A year ago, we asked Kamil for 22 predictions for 2022. Most matched and only eight times Gadzhiev was inaccurate. Here are the cases (full text on this link):
Among the most interesting predictions that came true, Gadzhiev said that the UFC would definitely not have two new champions from Russia at once. Kamil’s quote “certain factors will certainly be and two new champions will not appear at once.” As a result, Islam Makhachev, as expected, became the UFC champion, Magomed Ankalaev could not even get a title fight in 2022, but he got it and stopped a step away the belt. In a fight with Jan Blachowicz, a draw was recorded, Ankalaev could not bring the belt to Makhachkala, and Islam Makhachev became the only fighter from Russia with a UFC champion belt in 2022.
Will it happen in 2023
No. 1. Will Alexander Emelianenko win by all the rules?
What purpose: at the end of 2022, Alexander Emelianenko lost by decision to blogger Svyatoslav Kovalenko.
After Emelianenko defeated Victor Pest in a full-fledged MMA fight in the summer of 2018, the people he defeated looked like this: 2019 – strongman Mikhail Koklyaev by boxing rules, 2021 – Artem Tarasov according to the rules of hybrid boxing and MMA; 2022 – Jeff Monson with his bare hands. At the same time, Emelianenko lost to Marcio Santos and Magomed Ismailov in MMA and Vyacheslav Datsik in Boxing Rules.
Kamil’s version: yes, win. There will be some kind of battle … well, completely with a blogger, and he will win.
#2. Will a reporter fight at AMC Fight Nights?
What purpose: in 2017, Alexey Safonov fought at the AMC Fight Nights tournament. In 2021 – Nikita Burchak (who later became the manager of Alexander Emelianenko). At the end of 2022, Kamil said in an interview that he was ready to pay journalist Alexander Lyutikov a million rubles for his performance at the MMA tournament.
Kamil’s version: nope.
No. 3. Will the Russian league hold a tournament in the United Arab Emirates?
What purpose: it is believed that without exception, all Russian leagues are exploring the Arab region for tournaments.
Kamil’s version: Yes
No. 4. Will Islam Makhachev go in the category up to 77 kg?
What purpose: Makhachev became the UFC champion in the category up to 70 kg, and declared that he could continue his career in welterweight (up to 77 kg)
Kamil’s version: No. This year he will have fights with Volkanovski and Dariush (weight up to 70 kg).
# 5. Will Vladimir Mineev have more than one MMA fight?
What purpose: Vladimir Mineev has not fought under MMA rules since October 2021. In 2022 he participated in kickboxing twice
Kamil’s version: No. Will have an MMA fight and a kickboxing fight
No. 6. Will you, Mairbek Khasiev or one of the presidents of the first promotions, fight according to the rules of one of the martial arts?
What purpose: fights between heads of promotions are regularly discussed in the MMA industry
Kamil’s version: nope. For me, the reason is that as a former athlete, I don’t want to look bad in this fight. The physical conditions may be normal, but here you have to be prepared. To prepare, you have to give up a lot. Am I ready for this? I think not. I watched my fight with Svyatoslav Kovalenko – when he offered, I thought: “Well, let’s box, what to box there.” And I’m so tired after three laps! And in the end already thought about surviving. Why are you tired? – Not prepared, 14oz gloves felt heavy. A million reasons. I was thinking – well, I should look normal, I used to be a normal athlete in the past, but I can’t go below that. That’s why I give up now. And money is secondary.
No. 7. Will Khabib come for an interview with one of the well-known Russian non-sports bloggers
What’s the point: Khabib Nurmagomedov in a press conference said no reporters could reveal him with questions and also confirmed he could get an interview on popular YouTube show Vdud.
Kamil’s version: nope. But I take it easy, it seems to me that I know him anyway.
№ 8. Will Alexander Shlemenko announce his retirement?
What purpose: according to statistics, this is the worst year of Shlemenko’s career: 0 wins in 3 fights; two losses and a draw.
Kamil’s version: Nope
No. 9. Will Zabit Magomedsharipov fight by MMA rules?
What purpose: Magomedsharipov retired after 2020, having lost none of his six UFC fights.
Kamil’s version: Yes (Kamil’s words from an interview with in late 2022)
Like he’s been fighting for a long time, maybe he needs a moment [отдыха] some. At one point I got tired of everything, but I loved media football. Somehow I pinned myself, I felt an emotion from that. I saw commercialization there, and something else. Maybe Zabit has development options outside of MMA. He developed there, but now he got bored and decided to come back.
No. 10. Petr Yan or Sergey Pavlovich will become UFC champions
What purpose: Jan was the champion, but in 2022 he lost two fights by controversial refereeing decisions. Pavlovich was the breakthrough of the year, finishing three out of three fights with knockouts.
Kamil’s version: In 2023 – no
#11 Fedor Emelianenko will fight in Russia?
What purpose: Fedor has not fought since October 2021.
Kamil’s version: nope. It seems to me that if he wins against Bader, he will end up there.
No. 12. Will Vadim Nemkov move to the UFC?
What purpose: German Bellator champion and one of the most promising light heavyweights in the world.
Kamil’s version: nope. Not in 2023
№ 13. Alexander Shlemenko and Magomed Ismailov will have a second fight?
What purpose: the first fight was probably the biggest event in Russian MMA in 2022.
Kamil’s version: nope. I did not believe in the first fight in vain, it took place, but there were reasons not to believe. On thin past. Bravo RCC for what you have done. But in 2023, they will not fight.
#14 Would anyone in Russia receive over $300,000 for an MMA fight to be publicly advertised?
What purpose: these are the fees received by Alexander Shlemenko and Magomed Ismailov in the RCC league. Probably, only Fedor Emelianenko could receive a larger fee on the territory of Russia from Russian fighters
Kamil’s version: nope.
#15. Will there be a fight under some kind of hybrid wrestling rules between Khabib and a member of the Russian wrestling team
What purpose: The Russian Wrestling Federation began the battle for popularity and since the second year has been holding expensive commercial tournaments in Moscow, adding fights according to the rules of pankration and grappling to the program.
Kamil’s version: nope. Khabib doesn’t need it, the man is 29-0. And suddenly lose. Khabib is a victory. [С Садулаевым, но с разрешением болевых и удушающих?] No, no, not this story.
No. 16. Will Vitaly Minakov fight by MMA rules?
What purpose: Minakov was considered one of Russia’s most promising heavyweights, but hasn’t fought since October 2021, losing due to injury in the Bellator tournament.
Kamil’s version: Yes. Maybe as part of Bellator or not, but I think the fight will hold.
№ 17. Will Marif Piraev and Nariman Abbasov get a rematch?
What purpose: it was one of the highest profile fights of 2022.
Kamil’s version: no, I don’t believe so.
№ 18. Will one of the former UFC champions perform in Russia?
What purpose: earlier, Ricco Rodriguez, Andrey Orlovsky, Kevin Randleman, who won UFC belts at different times, fought in Russian promotions.
Kamil’s version: No, the market is tough right now.
#19 Will AMC Fight Nights have a bare-knuckle fight?
What purpose: The Fight Nights league kicked off in 2022 with the Triple Kick tournament, which also featured bare-knuckle fighting.
Kamil’s version: nope. It will, but not in AMC Fight Nights. I think there will be bare-knuckle cage fighting, but Fight Nights will not be hosting that event.
№ 20. Will Khamzat Chimaev become the champion?
What purpose: Chimaev enters the UFC in two weight divisions at once. But this year, the fighter lost the main event of the night to Nate Diaz. Chimaev did not gain weight.
Kamil’s version: nope. [про потенциальный бой против Ислама Махачева] I think now their fight with Makhachev is out of the question. And in time, I think Chimaev will fight in the category up to 84 kg.
No. 21. Will Grigory Ponomarev end the year with a belt?
What purpose: Ponomarev challenged for the Fight Nights title, lost the fight to Yusup Shuaev, but won in a rematch.
Kamil’s version: Yes
#22 Khabib and Conor taking a picture together?
What purpose: Khabib and Conor took the first and only joint photo outside of combat in 2015.
Kamil’s version: nope.
No. 23. Will there be a tournament in Russia that will bring together more than 10,000 people?
What purpose: a significant portion of the tournaments in Russia this year were held with significantly lower attendance.
Kamil’s version: nope. Actually no, but some would say yes. 10,000 is a big number [если не брать турнир Емельяненко vs Мальдонадо, то] we managed to raise 20,000 something unexpectedly in the tournament when Romankevich fought Zuluzinho in Minsk. It’s a record. Misha Mokhnatkin fought in St. Petersburg and there were 12,000 spectators. Just because the locals came.
Source : MatchTV
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
