“I watch hockey more often than the UFC.” Kamil Hajiyev about 6 million in a bag and the phenomenon of Magi Ismailov

The context:

– We just saw how Nariman Abbasov was offered 6 million for a rematch with Marif Piraev, but already in the category up to 77 kg (the first fight was in the category up to 70 kg) . And you do not feel that this is a search for an easy way, because, for example, Islam Makhachev or Dustin Poirier are no less than Marif Piraev, but they calmly flaunt 70 kg on the balance, and Marif firmly wants 77 kg.

Well, it’s his decision, not mine.

– Isn’t it more interesting for you that the fight is for the title and in the category up to 70 kg, and not just a fight in the weight category up to 77 kg.

– I will not insist, because from now on no one believes that Marif can win this fight in 70 kg. It will be a failed match, so the fight is not interesting. And if the fight is 77 kg, then many will say: “Ah! Well, here Marif is already favorite, or the chances are equal. And everyone will come together for this fight again.

– AMC Fight Nights light heavyweight champion Vagab Vagabov came to boxing and lost in the first minute to Dmitry Kudryashov. It seems that’s exactly why UFC fighters, for example, aren’t allowed to fight anywhere else. Don’t you feel that this is an image that strikes the champion of the organization?

– Listen, well, I opened the window a long time ago, I said that boxing is different rules. I considered Kudryashov the favorite and told you about it directly. As league president, I would be happier if Wahab won. Then they would say our champion wins in boxing. Although in this case there would be people who would say that Kudryashov is a bag and so on. Now we move on.

– Don’t you think now the legend that an MMA fighter can beat a boxer has been destroyed? – the question of the correspondent of “RB Sport” Vasily Oskolkov.

– Well, yes, an MMA fighter cannot enter a boxer’s territory and defeat him. People there have been boxing all their lives, it’s a different distance, a different look. Even just keep your hands close to your head like that [показывает боксерскую стойку] 20 minutes – takes a lifetime to get used to. Like normal boxers beat MMA fighters in boxing, they will keep fighting. A kid who started out as a boxer and then became an MMA fighter, like Mineev, for example, would have a chance.

Will you continue to let AMC Fight Nights champions participate in boxing tournaments?

Yes, I’ve never had a problem with it. Boxing gives an additional public, a platform. Here Dima Bikrev quarreled with Nikulin, this saved him a long downtime, allowed to return from injury. Mineev and Nikulin wanted to fight. Why not?

– Why was the fight between Vladimir Mineev and Timur Nikulin canceled?

— I spoke with Sergey Zhatkin yesterday [организатором]. He asked, “And the fight?” He says, “Until I take it off the agenda.” As I understand it, Seryoga has yet to muster all that movement that was needed to bring this fight to the stadium.

– Has Mineev started training?

– Yes, he already started a boxing camp, sat for three weeks in the Caucasus Mineralnye Vody, but everything had to be canceled.

– Before this interview there was a press conference, and there you were named 15 names who are ready to fight with someone. It does not tire that you constantly hear about the most popular people, that they are ready “with anyone, anytime”.

– Yes, and everyone still says “for a good check”. What did you do to get paid? ! My principle is this: “Let’s make money together.” When Maga said he wanted money for the fight with Mineev, when Mineev said he wanted the same space, I said, “No problem, let’s make sure we win that space.” Just sell your fight.

– Is the phenomenon of Magomed Ismailov that he was not afraid of self-irony in the videos of his social networks?

– Yes, he was not afraid to be funny, to be a Dagestani, to whom someone would say: “Why are you doing stupid things on social networks.” And then – bang, and the moment when someone said such things quickly passed.

Have you ever heard someone denounce it in private conversations?

– Not. I know more people who say now that, they say, Maga took such a thing that he didn’t pull it, that is, the fight with Mineev. But I have always said that Maga is a phenomenon, a revolutionary who changed the attitude towards MMA in Russia.

– Your league produces a lot of noisy fights, but it always seems difficult to find money for sequels like “Piraev – Abbasov 2”, “Mineev – Ismailov 3”.

– It is easy to search for money, much easier than fighting against two strangers, even if they are very high in the ranking. It’s hard to find as much money as you need to earn a little on it. Because everything is growing by leaps and bounds. Now you can ask anyone, everyone wants millions, but it’s hard for me to provide millions. About a million, yes.

– Did Marif and Nariman already ask for more for the second fight, or is it conceptually obvious?

Conceptually, yes. On the other hand, look, Marif has not yet said: “Pay me more.” He himself brought a bag of money for Nariman.

– You went to the shooting of the show Hook to You with ASA Vice President Aslanbek Badaev as the two main speakers in their leagues. Provided that Aslanbek can speak very well about MMA, there is a feeling that he will lose against you, because he still has to take into account the opinion of respected people and senior comrades of his republic, and the ASA league should also work in a slightly different style. Do you agree that this is so?

– First, I myself am older than Aslanbek. I still have to look for senior comrades. When he turns 43, it will be much easier for him. I also have senior comrades, and if they call me and say there is no need to do this, I will listen to them as well.

In other words, is Aslanbek speaking entirely on his own behalf or is Aslanbek speaking thinking that he can affect the interests of the people who work with him with such and such a statement, that is partly there. In this sense, I would not like to put Aslanbek in a position where he should not even speak on behalf of the club, but on behalf of the whole region, because it is known that Ramzan Akhmatovich is very partial to ASA.

– Are you interested in at least a few UFC fights just to set the alarm and wake you up?

– Some yes, but for it to be directly interesting, rarely. I was not interested even 10 years ago. I was never a fan, I didn’t even watch Ngannou vs Gan for the title. Islam will fight for the belt – I’ll see. I watched Petya Yana with Sterling live. Probably all with the participation of Russian guys. Legends are interesting to watch: if Jon Jones comes back and fights Jiri Prochazka, I’ll be watching.

Do you watch hockey more often than the UFC?

Yes, I watch hockey all the time. KHL Finals watched and walked. Yesterday I watched three by three, a new format, I will definitely watch the Stanley Cup final.

– A year without UFC broadcasting or a year without NHL and KHL?

– Yes, I watched the UFC twice a year. That doesn’t mean I like hockey more than MMA. It’s just that if you look specifically, then in MMA I don’t see anything new for me. I still read about MMA every day in some well-known audiences. On VKontakte I am subscribed to only one audience – an audience on MMA, and I understand that in any case I will know everything if something happens. And my son plays hockey, so all parents will understand me, but we start to live in the interest of our children.

— Three KHL players you would like to follow the most?

– Everyone is different, but each of them adorns the league: Damir Zhafyarov, Seryoga Plotnikov, Yegor Yakovlev, a very smart defender, and I will name two more: Vadim Shipachev and Alexander Radulov from this year.