Chechenya’s Team Berkut aims to be the best in the world
With the signing of UFC fighters Mairbek Taisumov and Zubaira Tukhugov, Team Berkut founder Mairbek Khasiev continues his plan to become the top team in MMA.
Mixed martial arts is at the beginning of the Russian Invasion. Fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Rashid Magomedov, Adlan Amagov, and Rustam Khabilov are tearing through the ranks. However, many of these fighters identify first not as Russian but as Dagestani, or Chechnyan, or Ossetian, or any of an number of people from the North Caucasus region.
The UG’s man on the ground in Chechenya, Boris Dealon, interviews Mairbek Khasiev, founder of Berkut, the leading gym in The Chechen Republic, with fighters like welterweight Beslan Isaev, featherweight Musa Khamanaev, and many others. Recently, Chechen natives UFC lightweight Mairbek Taisumov and UFC featherweight Zubaira Tukhugov became members of Team Berkut. Khasiev’s aims is to take over the fight world.
“I think the coming of these two fighters will strengthen our club, especially with last changes in our line-up,” said coach Mairbek Khasiev. “Due to these young, talented guys like Musa Khamanaev, Beslan Isaev, Mairbek Taisumov, and Zubaira Tukhugov we are going to surprise a lot of people in a very short time. Yusup Raisov is also a very promising young fighter. If we will find some fighters like that we without a doubt can compete with other fight leagues. In one to two years we will surprise the whole world and show others what we capable of.”
Boris also spoke with Mairbek Taisumov about switching from Tiger Muay Thai, in Phuket, Thailand to Berkut.
“Talks about coming into Berkut started a long time ago,” said Taisumov. “The process is ongoing for four to five months. These talks reenacted a few days ago. We had a meeting with Mairbek Khasiev today and decided to make a point. We signed an agreement and from now I am Berkut fighter.
“Berkut will be my main club. I am grateful to Tiger, but now my club is Berkut. Maybe logo of Tiger will stay on my walkout t-shirt.
All my training will be in Berkut and some other places. The point is that training must be effective – it’s important for me as a fighter.”
“Roger Huerta stays as my coach and manager. He also is going to help whole Berkut team. Mairbek Khasiev said this fact is not going to stop us. Actually he sees this as a big favor for progression of our club in the near future. If Roger would be interested, Berkut invites him as a coach.”
“At least club will be much stronger from this moment, because it’s recruited great fighters. Progression of club depends on us – from our work and which fights we are going to show. We will try to present the best side of our club. In my opinion our propects are very good, it’s going up.”
Dealon also spoke with Zubaira Tukhugov about switching from Moscow’s Krepost Fight Club and Tiger Muay Thai to Berkut.
“I will represent only Berkut, but I am going to pay a tribute to Krepost and Tiger,” said Tukhugov. “Until the end of the year I will represent Krepost, their logo stays on my flag and t-shirt. However I am Berku» fighter. We had an agreement with Mairbek Khasiev. Mairbek believes that we shouldn’t go away like that from people who helped me with my career. I have to keep a good opinion about myself. I am already Berkut» fighter. But I made a vow and my upcoming fight in May will be the last under Krepost banner.”
“Training camps will be in Berkut and Tiger as well. We get used to training in Thailand.”
“I think Berkut will be the best club in the world. I will do everything to make this happen.”
About the author:
Boris Dealon is the founder of the popular Russian language Internet MMA portal MMAboxing.ru, a journalist, tournament organizer, and plans soon to extend his talents into fighter management.
