Graphic Video Shows MMA Fighter Beating Champion Weightlifter
A graphic video surfaced online showing a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter beating up a champion weightlifter on the streets. According to reports, the fight turned ugly resulting in the death of the weightlifter, believed to be Andrey Drachev, 32.
The European powerlifting champion was seen fighting with a shorter man in the video. The fight reportedly took place outside a cafe in the city of Khabarovsk in southeastern Russia’s Khabarovsk Krai region. However, it was unclear when the incident took place.
The video, which made the rounds Monday, shows both the fighters shirtless as they got involved in a brawl while people around kept looking as they hurled kicks and punches at each other.
Crime Russia, a local media outlet, identified the man as 25-year-old Anar Ziranov. However, the Sun identified the man as Anar Allakhveranov.
The video shows the two fighters kicking and punching each other a shorter man. According to the Sun, the two were quarreling about whether MMA was better than weight lifting.
When the fight turned ugly, two men tried to intervene but Drachev died from his injuries. Local media reports said the cause of death for Drachev was identified as craniocerebral injury. Drachev died after he was transported to the hospital following the fight.
After the fight, the second man fighting Drachev fled the scene but was later arrested after police launched a hunt for him.
"The man suspected on inflicting deadly injuries to Drachev is still at large and law enforcers carry on with measures aimed to detain the suspect", Ilya Gudkov, a senior aide to the head of the Khabarovsk Territory's Investigative Committee, said in an interview with TASS before the suspect's arrest.
It is unclear what charges will be placed against Drachev's alleged killer.
This is not the first time Drachev has been involved in a fight, according to local reports had been part of another fight before his street brawl. Drachev, a Russian, is a champion fighter and has received world power-lifting championships' title in 2012.
In April, Drachev won in the "extreme bodybuilding" category at the Bodybuilding Championships held in Primorsky.
MMA is a full-contact combat sport where both striking and grappling are allowed, standing and on the ground. This sport used techniques from other combat sports and martial arts. MMA was given "National Sport" status in Russia in 2012. In September the same year, fighter and M-1 Global promoter Fedor Emelianenko were appointed to the role of Russian MMA Union president.
In the United States, professional MMA is carried out and overseen by the Association of Boxing Commissions. Professional MMA competitions are allowed in all states.
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