“I realized that alcohol and sports are incompatible”
Alexander Emelianenko has long been one of the most striking examples of how a talented athlete can destroy his career.
In his youth, he was considered almost more capable than his older brother Fedor, but an unsportsmanlike lifestyle did not allow him to reveal even half of his potential.
Unfortunately, with age, he did not give up the spree, which became increasingly difficult.
The next binge of the fighter seriously alarmed his fans and even caused fears for his life.
Even at the beginning of the summer, he sometimes had difficulty moving, and the long-awaited duel with Vyacheslav Datsik was a big question.
However, in just a couple of months, the veteran MMA team managed to bring him into acceptable shape.
Emelianenko's resurgence can be seen on social media, where he regularly posts training videos.
On one of the last videos, Alexander stood on the scales, which showed 111.55 kg.
According to him, when he arrived at the training camp in Yekaterinburg, he weighed 135 kg.
It is difficult to say whether the athlete is exaggerating, but on the outside he looks great.
Already now, less than a month before the confrontation with Datsik, he is not overweight, and it is difficult to recognize him as a heavily moving man with a big belly.
The fighter had a visible lightness both when working on the paws and in sparring.
It is felt how the former coordination is gradually returning to him.
The main secret of success was the complete rejection of alcohol.
The athlete replaced it with hard work in training, communication with colleagues and prayers.
He regularly uploads photos from temples and advises subscribers to believe in God.
And even from his speech it is obvious that this is a completely different person.
“I never change, I always have this lifestyle.
I just stopped hooliganism - my wife forbade me.
He says: "It is impossible, childhood has passed."
How are we?
Life is divided into childhood, youth and adolescence.
That's it, my childhood is over, now youth has begun.
Now we have to work.
I quit bullying, quit drinking, started playing sports.
I realized that alcohol and sports are incompatible, ”Emelianenko said in an interview with Sport-Express.
Moreover, the rejection of bad habits helped him return his ex-wife Polina Seledtsova.
Now they are set to marry again.
“After so many years, all sorts of troubles, my wrong way of life, our ups and downs and abuse, she forgave and accepted me.
We will again create a family, we will sign with her.
All this is in perspective.
I wanted to do it earlier, but due to the fact that I am constantly on the road and at the training camp, we are unable to submit an application to the registry office.
Therefore, when I am in Moscow, we will definitely go and serve.
I already bought the ring and gave it to her, ”Emelianenko assured.
"Two months ago I couldn't walk"
Such drastic positive changes in Alexander's life would not have happened if it were not for the support and faith of loved ones.
First of all, the manager Nikita Burchak managed to get him out of another drinking bout.
In order to prevent the athlete from returning to bad habits, he was sent to Yekaterinburg to the base of the well-known local RCC promotion.
According to the executive director of the organization Nikolai Klimenko, the athlete was provided with an academy, a hall and mentors.
Also next to him is constantly Burchak.
“Remembering how he was in the first days after his arrival and what he is now, these are completely different Alexandras.
Now he is so cheerful and smiling.
Before, I had strong doubts about his return.
In any case, he does a great job and trains twice a day.
There was a twinkle in his eyes again.
If he stretches this story not for one or two months, but at least for six months, I think he will be able to return to the sport and compete with heavyweight fighters, ”said the functionary of the Championship.
Of the local fighters, Emelianenko most of all converged with the famous light heavyweight Ivan Shtyrkov.
They often work out together and sometimes even spar.
Alexander was also present at the recent fight between his colleague and Nasrudin Nasrudinov at the RCC 12 tournament. After the end of the fight, he was one of the first to go into the “cage” to congratulate him.
The Ural Hulk also does not get tired of rejoicing at the transformation of Alexander.
In one of the interviews, he honestly admitted: two months ago, he could hardly walk and was actually an invalid, whose body was destroyed by alcohol.
But thanks to crazy willpower and incredible physical data, he managed to return.
“Plus there is a loved one nearby.
She's probably the biggest motivator.
The team appeared, everything is clear.
Nikita Burchak generally drags everything.
Roughly speaking, Sasha is a 41-year-old child ... I think Sasha should have a huge responsibility and motivation - not to let him down.
If you take all this, just the right people turned out to be nearby, who care.
And now, a man who couldn’t walk two months ago, now beats his paws, moves, sparring, ”said Shtyrkov.
Rematch with Kharitonov and the challenge of Shlemenko
As happened before, as soon as Emelianenko Jr. comes to his senses, he has interesting options for continuing his career.
The RCC has already stressed that they are ready to offer him a contract if he has a decent fight with Datsik.
Moreover, we can talk about both mixed martial arts and fisticuffs.
This option looks quite realistic, given how much he liked the new team.
Alexander even announced his intention to buy an apartment in the city in order to continue regular training here and not waste time traveling.
Meanwhile, the head of the Hardcore FC league, Anatoly Sulyanov, said that he had made an offer to Emelianenko and Sergey Kharitonov for a rematch.
Alexander turned out to be stronger than his compatriot back in 2006 in PRIDE.
Since then, the discussion of their possible meeting has not stopped, but the rivals cannot agree, although they are actively pouring mud on each other.
This time, Emelianenko made it clear: he does not mind fighting a sworn opponent and has no doubts about his success.
“He is not interesting to me in any way - neither as a person, nor as a fighter.
There are so many other good foreign athletes.
Moreover, Khariton is not in the best shape ... If I send him to bed, he will come up with something again.
Khariton is already everything, the forgotten past.
I don’t want to go out with him, perform, fight.
If someone organizes such a fight, I will gladly send him to sleep.
I will become a sleeping pill for him, ”said the fighter.
Even Khabib Nurmagomedov spoke about the organization of their confrontation, but he stressed that Eagle FC President Shamil Zavurov "does not want to see him in the league."
However, according to the former UFC champion, if Emelianenko remains in good condition, he will be of interest to the promotion.
The athlete himself said that he would perform in Eagle FC with great pleasure.
In parallel, Emelianenko Jr.
in a very unflattering form, he challenged middleweight Alexander Shlemenko to a fight according to the rules of boxing.
“I want to turn to Shlemenko.
A fighter on the invisible front, a hostage of public opinion.
You very often change your shoes, we even somehow called each other, talked.
You have my phone number, everything has smoothed out, and now you are starting to make some attacks in my direction again.
I suggest you: now you will have a pause, let's fight according to the rules of boxing.
I won't fight you.
I am a wrestler, not a boxer, I have been doing judo and sambo all my life.
I didn’t put my hands at all, ”Emelianenko said.
Storm expectedly declined the offer, citing being busy.
However, in the future, the organization of such a confrontation cannot be ruled out.
Shlemenko may well follow in the footsteps of Magomed Ismailov and, having risen a couple of weight categories, stop Alexander.
The fighter does not block the road for himself in pop MMA either.
For example, the 41-year-old athlete admitted that he would be interested in meeting rapper Basta and comedian Nurlan Saburov, "who do not get out of the gym."
According to Emelianenko, this would attract a lot of people to martial arts.