Eduard Vartanyan (23 wins, 4 losses in MMA) and Yusuf Raisov (19-2) are due to fight in the semi-finals of the ACA Grand Prix on November 4. In fact, this is a meeting of two lightweights who could face each other at the world level, but 95% of their fights took place in Russia or on the territory of the CIS countries. It has always been difficult for viewers in Russia to catch fire from confrontations of people who are not recognized abroad, who do not have a personal conflict.
To solve this problem, the ASA league called Dmitry Guberniev for a cross interview with Raisov and Vartanyan. The commentator had to lead everyone through quotes from poems, trendy sports stories and unexpected questions. All this is a chance to make the fight a little more popular with the “general public” (quote from Kamil Gadzhiev). Now we will tell you what happened to it.
About clothing and a bit of MMA
“Eduard, did you disguise yourself as a very rich and respectable person in order to impress Yusuf with such, you know, a sybarite before the fight?” – Guberniev on Vartanyan’s three-piece suit.
Vartanian: Yes, he has seen me before, so for him it will not be an impression. I will impress in a cage. And it’s just that I like to dress well. I wouldn’t say I’m smart, I just like to look good.
Guberniev – Raisov: You are modest today, but, as you know, they are satisfied with clothes.
Raisov: But the escort will be from the octagon. I’m glad he came on TV like that, but I like it better when you’re in a cage, in gloves and in shorts.
Vartanian: For me, this is just another fight in which I have to prove myself and win. It’s not a “passing story”, but I have a lot of experience, I’ve been through serious fights before. For me, there is no personification of the adversary here, it is first of all a work on oneself.
The preparation is going well, I underwent an operation to remove the chondroma bodies from the elbow joint. I thought for a long time whether to do it or not, but I did it and realized that it was not in vain.
Raisov: If I hadn’t, we would have fought much sooner. But I was worried about Eduard, I was just in training camp at the time. If he underestimates me, I’m happy, but I doubt he underestimates me. He will agree with me more seriously than with his last adversary.
Vartanian: It seems that I am once again an outsider, Yusuf says that I am slower, I fight less well…
Raisov: He is now talking about something from his personal correspondence, apparently. I don’t listen to my opponents, I watch their fights a lot. I’m a fighter, not a spectator, I’m inside this cauldron, but now I’ve watched Edik’s fights and realized I don’t know much about him. Now I seem to see another Edik in front of me when I look.
It seems to me that if you bet on your opponent’s skills, you block your forces, because if he was good in certain episodes with certain opponents, it is not a fact that he will do the same in a fight with you. He and you can, in principle, not succeed in the work that took place with others.
Now, I’m not perfect in every aspect. You have to work everywhere. When a fighter thinks he’s got it all figured out, that’s the bottom line.
Vartanian: So, first of all, I’m going to use my strengths in this fight. But, of course, I watched Yusuf’s fights.
Guberniev: Did you watch with a pen? It happens that you are like that [записываете]: “Well done”?
Vartanian: I have a good memory. You know what they say, “Wrestlers, remember, boxers, write it down.”
Guberniev: And I’m an old school guy, I’m used to using a pen.
Vartanian: Have you done boxing?
Guberniev: God forgives.
Vartanian: On the street, probably, they showed themselves well?
Guberniev: God forbid, I’m used to the word persuasion.
Vartanian: I always focus on myself, no matter what form Yusuf is in, no matter what form I am in.
What happened in the Bagov vs Magomedov fight
Raisov: I spoke with Rashid – it wasn’t a 100% deal, he drove hard and the fight went so well that it took the public and the management to show up like that (the founder of the league stopped the fight before the fifth round – “”). Mayrbeck – the founder of this league – he had the right to do it, although I myself would not like it to be so with the guys. So that they don’t work. For example, I wouldn’t go to a fight if I didn’t want to fight someone. Anyone who saw my last fight can say for sure that the Brazilian and I didn’t fight halfway. I’ve fought 21 fights in my career and I’ve never fought less than 100%.
Vartanian: I think there are expectations, but there is reality. This showdown was promoted as a showdown of the elements, they talked about Rashid, how he sends wrestlers to knockouts, about Bagov – how he beats beaters. In fact, Bagov led the fight and didn’t dare to aggravate, and Rashid got a heavy cut, so he wasn’t that aggressive.
I don’t care how I beat Yusuf: ahead of schedule, butt or drag him into the fight for all five rounds.
Raisov: I recently had five rounds and that’s good, I like to do such fights, if I don’t come over-trained, then I have no problem with that.
Vartanian: I fought twice five by five with a difference of two and a half months, I know what it is.
About trash talk
Raisov: The day of combat will be tough. To “hate” him directly – he didn’t do anything about it, I never heard any insults from him, so he can only command respect. But I met fighters I respected and managed to get some tough fights. Edik just keeps me motivated, because there aren’t that many guys who don’t just train, but try to do it competently.
Vartanian: See, we treat each other with respect, but when the cage closes, we’ll fight, spill blood. I don’t personify my opponent, I do everything for myself, I get better when I beat young opponents who are so motivated at the top. It motivates me.
About the fight with Artem Reznikov
Raisov: At first I was ready to give my fee for this rematch. I can’t disclose the fee, but at one point it was around 10,000 dollars, now we’re talking millions (rubles). We have met before, but there will definitely be a light in the cage. And, if we both reach the final, there will be even more heat, everyone will benefit. I had a dislike for him, there were times for that, but in principle I am far from trash language. If something happens to me, then it’s not sucked from my finger. Same for Edik, we won’t insult each other anymore.
Guberniev: Well, these are elements of the theater, like Buzova and me: great love, but sometimes you need them.
Raisov: Well, you’re probably a little different people. We are not actors.
Guberniev: Is the opinion of relatives important to you?
Raisov: There is no such thing as I relate everything to the fights, including the credits. MMA is my hobby. Edik makes me be disciplined, and I love discipline. Previously I could train at 90% and allocate 10% for recovery, now I have even more prep but leave the same amount for recovery.
About the family
Guberniev to Vartanyan: You have three daughters. Have you spent the maternity capital?
Vartanian: Not yet.
Guberniev: In any case, three girls is a huge responsibility.
Vartanian: They didn’t all appear at the same time, so I’m used to it and it doesn’t bother me. Today, one is seven years old, the other five years old and the third three years old. Victoria, Elizabeth and Diana. If you approach the process wisely, you can make time for everything.
Guberniev: Victoria doesn’t tell you “Dad, what are you doing?”
Vartanian: She gets up in the morning and also does sports for two, slopes on my air bag.
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.
