Shlemenko and Oliveira
October 17, 2021 Alexander Shlemenko injured the lunar bone in a fight with Arthur Huseynov in Sochi. One can only guess how many people in Russia found out where this bone was from Shlemenko’s interview, but for more than a year the Omsk fighter said a broken wrist prevented him from training normally.
After the injury, Shlemenko suffered two losses and a draw, won the fight under the rules of kickboxing and engaged in a duel at the Omsk tournament in the country’s newest hockey arena.
– I almost died of stress: 8,000 people came, and I [представь] I lose. You will be the first to write that Shlemenko is finished. It would be nice if I was somewhere in the United States, and here I drove my car to the tournament, left the house, the boys were already waiting for me in the yard … I fried chicken sausages on my grill during the day, then got in my car at 8 p.m. and went to the tournament. I didn’t think I could have such preparation on the day of the fight,” Shlemenko said after the tournament.
As a result, eight thousand spectators watched Shlemenko’s fight for exactly two minutes. Meanwhile, Alex Oliveira managed to dangerously hit his knee on a jump (Shlemenko missed such a kick in September last year. – ), then he very easily got transferred, went to the bottom and missed the moment Omsk guillotine his neck. One of my favorite tricks.
There are different ways to assess Oliveira as an opponent, and it will be difficult to do so objectively. The Brazilian organizes different fights. In 22 fights in the UFC, Oliveira has lost 10 times, but beating Carlos Condit, Will Brooks and KJ Noons is powerful opposition. Now Oliveira did not fight in his weight class, but 50 days before the fight against Shlemenko he knocked out his opponent with a throw. In Omsk, Oliveira moved around with cowboy boots and a hat, walked towards the cage dancing, and it was a rare case where Alexander complained about his rival:
– It’s easier for me when rivals promise to destroy me before the fight. And then we got to an open practice session, and he was dancing, dancing, dancing. I think, well, how to fight with such a good and cheerful guy, he communicates with everyone. Take pictures with everyone. He’s a really great guy, and that really makes me feel relaxed in a fight. But he is a very uncomfortable opponent, it is difficult to approach him, – Shlemenko’s words are in a cage.
In the career of a Russian fighter, this was the 62nd (63rd victory according to another statistical resource. – “”). None of the Russians have more MMA wins.
“To be honest, I did not expect the guillotine in this position, because Alexander often takes it from the rack, even in training,” says Andrey Koreshkov, training partner and student of Shlemenko. – And then I already saw that he grabbed his neck and took it very hard. And it was clear what was going to happen, because at the beginning of the round Sasha was fresh, there was still a lot of strength. Took his neck and crushed him.
– Oliveira has a lot of choke losses, before the fight you didn’t think it would be possible to choke?
– To be honest, I thought the fight would mostly go into position and definitely go beyond the middle. But everything ended quickly, I liked everything. Sasha did well, he coped with the excitement, he was in a bit of a hurry, but when he fell, he was no longer lost, he took a position without fuss, began to finish and got into a position from which he could choke.
Shlemenko and Ismailov
After the fight, Shlemenko said he racked up several rematches that would be great to have. Along with rematches, several leagues are ready to organize these fights. In addition to Omsk, Shlemenko can perform in Yekaterinburg at the RCC or at one of the Ural FC tournaments (not to be confused with the UFC) in Perm or Moscow. Lenar Ganeev, executive director of the Urals, came to talk with Shlemenko.
– Is there a chance that Alexander will organize the next fight with you?
In fact, the odds are quite high. We plan the interaction, we discuss. I think it will also depend on the desire of Alexander himself, how often he is ready to fight.
– Do you want to come to Omsk with a tournament or invite Alexander to perform somewhere in Russia?
– I came to Omsk to see how the public is fighting here. I was here once, but it was a different arena and a different number of spectators. And now I’ve seen him at his peak. I was very happy for Omsk and for the people who come. If we go back to the question, we can consider both options. It would also be good to bring Shlemenko to Perm.
– Will you try to arrange a rematch with Magomed Ismailov?
“We have to discuss it here, it depends on Magi, we haven’t spoken to him yet, but if he is ready, if he wants to fight, then why not. We could organize this fight in co-promotion with someone,” says Ganeev.
In addition to Ismailov, Shlemenko is interested in revenge against Alexander Ilyich. In August, in Yekaterinburg, the Serbian fighter received the first knee, and the fight ended with a knockout. This will probably happen to the RCC in the near future. Maybe RCC will come to Omsk with a tournament for the first time.
– Vyacheslav Vasilevsky wanted to have a third fight with you, would you be interested (Shlemenko and Vasilevsky had two fights in 2016. – )? – Shlemenko’s question after the fight.
– No. Maga is a million times more interesting. Only if Vasilevsky finds finances… And so it turns out that you are offering to bring Vasilevsky here at my own expense so that he can earn some money. He will also say: “The fight is big, pay me three times as much.
— Will you be able to find a sponsor for the fight with Maga?
Yes, there are thoughts.
– Did you agree anything with Ural FC?
Nothing yet, but we’ll talk now.
– Chances that you fight in the RCC in September?
– No, I guess. I have to fly to Japan now, Andrey is going to shake a kid there (Andrey Koreshkov will have a rematch with Lorenz Larkin in the Bellator tournament. – “”), today he tells me: “I’m going to hit him hard.” You have to calm him down, he almost knocked one out in the street, I had a hard time holding him back. It’s dangerous to walk the streets at night … when Andrey is awake.
Training partner and student of Shlemenko Andrei Koreshkov will fight in Tokyo at the July 29 tournament. Monday morning, Koreshkov and Shlemenko will fly to Japan.
Live broadcasts of the Mixed Martial Arts tournaments can be seen on and Match! Fighter”, as well as on the sites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.
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.
