“We cannot tolerate this type of behavior”
Minister of Sports of the Chechen Republic, 18-year-old Akhmat Kadyrov, son of the president of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov, addressed Chechen mixed-style fighters, urging them to stop performing in pop MMA. The statement was published on Kadyrov Jr.’s Telegram channel.
“Stop your activities in pop MMA as it is against our traditions and values. Otherwise, special measures will be taken,” he said.
Akhmat Kadyrov said that the activities of Chechen pop MMA fighters are of serious concern. He finds his behavior both inside and outside the octagon inappropriate; This discredits the honor and faith of the Chechen people. Additionally, the obscene language used by the warriors humiliates them and degrades the entire Muslim community.
The published text ends alarmingly by saying “This is the last warning. Otherwise, special measures will be taken. We can no longer tolerate such behavior.”
Kadyrov Jr. took office as Minister of Physical Culture and Sports of the Chechen Republic in May this year. He has also been president since this season of the Akhmat football club, named after his namesake Akhmat Kadyrov, the former president of Chechnya who played in the Russian Premier League and died in a terrorist attack.
Akhmat has not been performing well in the RPL this season and currently sits last in the standings with six points after 11 rounds.
What is Pop MMA?
Pop MMA is a type of mixed martial art where fights usually involve not professional fighters, but bloggers, artists, and other famous people. Such tournaments are accompanied by promotions on social promotional networks and the participants themselves, which are often extremely inaccurate towards their opponents.
For example, Radmir Gabdullin, president of the Russian Mixed Martial Arts Association “MMA”, believes that this genre shames martial arts and instills wrong values in his sport.
At the same time, fans of pop MMA consider this sport much more democratic and open than professional mixed martial arts, sometimes declaring the latter a relic of the past.
Not for the first time
This is not the first time concerns have been expressed in the republic about the behavior of Chechen fighters in pop MMA. So, in August 2022, the Minister of National Policy, Foreign Relations, Press and Information of the Chechen Republic Akhmed Dudayev, the Chechen Minister of Physical Culture and Sports Valid Edilov, the Secretary of the Security Council of the Chechen Republic Apti Alaudinov and the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Chechen Republic Aslan met with them Iraskhanov.
They then also talked about moral and ethical aspects and demanded that sports bloggers behave with dignity. However, there has been no mention of a categorical ban on speeches yet.
About twenty athletes attended this meeting, including Askhab Tamaev, Muhammad “Alfredo” Nosayev, Shovkhal Churchaev, Zelimkhan “Machine Gunman” Dukaev.
Edilov said at the time: “Chechens have always stood out for their high moral culture and respectful attitude towards the traditions of their ancestors, and it is unacceptable for a Chechen to deviate from them, no matter where he is or what he does.”
“We live in a free society”
For socialbites.ca, Russian sambo wrestler and MMA fighter Vitaly Minakov commented on the official’s appeal.
“Every person has the right to choose. And here, on the one hand, you can look at pop MMA as a phenomenon that, in addition to the sports component, brings something to the masses – and there is not much. On the other hand, everyone has the right to choose, which no one can prohibit, unless it is regulated at the legislative level,” Minakov believes.
— They will do this if, among those to whom the appeal is sent, the Minister of Sports of the Chechen Republic is someone worth listening to. And those who are convinced of the right to choose will have their own opinion. “We live in a free state and everyone has the right to make their own decisions about where to perform and how to perform.”
The fighter also stated that he shares his view that pop MMA must comply with moral, ethical and sporting standards. In his opinion, this is especially true now, given the difficult situation the country is in.
“It is important that every person, every member of society promotes and supports the interests of the state, promotes generally accepted norms and values inherent in our multinational people. Minakov noted that we must promote correct values among our youth, in no case vile and vulgar values.
“Unfortunately, over the last twenty or thirty years a person’s worst qualities have made him seemingly successful. Although this is actually wrong. And in this section I support Akhmat Kadyrov. But a lot of explanatory work needs to be done, including on censorship of television. Therefore, pop MMA continues to exist as a phenomenon, but it must comply with moral and ethical standards.”
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Gregory Robert is a sports aficionado and a writer for “Social Bites”. He provides in-depth coverage of the latest sporting events and trends, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the world of sports.