‘Which fights disgrace MMA?’ Flamboyant fight chief hits again over ‘freakshow’ claims, defends vastly fashionable YouTube promotions

A promoter who provided a deal to rapper Morgenstern has hit again within the debate over the integrity of fights, insisting that he stands towards “division and monopolization” following remarks by the MMA Union of Russia.

Enterprising businessman Anatoly Sulyanov is the founding father of Hardcore FC, an MMA league which claimed to have signed the Russian musician and YouTuber earlier this yr, making the announcement with a humourous video wherein Morgenstern repeated his provocative name for MMA to be banned.

Sulyanov additionally counts the likes of rap sensation Dzhigan amongst his associates, the Ukrainian-Russian who claimed earlier this yr that he will probably be combat storied veteran Alexander Emelianenko in Moscow on November four.

Partly impressed by the rise of the Naked Knuckle Preventing Championship, Sulyanov’s league, which launched in mid-2020, has the sort of huge YouTube viewers that almost all sporting organizations can solely dream of, with virtually 1.9 million subscribers.

One of many promotion’s current movies, which has racked up virtually 2.5 million views since being revealed earlier this month, options 45-year-old Emelianenko speaking to Sulyanov within the ring about combating Jeff Monson, a former UFC fighter who’s 5 years his senior.

The promotion is sponsored by a bookmaker and has a eager sense of selling, together with scantily-clad ring women displaying off a finance card.

Radmir Gabdullin, the President of the MMA Union of Russia, has advised that the involvement of playing firms ought to be scrutinized and referred to as for higher regulation of combating leagues earlier this week.

Gabdullin mentioned that “freak fights” and “pop MMA” – typically involving celebrities or people with little or no skilled fight expertise – serve to “dishonor MMA” and are “introducing the improper values.”

“I bought acquainted with the assertion of Mr Gabdullin on the limitation of the work of YouTube promotions in Russia, and I need to say a number of issues about this,” Sulyanov responded on Instagram, the place he has a following of greater than 1.2 million.

“We stand for sport and for its growth, not for division and monopolization. Who will decide what’s pop MMA? YouTube promotions [in which former] UFC fighters and Bellator [fighters] are performing – is it skilled MMA or pop MMA? Who decides this?

“The combat between Monson and Emelianenko eight years in the past was skilled MMA, however now it immediately becames pop MMA? Do I perceive accurately that Gabdullin will develop standards by which will probably be decided what’s what?

“How will he resolve who’re fighters and who’re freaks? Which fights ‘disgrace’ and which of them promote sports activities?”

The health middle proprietor appeared to counsel that rapper Chipinkos and YouTube prankster Efirov had fought underneath the emblem of the MMA Union, additionally enquiring over whether or not bouts involving former UFC fighter Khadis Ibragimov and M-1 champion Maxim Divnich could be deemed worthy.

“Clearly, the MMA Union is unable to supply both the viewer or the advertiser a aggressive product that takes into consideration the pursuits of the viewers,” he claimed, citing an appreciation of “trendy media realities” for the success of YouTube-promoted fights.

“The quantity of consideration Gabdullin paid in his assertion to sponsorship of the bookmakers of YouTube promotions for the skilled neighborhood speaks of just one factor – the worry of dropping promoting cash.

“As an alternative of growing the game, making it extra spectacular, growing the promoting capability of the market, he proposes to monopolize the finances market – that is all.

“I’m not stunned that the assertion doesn’t comprise a phrase concerning the charity of YouTube promotions.

“Not a phrase about how a lot the business has made a contribution to the event of sports activities in Russia and what number of unusual guys bought the chance to appreciate themselves, change their lives. What various does the Union of MMA supply all of them?”

The trade has parallels with the long-standing debate across the recognition of boxing and MMA, with the UFC seen by some as capitalizing on slick manufacturing and advertising to supercharge its recognition in comparison with promotions within the extra established sport.

There’s a significantly fierce debate round competitors and fighter security in boxing, which has seen the likes of YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul appeal to enormous audiences to questionable contests, in addition to veteran showdowns – most not too long ago a shuddering defeat for former champion Evander Holyfield – which have drawn accusations of placing cash above well being and sporting worth.

“We advocate a constructive dialogue between all members of the MMA business,” mentioned Sulyanov. “And we, for our half, are able to share media alternatives and promotion expertise.

“We’re able to undertake one of the best expertise of different organizations. Sport will develop solely on this method, because of competitors and partnership, and never because of prohibitions and restrictions.

“Ultimately, what’s attention-grabbing and what’s not is decided by the viewers – not by the unions or officers.”

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