UFC Announces First-Ever Event In Russia

The UFC will finally stage its first-ever event in Russia later this year…

The post UFC Announces First-Ever Event In Russia appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

After years of making inroads towards the Russian MMA market, the UFC will finally host its first ever event in Russia in September, the promotion announced on Wednesday.

The event will take place on September 15 in Moscow, and tickets will go on sale on June 1 according to the UFC.

Senior Vice President, UFC International and Content David Shaw described the promotion’s focus on utilizing Russia as a key part of their ongoing international expansion and outreach in a recent press release:

“Russia is a key part of UFC’s international expansion strategy.

“The demand from our fans to bring a live event to Russia has been overwhelming, and with the vast potential this market holds for us, we knew this was the perfect time to bring UFC Fight Night to Moscow.”

The UFC has signed several Russian fighters including current lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the Russian MMA fan base has remained an untapped market for the UFC.

No fights have been announced yet for the Moscow card, but it will likely feature a bevy of Russian MMA fighters. With Nurmagomedov now a UFC champion, expect the promotion to continue its efforts to expand into Russian territory.

Stay tuned as the UFC announces fights for September’s cars in Moscow!

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Conor McGregor Says He’ll “Hopefully” Fight In Russia

Conor McGregor has been largely quiet since his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in August. There’s been speculation of him returning to MMA as well as rumors of another high-profile boxing bout. One thing McGregor is talking about is his desire to one day fight in Russia, a country with a wealth of MMA talent, […]

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Conor McGregor has been largely quiet since his boxing debut against Floyd Mayweather in August. There’s been speculation of him returning to MMA as well as rumors of another high-profile boxing bout.

One thing McGregor is talking about is his desire to one day fight in Russia, a country with a wealth of MMA talent, but where the UFC has yet to break ground.

McGregor took to his Instagram (MMA Mania) following his teammate Artem Lobov’s honorary training of Russian special forces:

“One day soon I will visit Russia and potentially compete there for my Russian fans, alongside my brother Artem. Thank you to all our Russian supporters for recognising our lifetime of hard work and supporting us along the entire way!”

The UFC has yet to hold an event in Russia, although talent like Khabib Nurmagomedov would surely make for an enticing foray into this largely untapped region in terms of MMA. Russia has always had talented fighters to boast of, most notably Bellator heavyweight and former PRIDE champion  Fedor Emelianenko.

Nurmagomedov remains undefeated, so perhaps a title fight between McGregor and Khabib could serve as the main event for the UFC’s first ever card in Russia.

Do you expect to see the UFC in Russia in the near future?

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Former UFC Fighter Involved In Russian Shootout That Leaves Two Dead

UFC and Strikeforce veteran Adlan Amagov was involved in a shootout in Moscow that left two dead and six injured, authorities said. On Monday night, two clashing Chechen clans, the Khalidovs and the Baysurovs, engaged in a deadly shootout that involved Amagov, who retired from competition back in 2013 only to recently return at a Russian […]

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UFC and Strikeforce veteran Adlan Amagov was involved in a shootout in Moscow that left two dead and six injured, authorities said.

On Monday night, two clashing Chechen clans, the Khalidovs and the Baysurovs, engaged in a deadly shootout that involved Amagov, who retired from competition back in 2013 only to recently return at a Russian regional show last year.

Amagov, siding with the Khalidov clan, allegedly stabbed and hospitalized fellow MMA fighter 19-year-old Timur Baysurov during the shootout. Amagov’s victim sustained a stab wound to the chest, and he was rushed to an intensive care unit at a nearby hospital in serious condition, according to authorities.

Five others were seriously wounded in the melee, and two others are confirmed to be dead.

Reports from Russia claim that the Khalidov’s and the Baysurovs’ had met in Western Moscow to discuss a business deal between the two clans, which apparently went south quickly and devolved into mayhem shortly after.

Magomed Khalidov, leader of the Khalidov clan, is the owner of the ‘Grand’ and ‘Three Pillars’ furniture centers, while rival Ruslan Baysurov is the CEO of Intro Energy. The two men, flanked by their associates, met at Krylasky Hill in Moscow Monday night for a meeting regarding the redistribution of a shared business between the two.

Authorities say when a deal could not be reached, the two groups resorted to violence, leading to the deadly shootout.

Moscow police are currently investigating the shootout that as of today left two dead and six injured, and have filed a criminal case for murder and the illegal transfer of firearms.

Amagov first broke out in North America during his stint in Strikeforce, where the welterweight went 3-1, with his lone defeat coming at the hands (or knee, rather) of Robbie Lawler. He signed with the UFC after Strikeforce was bought and absorbed by Zuffa, where he went 2-0 with one brutal knockout victory over TJ Waldburger.

After a three-year hiatus, Amagov returned to competition and won by first round armlock in a mixed-rules Sambo bout. The Chechen was a highly-regarded welterweight prospect at the time of his initial retirement from the sport. Amagov had compiled a 13-2-1 record, but had abruptly retired from the sport back in 2013.

While it was speculated that his retirement had to do with religious reasons (Amagov is a practicing Muslim), he later stated he had grown tired of the weight cuts and the demands it placed on his body.

No word has arrived on any charges Amagov might be facing.

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Floyd Mayweather Reveals Possible Location For Conor McGregor Fight

Following a visit with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov and a stop in the Russian capitol, Floyd “Money” Mayweather has revealed the possible location of a proposed super fight with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Mayweather suggested Moscow as the city to host the much-discussed bout between McGregor and the undefeated boxing legend. “At the moment

The post Floyd Mayweather Reveals Possible Location For Conor McGregor Fight appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Following a visit with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov and a stop in the Russian capitol, Floyd “Money” Mayweather has revealed the possible location of a proposed super fight with UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor.

Mayweather suggested Moscow as the city to host the much-discussed bout between McGregor and the undefeated boxing legend.

“At the moment we have not signed any papers,” Mayweather said during a press event following a boxing Masterclass. “But I hope that the match will take place in June. I want to give people the spectacle: the MMA world vs. boxing world. This fight can be organized in Moscow. I would choose to Moscow, if I were asked today.”

While Mayweather suggested Moscow as a potential super fight with the brash Irishman, conflicting reports have put the location at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 10, a date and location which has been tentatively set for a boxing bout between the two.

Hosting the event in Moscow presents a number of logistical problems, as North American viewership would be profoundly affected due to the time difference.

Mayweather was in Russia and neighboring Chechnya after Chechen dictator and combat sports aficionado Kadyrov invited the boxing legend to visit, as well as to participate in the grand opening of a boxing gym in Moscow.

The undefeated boxer, who retired last year after racking up a perfect 49-0 record, was paid $86,500 for a day’s worth of work, including hosting a boxing class during the grand opening.

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Friday Link Dump: Remembering Kimbo Slice, Inside Russia’s Shady Fight Circle, Best Biergartens in America + More

(Oh this? Just a guy spraying piss on his opponent during a weigh-in. Nothing to see here.)

Feature: Russia’s Shady Fight Sport Oligarch (BloodyElbow)

For a Guy Who Doesn’t Seem to Like MMA, ‘Rampage’ Jackson Can’t Stop Coming Back for More (MMAJunkie)

Remembering Kimbo Slice (MMAFighting)

Patricky “Pitbull” Freire Finally Ready to Sit the Bellator Lightweight Throne (Bleacher Report)

Top Five UFC Opponents For Fedor Emelianenko (Low Kick)

The post Friday Link Dump: Remembering Kimbo Slice, Inside Russia’s Shady Fight Circle, Best Biergartens in America + More appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Oh this? Just a guy spraying piss on his opponent during a weigh-in. Nothing to see here.)

Feature: Russia’s Shady Fight Sport Oligarch (BloodyElbow)

For a Guy Who Doesn’t Seem to Like MMA, ‘Rampage’ Jackson Can’t Stop Coming Back for More (MMAJunkie)

Remembering Kimbo Slice (MMAFighting)

Patricky “Pitbull” Freire Finally Ready to Sit the Bellator Lightweight Throne (Bleacher Report)

Top Five UFC Opponents For Fedor Emelianenko (Low Kick)

Anton Yelchin: Remembering a Rising Star (Screen Junkies)

8 of the Best Nintendo 64 Games (Escapist)

Cities With Hilarious Names You’d Like to Visit, But Maybe Not Live (28 Photos) (Radass)

Brexit Wins: Britain Votes to Leave the EU (EveryJoe)

The 17 Best Biergartens in America (MadeMan)

The post Friday Link Dump: Remembering Kimbo Slice, Inside Russia’s Shady Fight Circle, Best Biergartens in America + More appeared first on Cagepotato.

Martial Arts Fail of the Week: Steven Seagal’s Russian “Masterclass” Is a Gift From Above


(Looking like a little more than a glimmer these days, eh Sensei?)

Before we get into this, the glorious return of the Martial Arts Fail of the Week, I’d like to make a couple things clear:

1.) Yes, we here at CagePotato are aware of our long, oft-vitriolic history regarding action movie star, part time police officer/school shooting survival expert, unofficial American ambassador to Russia, tax cheat, and perpetual boil on the ass of MMA, Steven Seagal. We’ve made fun of him a lot, basically — from his weight gain over the years (see above) to his rambling, hallucinatory, endlessly quotable interview snippets to that time Judo Gene made him sh*t his pants — but can you really blame us? THE MAN CLAIMS TO HAVE INVENTED THE FRONT KICK, FOR GOD’S SAKE.

2.) Despite all we’ve said about Seagal, we are not too big to overlook the man’s well-documented skills and well-earned accolades regarding said skills. He may be a literal shadow of his former self (seriously, has anyone seen him donning anything but black since, like, 2006?), but the fact remains that Seagal is one lethal sumbitch who could probably lay waste to the entire CagePotato staff without (barely) breaking a sweat.

Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, holy shit, you guys, you NEED to see this video of Seagal’s recent “martial arts masterclass” held in Russia.

The post Martial Arts Fail of the Week: Steven Seagal’s Russian “Masterclass” Is a Gift From Above appeared first on Cagepotato.


(Looking like a little more than a glimmer these days, eh Sensei?)

Before we get into this, the glorious return of the Martial Arts Fail of the Week, I’d like to make a couple things clear:

1.) Yes, we here at CagePotato are aware of our long, oft-vitriolic history regarding action movie star, part time police officer/school shooting survival expert, unofficial American ambassador to Russia, tax cheat, and perpetual boil on the ass of MMA, Steven Seagal. We’ve made fun of him a lot, basically — from his weight gain over the years (see above) to his rambling, hallucinatory, endlessly quotable interview snippets to that time Judo Gene made him sh*t his pants – but can you really blame us? THE MAN CLAIMS TO HAVE INVENTED THE FRONT KICK, FOR GOD’S SAKE.

2.) Despite all we’ve said about Seagal, we are not too big to overlook the man’s well-documented skills and well-earned accolades regarding said skills. He may be a literal shadow of his former self (seriously, has anyone seen him donning anything but black since, like, 2006?), but the fact remains that Seagal is one lethal sumbitch who could probably lay waste to the entire CagePotato staff without (barely) breaking a sweat.

Now that we’ve gotten all that out of the way, holy shit, you guys, you NEED to see this video of Seagal’s recent “martial arts masterclass” held in Russia.

Wow.

Woooooooooowwwwww. 

That was….insane. That was “Slap-Jitsu” levels of hilarity, with Kiai master levels of delusion thrown in for good measure. That was like, if I tried to explain the fundamental principles of aikido to someone who knew nothing about martial arts. Using origami. That I made.

I do not have any experience making origami, you guys.

God bless you, Steven Seagal. God bless you for this. For Hard to Kill and the “Anybody seen Richie?” scene in Out for Justice, but mainly for this. I’m going to add no less than 3000 views to this video’s Youtube page in the next couple of days, and if any of you Taters dare to call yourself martial arts fans, you will do the same.

The post Martial Arts Fail of the Week: Steven Seagal’s Russian “Masterclass” Is a Gift From Above appeared first on Cagepotato.