Shamil Zavurov, a well-known MMA fighter in the past, and now the president of the Eagle FC league, gave an interview to journalist Igor Lazorin. In it, "The Lion of Dagestan" spoke, among other things, about the title fight with the participation of Kazakhstani Zhasulan Akimzhan (7-2), talks about the signing of Artem Reznikov (22-6) and the holding of tournaments in Kazakhstan.

Earlier it became known that in February the featherweight champion from Kyrgyzstan Busurmankul Abdibait (14-3-1) will carry out the first belt defense against Kazakhstani Akimzhan. The reigning champion himself has already spoken about this fight, who also noted that he does not yet know the exact date and place of the tournament.

"Kazakhs are our fraternal people." League champion Khabiba from Kyrgyzstan - about the fight with Kazakhstani Akimzhan

- Have you made a decision on where Busurmankul will defend his belt in February?

- Yes, in February this tournament will be in Moscow. The fight is approved. Akimzhan won three or four fights in the league, he is the first challenger. Busurmankul is the current champion. I think that they are aware (of the venue) that our matchmakers have informed them.

- Yesterday we had a broadcast with Busurmankul, and he said that he did not know where the battle would take place.

- You see now. If he didn't know yesterday, then there is a question for my employees (laughs). Maybe he's being shy. But the guys should have known that we would hold the tournament in Moscow. This is the main battle of the tournament.

- Reznikov expressed a desire to fight with Kevin Lee (18-7). Do you consider him as a league fighter, or is it still difficult due to misunderstandings [with ACA]?

- In fact, the situation with the ASA is really incomprehensible. Whether he has a contract or not. But this already, of course, there was some kind of conflict between them, now everything seems to be adjusted again. Our brothers are in ACA, so to go there like that and use the controversial moments with the contract ... I think that he must somehow resolve the issue completely with them. Of course, he is an interesting, very strong and serious fighter. They must resolve issues among themselves. When he becomes a free agent, then with pleasure.

- Considering that you have two champions from Tajikistan at once, are you considering holding a tournament in Dushanbe?

- Before the pandemic, we had negotiations, we thought we would be able to probbabo.net there a tournament in 2021. But due to the pandemic, we postponed. But now, I think, we need to resume negotiations. There are a lot of fighters from Tajikistan at a high level now, who fight everywhere. Not only from Tajikistan, also from Uzbekistan, from Kazakhstan.

They create a lot of competition. At one time we considered them as replacement fighters, but now they create very serious competition for everyone. Therefore, I believe that more tournaments should be held in these countries. But we hold one tournament every year in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. They haven't done it in Tajikistan yet, in fact, I really want to.

- A probbabo.net tournament was planned in Georgia. As far as I understand, this is also for 2022?

- Yes, then a month before the tournament, due to the pandemic, we had to switch to another date, unfortunately. All because of the pandemic. In Kazakhstan, in Atyrau, at the end of the year, in December, a tournament was planned. Now it has been moved. In January, New Year's holidays, in February we already have a tournament in Moscow. Now we do not know where to transfer this tournament (to Atyrau) ... In March we have a tournament with a title fight between Faridun Odilov and Alexander Shlemenko in the middle weight. Very difficult.

- I asked about Georgia, because Liana Jojua is no longer in the UFC. Are you considering the women's division yet?

- No, no (smiles). Women should sit at home, in the kitchen, as they say. Our women, at least, do that.

The full interview with Shamil can be viewed below:

Recall that the owner of the promotion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, spoke about the tournament in Atyrau at the end of 2021 for the first time. It happened during the June Eagle FC tournament in Almaty.

Earlier we talked about the card of the Naiza FC 36 tournament, which will be held tomorrow, December 29, in Almaty.

Photo: Eagle FC

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