweight, flyweight and women's weight divisions; Sean Shelby is a Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight and Welterweight. Every matchmaker in any good organization is a very busy and sought-after person. And you have to understand how you can impress him, since their window to perceive some information is very small. I believe that the UFC looks at the fighters' records and maybe highlights. If you have a 60-second video of you brilliantly knocking out your opponents, that's also a plus. But in any case, the assessment of matchmakers remains subjective, and the issue of personal relationships is quite important. For example, I have direct contact with Mick Maynard, there is good communication, he can directly say who he would like to see and what data a fighter should have, what chances this or that person has to sign a contract. Sean Shelby is considered a slightly more honored person: he has been working in the UFC for a long time, he signed Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor, and it is much more difficult to sign through him. American managers Danny Rubinstein and Jason House have good contact with him, and their fighters get into the UFC more easily.
- But you couldn’t sign Aleksakhin and he left for the PFL.
When we were trying to get a contract for Nikolai Aleksakhin, we talked with Shelby for quite a long time. At first he said “keep winning,” then he looked for some options, then we just waited, and at some point he told us in plain text: “I have a gut feeling about who needs to be signed. I signed Rhonda when they didn't know anything about her. Signed Conor when he had stronger competitors...” We realized that you can wait a very long time, and we knew that there are examples where fighters wait a year or a year and a half before they are offered to fight at least in some tournament, and we decided to see what other options are on the market. As a result, two organizations made an offer to us, one of them sent a very good contract from a financial point of view, and we signed it (at the moment Nikolai Aleksakhin is a PFL fighter. - Match TV).
If Nikolai Aleksakhin gave more vivid interviews, he wore nice suits and would have 500 thousand subscribers?
My opinion is that, in general, matchmakers don’t care about the level of opposition, media exposure, or the number of subscribers on Instagram. I can say for sure that they are looking at some of the quickest things to understand: the record and methods of winning. About attempts to call one of the current UFC fighters, to make some kind of appeal, I have a word-for-word quote from one of the matchmakers: “This doesn’t mean anything.” The UFC does not have a task for everyone to be media, rather, they simply provide a platform, and on it natural selection begins, and everyone can decide how it will be better for them: to become media, to insult someone, to fight spectacularly.
Once upon a time, the signing of three fighters from Russia seemed like a big step forward. Now approximately 35 Russians have contracts - is this the ceiling?
We must understand that Russian market for the UFC this is not yet the highest priority area of interest. Although I would assume that a significant number will be added to the 35 fighters who are signed now, since we are objectively third after the USA and Brazil in the number of professional MMA fighters. But it’s interesting that if, for example, the UFC decides to enter India, Indian fighters will also enter the UFC, although we understand that the level of Indians in MMA is still low. That is, it was previously believed that the UFC is really absolutely best league in the world and they only get there best athletes, but now it is obvious to everyone that this is not entirely true. I would say that about a quarter of the UFC fighters are truly top, and the rest is the same level as in other promotions. There is an example of a Russian fighter who turned the tables on not the most understandable opponents, went undefeated, and was taken. He lost the first fight. More important point what's in light weight(up to 70.3 kg) quite a lot of Russians have signed up, and no one has been fired yet, so it will be very difficult to get into this particular category, and partly because of this, both Edurad Vartanyan and Alexander Shabliy are still standing still. It turns out that 70 kg is a very heavy weight, followed by 77.1 and 65.8 kg. It's very difficult to sign up there.
Ivan Bannikov - how Alexander Volkov got into the UFC
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS9MjqLhH8L/Story: Volkov had two defeats in Bellator, after which he closed them out with fights in M-1, signed a contract with the UFC, received main fights in tournaments three times, is in the top 6 heavyweights and performed at the very big tournament UFC in Las Vegas.
Alexander left Bellator after two split decision losses. After that, he had two fights in M-1, where he took the belt, defended it and won early in each case. In addition, the UFC was hungry for heavyweights, so we signed the contract without any problems.
- When and how did you start communicating with people from the UFC?
In February 2016, Alexander became the M-1 champion, was preparing to defend the belt, and around that moment we talked with people from the UFC. In America we have good relationship with the Black House club, our friend, agent Ed Soares, works there. He helped us arrange a personal meeting with the matchmakers, and after that we already had a good business relationship. Now we can communicate with both matchmakers: Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, and on some global issues we can contact Dana White.
- At the same time, many people have a question, why can’t Edurad Vartanyan, who collaborates with you, get into the UFC?
Nothing prevents Eduard from signing, except for certain bureaucratic processes associated with both the UFC and the league where he competes. I hope we will see Eduard in the UFC in the near future, it’s a matter of a couple of months. There are also several more fighters in Strela who may end up there in the near future, we just have plans to make sure that they come to the UFC to win and not lose.
Kirill Timofeev - how to get a lot of money under a new contract
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZ4MrhkFRe_/Story: Nikita Krylov was signed to the UFC back in 2013, after which he changed weight category, began representing Russia, not Ukraine, in the promotion, left the UFC, had four fights in other organizations and, upon returning, signed a contract under which he received 80 thousand dollars for entering a fight and the same amount for winning.
From the moment Nikita left the UFC, we already understood that he would return there. At the same time, I became his manager and at first I simply asked my friends how I could get in touch with one of the matchmakers. While they were telling me “I’ll ask the guy who knows exactly who to ask,” we decided how Nikita’s career outside the UFC should be built. We assumed that he would have 3-4 fights, set dates and started performing at Fight Nights.
And then Kamil Gadzhiev gave me some pretty valuable advice, he suggested just emailing Mick Maynard and discussing Nikitin’s contract with him directly.
I found a contact, wrote, and he responded. We started discussing the contract. The fact that Nikita had already fought in the UFC had an influence, plus at the rumor level we were told that the UFC seemed to be interested in him too. I wrote a letter and they answered me quite quickly. A discussion of the terms began: we bargained about money and initially asked for a little more than what we were ultimately offered. The promotion was not satisfied with these conditions, we were asked to move a little, we made some concessions and eventually came to an agreement. The most interesting thing is that we practically only corresponded by mail and in the end they simply sent us a contract, we signed it and sent it.
