• Home
  • Mail
  • Flickr
  • Tumblr
  • News
  • Sports
  • Finance
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Answers
  • Groups
  • More
Yahoo
    • Skip to Navigation
    • Skip to Main Content
    • Skip to Related Content
    Entertainment Home
    Follow Us
    • Stagecoach
    • TV
    • Movies
    • Celebrity
    • Music
    • Videos
    • Reviews
    • Movie Showtimes

    Russian MMA fighter pens poem praising Putin

    Nick Ashbourne
    CagewriterNovember 5, 2017
    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share
    Alex Ovechkin appears to be just one of Vladimir Putin’s admirers in the world of sports. (Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)

    Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin recently made some waves with his outspoken support of Russian president Vladimir Putin, but it looks like he isn’t the controversial leader’s top fan in sports.

    That title now belongs to MMA fighter Alexander Emelianenko. Emelianko, whose brother Fedor is in the same line of business, wrote a poem Saturday encapsulating his feelings about Putin.

    The piece – translated by Slava Malamud of Sport-Express – goes like this:

    We are proud of our leader

    We are proud of Putin forever

    He is the strongest, the highest, the fastest

    He is like our guiding star

    I will follow our President forward

    Through water and through flames

    He got Russia off its knees

    He pulled it up by its ears

    With you, Vladimir Putin, I sleep at night without fear that tomorrow will come

    And nobody will be protect us

    Keep ruling our world

    For Russia, you are air and water

    Our flag, the hero of Russia

    We will follow you to the end.

    Given that this is a translation, unfortunately it would be unfair to evaluate Emelianko’s merit as a poet. It’s pretty fair to say it doesn’t work in English, but perhaps it flows like a gentle river in Russian.

    What we can say is that the tone is a little overwrought combining aspirational bromance and over-the-top nationalism. His art would probably be better served by a pinch of subtlety. The best poems don’t beat you over the head with their themes.

    Ultimately, the idea a prominent Russian athlete would support Putin isn’t particularly surprising. The way, Emelianko chose to express that support, though, most certainly is.

    More MMA Coverage from Yahoo Sports:

    Reblog
    Share
    Tweet
    Share

    What to Read Next

    • Kim Kardashian reveals she and husband Kanye West have 'different feelings' about Donald Trump

      AOL.com
    • Prince William Hints at Royal Baby's Name, Says Newborn Son Is 'Sleeping Well'

      Entertainment Tonight
    • NBA Vet Derek Fisher Is Engaged to the Ex-Wife of Former Teammate and Rival Matt Barnes

      People
    • Hank Azaria says he'd 'step aside' from voicing Apu on 'The Simpsons' following controversy

      Yahoo TV
    • Kanye West pulls a Trump, says breakdown reports are fake news

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Patton Oswalt congratulates late wife Michelle McNamara as suspected Golden State Killer is arrested — even if sheriff won't (updated)

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Photo of Barack Obama Consoling George W. Bush Has New Poignance with Bush's Dad Hospitalized

      People
    • Kanye West Posts Photos Inside $60M House As Kim Responds: 'We Had a Rule to Not Show Our Home'

      People
    • Watch Donald Trump try and fail to kiss Melania Trump at State Arrival Ceremony

      Yahoo Entertainment
    • Was Blake Shelton throwing shade at Miranda Lambert with 'karma' tweet?

      Yahoo Music
    • Kim Kardashian nearly shows her lady bits in racy pic for beauty line

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • Mom Of 5 Says, ‘I’m Really Good At Getting Pregnant And Having Kids. I Just Don’t Know How To Raise Them’

      Dr. Phil CBS
    • George R.R. Martin Says ‘Winds of Winter’ Will Not Be Released in 2018

      Variety
    • Trump's State Dinner Will Feature Fancy Offerings — Not Hamburgers As Promised on Campaign Trail

      People
    • Miranda Lambert dating Turnpike Troubadours singer Evan Felker after Anderson East split: Report

      People
    • Hot Mama! Kim Kardashian West's Sexiest Photos Since Welcoming Baby Chicago

      People

    Maxine Waters Tells Trump to ‘Please Resign,’ So She Doesn’t Have to Keep Fighting for Impeachment

    Aris: The shining star of the democrat party.

    Join the Conversation
    1 / 5

    6.9k

    • Prince William Shares Sweet Moment with Meghan — and Drops Hint About 'Strong' Baby Name!

      People
    • Teenager Allegedly Enlisted Friends to Fatally Stab His Mom After First Trying to Poison Her Wine

      People
    • Kanye West Professes ‘Love’ for Donald Trump, Criticizes Obama: Radio Host

      Yahoo View
    • Golf Club Calls Cops On 5 Black Women Members Playing ... Golf

      HuffPost
    • Enrique Iglesias Shares First Adorable Snap With Both Of His Twins -- See the Pic!

      Entertainment Tonight
    • Husband of woman sucked out of Southwest plane speaks out

      Yahoo View
    • ‘Smallville’ Star Allison Mack Reached Out to Emma Watson About Alleged Sex Cult

      Indiewire
    • Patton Oswalt Reacts to Arrest of Alleged Golden State Killer: ‘I Think You Got Him, Michelle’

      Indiewire
    • 'Handmaid's Tale' Season 2 is scarier than Trump Year 1

      Yahoo TV
    • Elizabeth Banks's R-rated joke about new 'Venom' trailer ignites a celebrity Twitter conversation

      Yahoo Movies
    • Family Goals! Enrique Iglesias Poses with Both of His 4-Month-Old Twins on 'Game Day'

      People
    • Katie Holmes and Jamie Foxx Caught Leaving Restaurant Separately After Date Night in N.Y.C.

      People
    • Prince William gives little update on royal baby No. 3

      AOL.com
    • See William Visiting Baby Harry in the Hospital — and Then Taking His Kids to See the Royal Baby

      People
    • 'Big Bang Theory': 11 'Shamy' wedding teases (Amy's parents unmasked! Surprise [spoiler]! Stuart's date!)

      TVLine.com
    • Watch Patton Oswalt's Stunned Reaction to Arrest in Golden State Killer Case That His Late Wife Wrote About

      Entertainment Tonight