MMA has its Biggest Fan: Vladimir Putin?

MMA has its Biggest Fan: Vladimir Putin?

He sat watching in awe just as everyone else did this past Saturday night as Fedor Emelianko destroyed a formidable opponent in Matt Lindland during Bodog Fight's biggest MMA event to date. Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, was loving everything that he witnessed.

Putin it seems is a big fan of Emelianko and of Mixed Martial Arts overall. When the event concluded, the Russian president invited all the fighters and Bodog Fight founder, Calvin Ayre, back to the Presidential Mansion. It was a night Ayre and the other participants will remember for a lifetime.

"We are happy to entertain any ideas he (Fedor Emelianko) may have working with Bodog in the future."

"President Putin came around and shook hands with everyone," Ayre told Sports911.com as we caught up to him in Valencia, Spain. "He thanked everyone for coming. It was an amazing night."

So amazing that the sold out crowd drew the attention of Russia's biggest television network. Ayre broke the news that his organization just entered into a major deal with this network whereby Bodog Fight and many of its Russian fighters will be showcased in nearly a hundred million homes across that nation.

On hand also to watch Bodog Fight's "Clash of Nations" Saturday night were Jean Jean-Claude Van Damme, who has invited Fedor Emelianko to do a cameo for his upcoming film, and the former President of Italy, who was a special guest of Mr. Putin.

Calvin Ayre and Jean-Claude Van Damme pose over St. Petersburg, Russia

Calvin giving Fedor championship ring

Following the fight, Mr. Putin invited everyone back to the Presidential Palace where he served snacks, wine and vodka. For the record, Mr. Putin does not drink. He enjoyed some tea with his guests.

Fedor Emelianko is without a doubt the best heavy weight fighter in the MMA today. There are many questions surrounding Emelianko's future and which organization he will ultimately decide to sign with. Ayre makes no secret of the fact that Bodog Fight is doing everything in its power to entice the PRIDE Heavyweight champion.

"We are happy to entertain any ideas he (Fedor Emelianko) may have working with Bodog in the future," said Ayre, who had nothing but kind things to say about Emelianko. "(Fedor) is an unbelievably classy guy. He doesn't seem to have any type of weakness. He is a complete fighter. Unbelievable!"

Mixed Marial Arts is growing fast in Russia and the fighters coming out of there are top quality.

"Japan and Korea are still the hot beds of MMA," Ayre said. "Europe and the US, the sport is growing fast."

Vladimir Putin Владимир Путин Facts
*Grew up in a communal apartment

*Putin graduated from the International Branch of the Law Department of the Leningrad State University in 1975 and was recruited into the KGB.

*A huge fan of MMA and Fedor Emelianko

*Putin is a practicing member of the Russian Orthodox Church, converting after a life threatening fire.

*While Russians are known to drink people from every other nation under the table (thanks to their diet of salty pork that absorbs all the alcohol), President Vladimir Putin of Russia abstains from any alcoholic beverages.

*According to public opinion surveys conducted by Levada Center, Putin's approval rating is 81% as of February 2007.

In fact, Calvin Ayre tells Sports911.com that in the coming weeks Bodog Fight will have a major announcement concerning plans in Europe.

"It will be massive news that all MMA fans will love," was about all we can get out of him. Because Ayre was being filmed by a German television crew, we didn't have the opportunity to get him drunk and make him disclose more information like we normally would have under these circumstances. Sorry Sports911 readers.

We did manage to find out where the next Bodog Fight installment will be filmed.

"We are shooting Series 5 and 6 in Whistler, Vancouver in either June or July."

Whistler, British Columbia, is a popular ski resort outside of beautiful Vancouver.

Contrary to earlier announcements, Ayre's Wild Card Poker Season 2 will also be shot in Whistler (not Antigua due to feasibility and time constraints, as initially planned).

Calvin with fighters Chris Midoux and Trevor Prangley at Putin’s Palace in St. Petersburg

Bodog Fight The Reality Series can be seen Tuesdays and Saturday nights at 11:00 pm ET on ION. Check your local listings or visit Bodog Fight here

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Christopher Costigan, Sports911.com

Originally published April 18, 2007 11:28 pm ET