Ramzan Kadyrov, Head of the Chechen Republic, criticized the UFC following the victory of Russian fighter Abubakar Vagaev at the UFC Fight Night event.
"In the UFC, as in other foreign sports organizations, the politics of vested interests play a major role today. Unfortunately. They can overturn a red card or push through their own athletes—and even entire teams. We see this clearly.
Abubakar Vagaev, an ACA league champion who recently won a bout at UFC Fight Night, was supposed to compete in his natural weight class. However, that fight fell through, and Abubakar was offered a choice: either compete in the 77 kg category (which would have required him to shed a staggering 20 kg!) or not compete at all and wait months for another fight. On the surface, this might look like a routine part of the sporting process, but the reality is quite different. Behind the dilemma Abubakar faced were certain individuals who claim to be ‘one of us’ in words but work to push out a promising athlete behind his back. I always call things by their proper names and speak the truth, but this time I won’t name these renegades. There is a time for everything.
Abubakar Vagaev is a man of strong will and character—a true Chechen. Despite harsh and nearly impossible conditions—where he essentially had to choose between withdrawing or agreeing and facing defeat—he managed to make weight and win a tough fight. His performance deserves genuine sporting respect. I congratulate my dear BROTHER on this victory! Abubakar, you have to be head and shoulders above your opponents, because the UFC is about more than just sport; it involves political and personal agendas," Kadyrov wrote on his Telegram channel.
