UFC 242: The Start of the MMA Russian Revolution

UFC 242: The Start of the MMA Russian Revolution

By James Lee

102 years ago, Russia faced a revolution that shaped the global political landscape forever. It created the Soviet Union and led them into decades of communism. The political structure in Europe has changed ever since with a similar revolution unlikely to ever be replicated in the world of politics.

But in the sporting world, a Russian revolution in mixed martial arts has been brewing and last night’s UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi was a card that could see the sport change forever.

Dagestani fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov is leading the charge of his countrymen after becoming the first Russian to claim UFC gold last April, with a dominant decision victory over American Al Iaquinta seeing millions across Russia, including President Vladimir Putin celebrate.

He went on to defeat Conor McGregor in the biggest fight in the sport’s history last October at UFC 229 and has amassed a strong social media following with eighteen million followers combined across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Fans have accepted Nurmagomedov as one of the most dominant fighters ever and multiple of his fellow Russian fighters are joining him in what could mark a period of Russian dominance.

For the twenty-six-year period of the UFC, American fighters have dominated, amassing a record fifty-four champions, but the tide is changing with Russian fighters flooding through to the top.

The card last night featured a flood of the current crop of Russian and especially Dagestan talent, with Nurmagomedov obviously taking centre stage in his dominant victory over Dustin Poirier.

The event in Abu Dhabi was specifically suited to Khabib, who has a huge following in the Middle East. Even the fight time adhered to local time instead of the pacific time zone regularly used in pay-per-view events across the world.

Nurmagomedov’s AKA teammates Islam Makhachev and Zubaira Tukhugov were also on the card in bouts that raised their profile further in their rise up their respective divisions.

Russian fighters were selected throughout the card in the ultimate revolution with seven Russian fighters spread throughout the card.

One thing all the Russian fighters share is a strong Sambo base. Nurmagomedov is a two-time World Sambo champion and before last night had a takedown rate in the UFC of 5.44 per fifteen minutes is the seventh highest in the company’s history and a testament to his past Sambo experience.

Ironically, the sport of Sambo was a product of the political revolution.

Starvation and tiredness of the Russian troops during the First World War forced the abdication of the Tsar and led to the Bolshevik Party, headed by Vladimir Lenin, to power in March 1917.

The Russian army was suffering badly at the hands of the Germans on the Eastern front and the new Bolshevik Government was forced to sign the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk to end their participation in the Great War.

Post war, Lenin made clear loss in the future wasn’t an option and advised war veteran Viktor Spiridonov to implement a hand-to-hand combat regime into the army.

With the responsibility, Spiridonov created the system of Samooborona Bez Oruzhiya (Sambo) to help the USSR’s Red Army rectify the previous failures of the last decade. Spiridonov and his fellow pioneer Vasili Oshchepkov studied Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Greco-Roman wrestling to form the mixed system of Sambo in the early 1920’s and the system is still the foundation for Russian fighters today.

Throughout history, the marching Russian troops fought hundreds of miles across Europe. The cold, miserable scenes of the Crimea War and others alike forced the Russian population to accept tough circumstances and that trait compliments their chosen sport 100 years on.

None of this on-going revolution would be possible without Fedor Emelianenko’s rise in the sport.

The Russian dominated the sport in the 2000’s, going unbeaten from the turn of the century until 2010 and the force he showed in the heavyweight division is unlikely to ever be replicated.

Fedor was the first Russian fighter to have worldwide mixed martial arts success because of his Sambo background. Vladimir Putin said the sport wouldn’t have become so popular if it wasn’t for Emelianenko’s influence and his fighting gave the sport backing from the Kremlin.

In sport, it takes one to cross an unthinkable barrier before others follow. Emelianenko and Nurmagomedov have shown that the Sambo style can have worldwide success, with more looking to follow.

The upcoming constant flood of talent coming through is clear when looking at the amateur fighters finding worldwide success. At the 2018 IMMAF World Championships, Russia topped the overall table with seventeen medals, on their way to breaking the record of ten gold medals and undoubtedly securing top spot on the amateur scene. If the amateur success translates professionally, the future of the sport will be filled with the White, Blue and Red of the Russian flag.

The demand to watch the sport is increasing in Russia as well. Multiple Eastern European promotions are beginning to find success with organisations Absolute Championship Akhmat (ACA) and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW).

The UFC made their long-awaited debut in Russia last year, with 22,000 attending a sold-out show. Their third total event in Russia is scheduled for November 9th in Moscow. The sheer size of the country has opened a new market for the UFC to explore which is a positive of the revolution.

However, the revolution could cause some issues for the company with a lack of marketability and the pay-per-view structure being North-American based.

The pay-per-view market thrives with bold talkers like Conor McGregor and Russian tradition doesn’t suit that style. A strong wrestling style isn’t usually as appealing to casual fans but they could come to respect that the level of competition will grow because of the Russian influence.

Last night marked the night the revolution began and with Khabib Nurmagomedov at the front of it, it could go on for some time.

One thing is for sure, when more Russian’s start coming in force, it will change the sport forever.