Alexander Shlemenko’s (61-13-0-1) vs. Magomed Ismailov (17-3-1) fight was scheduled to take place in July this year and become the most expensive fight in Russian MMA history. The rivals were promised about 20 million rubles each. In the spring, Magomed Ismailov underwent knee surgery and the fight was postponed to August 26. With a month and a half remaining before this date, the RCC league announced a new postponement: Ismailov did not have time to recover, and now they will fight with Shlemenko only in December. Here is what Shlemenko himself says about this.
– Back on July 1, at a tournament in Perm, you said that you were preparing for Magomed. But in fact, it was then understood that the battle would be postponed?
There were guesses and everything. Because a reporter from a publication approached me and started saying that Ivan Shtyrkov said they were rescheduling the fight. And then I got a little tense. And somehow they started telling me that there would be no battle.
– The RCC executive director said in an interview with that during the first transfer he asked the three of you to call Magomed and discuss everything…
“It wasn’t like that anymore. I was asked to postpone the fight to September, but in September I have an SFC 5 tournament planned for the 200th anniversary of Omsk, where I want to participate in the main fight. And I’m not sure Maga will be ready in September. Then, when we called for three, there were also two dates: early August and mid-August. I chose the middle, Maga – end of August. We met at the end of August. Turns out he didn’t make it.
– Isn’t it annoying that Magomed regularly appears in some shows and does not give the impression of a person actively engaged in restoration?
– Yes, let him move, that’s his theme. But after the same Perm (tournament on July 1 – “”), he also recorded a video for me where he skips something, beats, “looks, looks”. Well, I looked. So what?! I wrote him a reply. All this says nothing. I know Magu very well – he is a person who has [перед боем] there shouldn’t be any signs of trouble. Even if he doesn’t feel 100%, he won’t come out. Especially with me, because he has to fight five rounds.
– You also had a problem with the meniscus. Do you think it’s really an injury that may require a long recovery?
– Yes, it’s not even that I had such an injury. They are all the same different: both the thickness of the meniscus and the nature of the damage. It’s just that this isn’t Magi’s first operation, as far as I know. I broke my arm myself in October, I thought, “Well, what’s a little bone?” My collarbone was broken, and after two weeks I took the cast off and after a month and a half I was ready to fight. And there the small lunar bone still does not allow me to work at 100%.
– Still?
– Still. In August, I think everything will be fine, but 100% is when I feel nothing at all. But here I still feel pain. I can punch, punch hard enough, but still not with all my heart.
– Have you spoken to Magomed in the last three days?
No, but we’ll talk. We are supposed to present our reality show on August 14th. We’ll see each other there.
Tony Ferguson texted Khabib about tiramisu for five years after their fight was called off. You yourself will not allow any evil jokes?
– Well, Maga didn’t eat tiramisu, but I would like to pin her down. Even though I saw him eat ice cream. In fact, I live a little differently: that is, Tony Ferguson teased Khabib, and we see what happened to him. Let’s be honest, he’s not having a great career right now. It’s fine: showing, hating, scamming a person, but I was raised differently. If a person has health problems (he doesn’t jump like that), and I shoot him, most can turn against me. I agree with that.
– Do you know who will replace August 26?
– There are options for interesting opponents. Let’s see.
– Surely not Vladimir Mineev?
– Exactly.
– Foreign?
– Yes. All three that are offered are foreigners.
– It turns out that you will have a month between the fights in Yekaterinburg and in your tournament in Omsk. Does this schedule suit you?
– Normally satisfied. I would be happy if it was possible to instigate some sort of grand prix with multiple fights in one night. Like the good old times. I would like to join.
– Kamil Hajiyev said in December 2021 that he doesn’t believe your fight will take place in 2022. Do you believe?
– Of course I believe. The year is not over yet. The magician will recover – there are still plenty of options for when to fight. In addition, the costs remain very serious. Moreover, this fight is no longer profitable, because the exchange rate has fallen, but by the end of the year, the dollar exchange rate could become high again. It will be beneficial to do so.
– Doesn’t it seem that Magomed doesn’t really want to fight Shlemenko, when you can attend events for a fee of 300,000 per visit and still have a boxing fight in big gloves?
‘I’ve already spoken about it. Maga now reduces her popularity. This is his theme, he interests people, viewers with his charisma. He makes money with it, handsome. Tomorrow he can go completely into the series and beat all sorts of Kolyans, Vovans and other real boys there. It will be his choice, I can only be happy for him.
– You were supposed to fight in April. He canceled. Then in July. And he canceled. Turns out you didn’t take the charge twice. Does it hurt financially or is there a savings cushion?
– Well, my fights were canceled not only because Maga left. The injury did not allow me to live in peace. But, fortunately, I have been at a good level for a long time and I am considered one of the highest paid Russian fighters. So, of course, there are savings. Each person tries to form a kind of safety cushion, which, if necessary, will help him to exist normally.
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.
