The MMA Union of Russia can actually be equated with the official amateur MMA federation. The organization was created in 2012, with its help the sport in which Fedor Emelianenko played was legitimized on the territory of Russia.
In 2018, Emelianenko’s friend and sparring partner Radmir Gabdullin became the union’s president. And in 2022, on April 1, Fedor wrote that he was leaving the organization due to a disagreement with the leader’s policy.
At the end of April, the presidium expressed no confidence in Gabdullin and appointed an extraordinary conference for June 14. During this, a new president was to be elected: Radmir could remain or Andrei Terentyev, whose candidacy was supported by Emelianenko, could become one.
During the conference it became known that Terentiev had withdrawn from the elections in favor of Fedor. Emelianenko, as you might guess, quickly won the elections and again became the president of the Russian MMA Union.
Are you happy or not at all? – the first question to Fedor from .
– (Emelianenko pauses for 6 seconds) You know, it’s very hard: you have to give the best of yourself and understand that you have a great responsibility for the organization, for the people, for the athletes, for sports development.
– And you would still like to finish your career as a fighter first, then do some administrative work.
– Yes, probably, but it will be necessary to combine a little. It is difficult, but we will succeed with God’s help.
– What is the most difficult thing to combine?
– Being in constant contact, constantly traveling. Starting with regional master classes and ending with meetings with governors and authorities. Help, support for the regions. From physical presence to solving certain problems. Although the human factor is more difficult. When a lot of work and attention is one thing, but when people lose consciousness, it’s much more difficult here.
– And how could you nominate your candidacy if we thought 5 hours ago that the candidates were Andrey Terentyev and Radmir Gabdullin?
– You heard that Terentyev resigned in my direction.
How long have you heard of this decision?
— We have been talking to our regional representatives for a long time. And everywhere I went, everywhere I was asked to lead the union. I made the final and irrevocable decision yesterday.
– Is it true that the Ministry of Sports supported Radmir and you had to act as a third party between Terentyev and Gabdullin?
“I don’t know how the ministry reacted to this.
– Have you improved your relations with Radmir?
– So far an incomprehensible relationship, but I think that in the near future we will meet and put all the points. But he will continue to work in the union.
– What should be done in the first place as the president of the MMA Union of Russia?
– First, clean from all kinds of scammers and irresponsible. Well, nothing, now we’re going to clean up our organization.
– Will you carry out an audit or financial checks?
– Let’s see, yes, what is the state of everything in the federation. There were a lot of complaints, but we had a conference behind closed doors, so let’s go, so that later on there weren’t leftist statements that I was taking dirty laundry out of the shack, which happened behind closed doors, it will remain here.
– This is perhaps the first public conflict with your participation in the union. If you had the chance, would you do something different?
– Nothing. I did not publicize it, I wanted to do everything discreetly to reach the person, but I had to take such measures. We met in the presidium, the presidium voted for the meeting of the conference. Now they also voted, we have a public organization. Not someone’s pocket. We have to decide with our bodies where and how we should move.
– Have you thought about doing nothing at all, just spending time with your family, no talking or administrative work?
– I always want to devote more time and attention to my family, but I give them less and less.
– What did you hear from them when they made a decision yesterday?
“They were understanding.
– When will there be official news on the continuation of your career?
– When there is clarity, I was told to prepare the fall. There will be a fight in the fall, but there is no date yet.
– Khabib’s team didn’t offer you a fight?
No, there was no dialogue. I don’t know why Khabib said that, but no one contacted me. I asked Scott Cocker (Head of Bellator – ed.). At the time Khabib made this statement, they had not yet met.
– You don’t have the impression that this nomination will keep you away from the fight for the title?
– No, everything is discussed. He hasn’t gone anywhere, he always will be, I hope. Hope Bader agrees.
– Are there alternatives?
– So there will be another opponent, someone in the top five, not Valentin [Молдавский]sure, but we’ll see who.
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.
