A Russian MMA fighter aged 49, Maxim Novoselov, received a five-year sentence in a strict-regime penal colony from the Tushinsky Court in Moscow after being found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman.
The case unfolded after authorities detained the athlete in March following a party at the Ruki Vverh nightclub in Mytishchi, where he met two young women.
The victim later phoned the police to report that she and her companion were forced into a vehicle by a group of men and that she had been sexually assaulted.
The initial arrest led to a two-month detention, with the period subsequently extended to six months as the investigation continued.
During the trial, prosecutors sought a six-year sentence in a strict-regime colony for Novoselov, while the defense argued for acquittal, noting that the victim’s account, which was supported by contested medical findings, should not be treated as sole evidence of guilt. Ultimately, the court convicted Novoselov and ordered a five-year term behind bars.
This episode is not Novoselov’s first brush with law enforcement. Reports place his entry into the criminal world in the early 1990s, culminating in a 1993 murder conviction that carried a 14-year prison sentence. In 2012, he faced a sentence of three and a half years for involvement in narcotics-related activity.
Even before his first term, the fighter had already gained notoriety. He participated in underground confrontations, continued these activities during imprisonment, and began his professional career after securing release on parole.
Observers note that prison life left little room for sport. Management reportedly discouraged boxing inside facilities, arguing that physical exertion could foster independence and resilience. They preferred a weaker, more compliant inmate population who could be controlled more easily. Novoselov later described the environment as hostile to athletic ambitions, with shifts that favored loyalty over performance and with confrontations sometimes resulting in selective punishment.
He described a climate where fights occurred irregularly and rarely resembled any formal league. Some clashes led to consequences for those involved, while others went unnoticed. Materials from his testimony suggest that the drive for respect among inmates could take on many forms, often tied to scarce resources such as cigarettes, tea, and basic food items rather than money itself.
In the ring, Novoselov fought five times between 2004 and 2010, posting two wins, one draw, and two losses. A notable comeback period followed, during which he secured a string of victories over a relatively younger field. Among his opponents was the American fighter Jimmy Ambris, who drew significant attention in the Japanese-speaking MMA community as Novoselov claimed a notable victory during that era.
Novoselov gained additional notoriety during the second term of his imprisonment, when he persuaded prison authorities to allocate space for martial arts gyms. He organized two training facilities inside the facility and began coaching fellow inmates, turning the role of inmate athlete into a form of mentorship and discipline.
A widely viewed documentary by a prominent blogger and fighter, Mikhail Koklyaev, recorded Novoselov’s activities inside the penal system, drawing millions of viewers and amplifying his public profile beyond the prison walls.
In 2019, a high-profile match was anticipated against Vyacheslav Datsik, often regarded as a top figure in extreme MMA. The event was canceled when a severe injury disrupted Datsik’s training plans just before the scheduled bout, preventing what would have been a major confrontation in a prominent fight series.