Chechen fighter Abdulkerim Edilov is preparing for his second fight in the best promotion in the world of mixed martial arts - UFC. In the match, which took place on September 2, 2017, the Russian won a landslide victory in the second round over Boyan Mikhailovich. A formidable Chechen with an impressive beard seems completely estranged from the press and any information troubles in the world of martial arts, however, strangely enough, in 2016 it was Abdulkerim Edilov who became the hero of a powerful media scandal.
How it all began...
At the tournament in Chechnya, Grand Prix Akhmat 2016, along with adult fights in the MMA style, several demonstrative fights were held between the children. The reaction to such an ambiguous event followed almost instantly: viewers, professionals and simply not indifferent people were divided into two camps for and against. Deniers were led by the legend of MMA - Fedor Emelianenko. The Russian fighter sharply criticized both the idea itself and the television channel “Match! Fighter”, in the framework of which the fights were broadcast. Emelianenko posted on his Instagram page a sentimental and, by the way, quite reasoned text that forced many observers to "join his club" and even launch the hashtag # Fedorprav.
The fights were held according to the rules that exist for adult professional athletes, which is not suitable for children. Children under 12 years old are not allowed to perform according to the rules of MMA. What happened yesterday at the tournament in Grozny is unacceptable, and even more so it cannot be justified! It’s also not clear to me why the Match.Fighter television channel broadcasts children's fights live. I'm not talking about the fact that children under 12 are not even allowed into the hall as spectators, but here the kids, who are 8 years old, beat each other in front of joyful adults. Is it really so important for everyone to organize a spectacle to the detriment of the health of children ?!
In many ways, Emelianenko really turned out to be right, because according to official rules adopted by the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, boys and girls under the age of 21 are forbidden to enter the ring without a helmet, and children under the age of 12 should wear a rash guard or a special T-shirt. At the tournament in Chechnya, eight-year-old boys fought with each other according to the rules of mixed martial arts, adopted for adult fighters.
However, we understand that the Caucasus, like Moscow, is a separate country within Russia. In many ways, the traditions of this region differ from those generally accepted in the Russian Federation, and small men are also brought up here in a special way. Actually, the head of the republic Ramzan Kadyrov, who personally attended the battles of the kids, relied on this in his argumentation. He led the representatives of the second side of the conflict. We are well aware that Abdulkerim Edilov in everything supports the leader of his native Chechnya. In an interview for the UFC, the fighter said that he considers Kadyrov his idol. The response of the fan was not long in coming; Edilov posted a post on his Instagram in which he answered Fedor.
I don’t know what Fedor motivated when he spoke about these fights. Envy? Level of fighters and past tournament? His absence among the guests of honor? Drunk state? He knows better. We will accept any justified and justified remark, but what Fedor said was complete nonsense, an unsuccessful attempt to make oneself forgotten to remember, at least in such an insignificant way, to become part of the last tournament.
Judge how correct the words Abdulkerim Edilov has chosen. However, do not be immensely strict: do not forget that Caucasian men, let alone fighters, are not used to being shy in expressions. By the way, Abdulkerim Edilov himself was present at the same tournament as a spectator. Be that as it may, the essence of the scandal is precisely in this.
Do not respect elders? Let's decide in a manly way!
On the side of Fedor Emelianenko, a famous Ukrainian fighter, like Edilov, who at that time played in the UFC, Nikita Krylov, took the side. It would seem that relations between Russia and Ukraine are completely and irrevocably ruined by political squabbles, but true men remain true to their principles, regardless of external circumstances.
If a person in adulthood is not able to respectfully talk with elders, it is 10,000 times worse and more revealing than any indicative children's fights. Edilov and I are both in the UFC and can solve the issue both as athletes and as men.
I don’t like what you write about one of the most respected fighters of mine, so I will be glad to meet you at the UFC. Let's cut and take it out into the woods without calls and promises, as was the case with Yan and Magomedov, we will meet in the UFC in the spring and decide who should go in for sports and who to write on Instagram.
So - strongly and categorically. (Agree, the remark about the forest is impressive!) However, as we already understood, Abdulkerim Edilov was also not used to getting into his pocket for a word, so the Russian’s response was not long in coming.
It makes no difference to me where, when, and in what organization to fight you. We will not arrange the show on Instagram, but show the show in a cage.
Without exaggeration, we say that the whole world community was waiting for this battle in the best traditions of classical duels, which took Pushkin and Lermontov away from us. It seemed that here too it would not do without sacrifices! Unfortunately, the duel of honor was never destined to take place.
Dope? I'm leaving
At the beginning of the year, doping tests were traditionally taken from UFC athletes; it turned out to be positive from Abdulkerim Edilov. Particles of that ill-fated meldonium were found in the fighter’s genetic material. However, the disqualification of the Russian was supposed to end just in the spring, probably Edilov was preparing for the upcoming battle, but Nikita Krylov had already entered the business.
In February 2017, the Ukrainian announced his departure from the UFC due to disagreements with representatives of the organization on the amount of the contract. To the question of journalists: "But what about Abdulkerim Edilov? Will the fight never take place?"
Whether the problem really was in the contract, or the Ukrainian fighter did not accept the situation with Edilov’s doping (who knows, maybe there were still principal people in the world) is not known. Fans of the Chechen athlete even say that Krylov was frightened of a formidable opponent. Be that as it may, the long-awaited battle did not take place. But, who knows, the world of MMA is small, and the roads of two sworn rivals can still cross ...