by Vestnik Kavkaza
Infamous Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter of Russia Rasul Mirzayev has returned to sport after detention and achieved victory in Kazakhstan. The World Sambo Champion has beaten Yerzhan Yestanov. The fight lasted three rounds and Mirzayev won the votes of all judges. It was the first MMA victory of Rasul after his return to sport. He used to be a sambo wrestler.
Rasul Mirzayev said at a press conference after that fight that Yerzhan Yestanov was a physically strong opponent with good skills improved for the fight in the US.
Mirzayev’s promoter and high-ranking coach Kamil Gajiyev denied rumours about the fight in Kazakhstan rather than Russia. “I believe that there are more than enough fans of Rasul that can cover more than one stand, a hall with thousands of seats. Rasul is at such a level that it takes effort to find him an opponent. If there is a good, adequate opponent, we will have such fight in Russia, believe me”. At the same time, the coach admitted that Mirzayev took a break before competing with an opponent as strong as Yestanov. Gajiyev said that Mirzayev had been training two times a day for four months and did all he could to return.
According to Gajiyev, there were moments when the fight could have been stopped due to obvious advantage of Mirzayev, but organizers gave the Kazakh athlete a chance for improvement. The coach noted that yestanov is a “very well-built man who had chances until the end of the fight”. but, as he goes on, “Kazakh promoters did not expect Rasul to be in such good form”.
Mirzayev admitted that he had not fully restored his physical form and will continue intense training. He was preparing for the fight at the Champion Club under supervision of Shamil Zaurov. The champion ruled out further carrier abroad: “There have been many offers from various countries, but I want to train here and fight for Russia”.
The martial artist plans to have a rest and spend time with the family before getting back to training. Mirzayev shows no interest in a rematch: “Yestanov was weaker in all parameters, there is not a single reason for a rematch”.
Mirzayev became infamous for the conflict at a Moscow night club in 2011. He hit student Ivan Agafonov, who was hospitalized and died after a few days. The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Mirzayev to 2 years of prison. The Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow ordered the release of the suspect on November 27, 2012.
Mirzayev noted that he cannot fully concentrate on matches even during training: “Until I contact the parents of Ivan Agafonov, I think it will never happen”. Agafonov’s parents avoid any contact with the athlete. Gajiyev added that “Before Rasul can enter the ring in Russia, he should positively resolve the conflict”.
