Shlemenko will defeat Ilic in rematch, believes Vasilevsky

Russian fighter Vyacheslav Vasilyevsky named favorite in the fight between Alexander Shlemenko and Alexandre Ilic.

Earlier, RCC promotion head Nikolai Klimenko said that the rematch between Shlemenko and Ilic was scheduled for December. Last August, the 39-year-old Russian lost to the Serbian by knockout in the 22nd second of the fight.

— Your and Alexander Shlemenko’s attitude towards each other has recently changed. You both started talking warmly about each other. Did you put on makeup?

— We have not communicated with him personally. I was asked about his rematch with Ilic – I said honestly: despite our misunderstandings with Sasha, I don’t see how Ilic could win. In the first battle, he was just hit, and they were fighters of different classes. Apparently this was relayed to Sasha, and he took it wholeheartedly. In fact, many conflicts, especially with Shlemenko, have been taken out of context. For example, in a long interview, I may say something in context, but it comes out and is presented almost as an insult. Next comes the answer. Our conflict gradually intensified even after the first battle. It turned out to be a prolonged confrontation.

— Will Shlemenko defeat Ilic in a rematch?

– Of course he will win. If there is nothing unexpected from Ilic, if Sasha is attentive and calm, then he will win the fight. I think he would have taken the first fight if the ref hadn’t stopped him. Sasha has good recovery ability. What can Ilic do to Shlemenko? I think it’s nothing.

The fighter also said that at the moment he has no plans to return to MMA.

— Now I am focusing on filming the show “Hunters”, of which I am the presenter. I leave all my time, my strength and my emotions there. In my free time after filming, I work out and always stay in shape. I don’t train two or three times a day, as I did when I competed in MMA, I don’t organize training camps – that’s the main difference. When a fight is scheduled, there is more training.

— A few months ago you said that you would not participate in MMA competitions due to a knee injury. Are you planning to return?

—To be honest, I don’t know myself. I won’t do it again. Sports in general have become more of a hobby and MMA requires complete preparation. If there is an interesting offer, then maybe,” Vasilevsky told RB Sport.

Live broadcasts of mixed martial arts fights can be viewed on the channels of the Match holding company, as well as on the sites sportbox.ru and matchtv.ru.

RB Sport