"We have the strongest division": Mineev on UFC proposals, trilogy with Ismailov and Emelianenko's career

- What is the fate of your confrontation with Magomed Ismailov?

- If the questions continue to sound, then the topic is interesting.

Ismailov promises to surprise.

If that happens, there is a chance of a fight.

- At what point will you realize that the meeting in the cage will definitely take place?

- When he can motivate me.

- Doesn't it motivate now?

- Do you know the history of our confrontation?

- Certainly.

Do you consider it complete at the moment?

- I do not find motivation in a new meeting, but everything can change.

Ismailov is an original rival.

He always has something hidden up his sleeve.

Maybe I will be interested in the trilogy with him, but Magomed himself admitted in the last interview that he was developing in a different direction.

- Did you receive an offer from the UFC after the second fight with Ismailov?

- Yes.

They wrote to me.

Earlier, through different people, we also received offers, not only from the UFC, but also from Bellator.

For example, through Alexey Oleinik.

We, athletes, always study how profitable these or those options are from a financial point of view.

When there was a desire to move to the West, the top promotions did not apply, and now I have my own plans in Russia.

I have reached the level of earnings of the best athletes in America.

If you take the conditional $ 0.5 million that leaders receive for a fight in the UFC and deduct taxes, it turns out that my income is no less.

I want to hold fights at home and develop our martial arts.

- But what about the best league in the world, don't you want to test yourself at the highest level?

- Undoubtedly.

There are enough reverse examples.

Oleg Taktarov was one of the first to go to the USA and made a successful career.

But not everyone makes big money.

Now the industry has changed and you can't get to the title overnight.

There is a long way to go and start from scratch.

I'm not in a position to do this.

I reached heights in kickboxing and then built a career in MMA from scratch.

Now in Russia there is an objectively good market, so as not to rush anywhere, to perform and make money here.

This does not mean that I am only focused on money.

For example, I would like to fight with Alexander Shlemenko, because it will be interesting for everyone.

- And who do fans predict for you as rivals on social networks?

- Most often, the surname of the same Shlemenko sounds.

But on condition that he wins his title fight.

The second most popular is Alexander Emelianenko.

We had a meeting announced a long time ago, but it has lost its relevance due to his recent performances.

There is also a guy from pop-MMA - Danil Aleev, nicknamed "Rugby player".

In a recent interview, he expressed a desire to fight me.

Also, don't forget that AMC Fight Nights has a lot of competition in the middleweight division.

We have the strongest division in the post-Soviet space.

- Are you hinting that the fight with Emelianenko is not relevant?

- I don't see the intersection points.

First of all, Alexander needs to improve his health, which is what I wish him.

- Is his career over?

- It depends what you mean by that.

He also conducts fights, is interesting to the audience and did not hang gloves on a nail.

If you recall the history of my relationship with Alexander, then we signed a contract, but he disappeared somewhere.

When Emelianenko returned from the state in which he was, he considered that everything remained in effect, but I had already gone ahead a long time ago.

Once again I want to note that I have great respect for Alexander and his family.

I wish him well and get back in shape as soon as possible.

- Can he revive his career?

- Alexander has a team with which he makes his way.

I didn’t think about how his career was going, because my thoughts are occupied with mine.

-

- As far as I understand, in his last interview, Alexander burned all the bridges with Dagestan.

- But did his negative spill out not only on Artur Huseynov?

- I don't know the details.

But I saw a reaction from many residents of the republic.

Alexander's words greatly influenced the opinion of him.

- Who would you like to meet in the ring most of all?

- With Shlemenko, of course.

- Why?

- I believe that potentially Mineev - Shlemenko is one of the most interesting fights that can be organized in 2022 in the Russian martial arts industry.

Offer me another rival.

- Fedor Emelianenko.

- He's from a different weight category.

In general, of course, it is interesting.

If we think hypothetically, then defeat can have a strong impact, and victory will do nothing to me.

Not quite so, of course.

But we understand that the current Fedor Emelianenko is not the same as ten years ago.

He remains a legend, but these are two different athletes.

By the way, he is my leader.

How am I going to fight him?

- And the fight with Shlemenko is louder than a new meeting with Ismailov?

- Do not forget that Alexander will have a difficult fight with Faridun Odilov in Eagle FC.

If he wins the belt, everyone will be interested in the opportunity to combine the titles of the two organizations.

This has never happened in Russia.

This is a historical moment that motivates me.

“But first you have to fight someone else.

- Absolutely agree.

Otherwise, there will be a long downtime.

- Who is preferable: Shara Bullet, Artur Alibulatov or Vagab Vagabov?

- In general, all three options are good, guys are strong.

Vagab Vagabov is a heavyweight champion.

Alibulatov won a bright victory, but he had only one fight in the league.

Fighting him is injustice to others.

Potentially everyone can become my rival, but we need to make sure that this meeting arouses the interest of the general public.

I need motivation.

- Is it up to Kamil Hajiyev?

- And for the guys too.

It was not for nothing that we took and had a duel with Ismailov.

We've had a long history.

We attracted attention, promoted the confrontation.

You can't just sit and wait for a fight.

Maga and I did a great job that created a buzz.

The first battle received the "Fight of the Year in Russia" award.

Our second fight is also nominated for this prize.

- December 10 is the birthday of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

How closely did you know him?

- Abdulmanap Magomedovich has always been a lump in the domestic martial arts industry.

I managed to talk to him personally at the training camp in Turkey.

I have adopted the techniques that he showed me, and use them in my fights.

I did not manage to get to know him closely, but he left the impression of a very decent, good-natured and bright person who was engaged in creation, and around whom people could unite with a global goal.

There was something great about him.

Of course, the memories of him are only positive.