Russian heavyweight Vitaly Minakov said in a interview that the next fight could be the last of his career.
Minakov made his MMA debut in 2010 and by the end of 2017 was on a 22-fight winning streak. From 2018 to 2023, the heavyweight has only had three fights, two of which he lost. Minakov’s breaks in his career have been associated with injuries and problems with a US visa. The Russian’s last fight was at the Bellator tournament in Moscow in October 2021.
Is there a big chance that your next fight will be your last MMA fight?
– There is such a possibility. It all depends on how my body reacts. I myself would like to do more, but the body says “it’s time”. When something comes loose or breaks, and before that everything seems to be fine, it is a clear signal that everything is already over. I have been getting back in shape for a long time now, I removed the extra mass that clung to me. I need a little more time to get myself in order and in the next two months it will become clear what comes out of it. If there are no health problems, I will try to implement this form as effectively as possible in a duel. Then, of course, it won’t be one or two fights. Maybe I can get two or three more, but we will definitely end our sports career in the near future. If not this year, then next spring. But for a fight, I think I’m definitely going to let myself down, after all, there’s an urge to end on a winning note.
– You told us that you have good performance in iron work. How much are you pushing and pulling now?
– I haven’t climbed to the maximums for a long time, but lately I’ve been doing sums, like in powerlifting. I reach the amount of 600: 200 kg deadlift, the same squat and bench press. But for me, these are already critical indicators, especially in terms of bench press. Before, I worked more.
– They say your most likely fight is some kind of showdown at URAL FC. Is this a problem solved?
– We have been friends with Radmir Gabdullin for a long time, but I have decided on my own so far that I have a desire to just play, and if I end my career, then do it officially. If there is an offer from URAL FC, why not, 38-year-old Minakov told .
The Russian fighter was the Bellator heavyweight champion but lost the belt due to a long break from performing in the United States.
The next UFC Fight Night tournament will take place on June 18 in Las Vegas (USA), in the main event Italian Marvin Vettori and American Jared Cannonier will meet. Watch the live broadcast on the channel from 5:00 a.m. (Moscow time) on Sunday, and also from 1:55 a.m. (Moscow time) on the Match! Fighter” and the matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru websites. Arman Tsarukyan and Joaquim Silva will also fight in the tournament.
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.
