The key facts

  • Vasily Shestakov links the success of Emelianenko and Makhachev in the UFC and other leagues to sambo
  • Makhachev's visit to the International Sambo Center brought the federation 8 million views in a day
  • Shestakov believes such performances attract young people to sambo around the world

Shestakov on the role of sambo in MMA fighters' success

Vasily Shestakov, President of the International Sambo Federation, stated that without combat sambo skills it is difficult to become a UFC champion or win titles in other popular mixed martial arts leagues. His words were reported by a Gazeta.Ru correspondent..

The federation's arguments

According to Shestakov, sambo is one of the most dynamic and spectacular martial arts, and this is confirmed by the performances of Russian athletes in major leagues.

Popularity and youth

Shestakov also noted that fighters' statements at press conferences — that without sambo there is no chance of becoming a champion in the UFC, Bellator, PFL and other organizations — attract young people from all over the world to the sport. He gave an example: when Islam Makhachev last visited the International Sambo Center, the federation received 8 million views in a single day.

Context

The Gazeta.Ru article ends with a reference to an earlier report that Makhachev told how he once surprised his opponent and won the fight; details of this story are given in a separate publication.