Timur Utsoyev, Grozny. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
The mixed martial arts tournament “ProFC: Thunder in Grozny” was held in Grozny. Honored mixed martial athletes from the CIS and other foreign countries came to the capital of Chechnya to participate in the grand show. The competition was organized by the league Professional Fighting Championships and the fight club “Berkut” from Grozny. The club is famous for its athletes either in Russia or abroad. It presented 11 athletes.
The Chechen athlete Beslan Isaev and the Ukrainian fighter Anatoly Safronov, as well as Muhammed Aushev and Leon Kenga (France) met in the main fights for the title of ProFC champion (under 77 kg). Beslan Isaev managed to knockout his opponent on the 55th second of the fight. The other Chechen athlete Muhammed Aushev defeated the French fighter Leon Kenga.
The International League PROFC was founded in early 2008. Tournaments gather the best fighters of Russian, the CIS, Eurasia, and America. It enables mixed martial arts fans to watch fighting of real professionals. PROFC is carrying out competitions in Russia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, and Moldova. Eight of eleven Berkut’s athletes became winners, including in the most important fights of the night. According to their head coach, in “Thunder in Grozny” fighters of the secondary echelon participated, who got an opportunity to show themselves. Berkut was recognized as the best sporting club of Russia for 2009-2012.
Berkut has already the best athletes and high achievements. The squad of the club includes the kickboxing world champion Khasan Khaliyev, the multiple mixed martial arts world champion Adam Khaliyev, the kickboxing world and Russia champion Yakub Bersanukayev, the bronze laureate of the Kickboxing World Cup Buvaisar Paskhayev, the kickboxing world and European champion Umar Paskhayev.
Recently the Brazilian jujutsu two-time world champion Phelipe Costa has visited Grozny. The visit was initiated by the club coaches. The prominent Brazilian athlete held a workshop for athletes from Chechnya and other regions of Russia. It was Costa’s first visit to the post-Soviet territory.
