Two hours after finishing with the Olympic winner Zaurbek Sidakov this interview, Abdulrashid Sadulaev will win his fight. Sadulaev will say his main rival, American Kyle Snyder, offered to let him know when and where they could compete. Currently, Russians are prohibited from participating in international tournaments.
Sidakov and Sadulaev are now the two leaders of the Russian freestyle wrestling team, and their fights with the Americans eventually (for freestyle) gained worldwide popularity and gave the sport a sort of personalized showdown. Sidakov’s main rivals in international starts are weight class neighbors Kyle Dake and Jordan Burrows. Both became world champions in Belgrade and at least one admitted he lacked competition with the Russians.
Indeed, what kind of competition can we talk about if Slovakia is in the final of the world wrestling championship. The representative of this country, Taimuraz Salkazanov, lost in the decisive battle against Deik.
“I was supporting my compatriot, Salkazanov,” Sidakov said after the fight at the Poddubny League tournament in Moscow. – He failed to win, although he was very close last year and this year. From the outside it is easy to watch and chat, but he knows best what he has there.
What impression did Dyck and Burrows make?
I liked Barrows more. Despite his age, he shows great class, as if he was just winning. 79 kg suits him very well. Probably, the weight does not lead. It was a very interesting fight, a worthy victory.
– Did any of the strangers write to you on social media that you miss the World Cup?
– With Barrows we corresponded somehow, he wrote something like “we hope you will be allowed in soon”. And before that, too, they were somehow written off.
Is this your second tournament this year?
– Third. I missed two due to injury and illness, I’m getting involved slowly. Thanks to the organizers, at these tournaments it turns out to test your strength, keep you in shape. We hope that we will be allowed to participate in international competitions.
– Is there more hope after reading the news that boxers are allowed to compete?
– If they were 100% cleared, then we hope they will let us into the European Championship.
– Do you believe it will be possible to perform in France at the 2024 Games?
I believe, I hope, I train, I prepare. Every day, I give myself completely. The coaches help me, they support me, motivate me. And I’m just practicing, listening. We won’t run ahead, there are a lot of boys worthy of my weight, we will compete.
– Have you thought about what you would do if you were not allowed to go to the Olympic Games?
– I haven’t thought about it yet, I try not to think about evil.
Do you rule out playing for another country?
“They haven’t told me yet.
– We wanted to ask you about Dzambolat Tedeev.
I already spoke about it several times yesterday. Dzambolat Ilyich is a very worthy coach, he always encourages us and fights in competitions. He rallied our team, made them friendly. If we are at training camp or competitions, then we have one for all and all for one. We can talk a lot about him in small things: how he supports us, what he does. Even when we travel to Europe or the world, he orders T-shirts with our names. And little things like that are nice. And at competitions, his authority plays a role, he is there as a leader, how the king behaves, he begins to gasp at everyone, joking with everyone: “My team has arrived, the strongest, beware.” And a person, when he goes to competitions, already has such a thing in his head that he can lose. You look at it and get energy. We hope he stays.
When was the last time you spoke to him and about what?
– Recently. I called and asked how he was, how his family was. They weren’t talking about anything else.
– Wrestler Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov assists MMA fighter Islam Makhachev in training. What if his rival, Charles Oliveira, called you to help him train (Kadimagomedov and Sidakov met in the final of the Olympics. – “”)?
– I do not know … I can not answer this question yet. I mind my own business, let him mind his own. He won’t come here and cook me. And I’m not going to go there as a sparring partner.
– Oliveira vs Makhachev at UFC 280 – the fight you won’t go to bed for?
– I was hoping to fly there and watch the fight. I dream of flying with friends, but I don’t have enough starts, so I will prepare for other tournaments.
– Do you know anyone from Khabib’s team?
– I know Makhachev in absentia. Chatted on social networks. A good guy, I want to wish him success, we will support him.
– Have you tried to fight under the rules of grappling, where you can choke and hurt?
– No, sometimes we torment ourselves, but I didn’t fight. Sometimes we box, we put on gloves. I have gloves, a helmet. In training camp, sometimes we box.
– And what do they say about your shot?
I don’t know, I didn’t ask.
– Arthur Naifonov said his pull-up record was 61 times. What is yours?
– Recently we talked with him about the exercises, first I did 57, then 62. It is clear that these are not pure pull-ups, like those in wrestling.
– And who is the record holder?
– David Baev – got up 74 times.
Source : MatchTV
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
