Nobuyuki Sakakibara slår på stort när han arrangerar sin nyårsgala med Fedor Emelianenkos comeback. I en intervju delar han med sig av sina planer som involverar Rysslands president Vladimir Putin.
Pride Fighting Championship satte sina spår i MMA-historien. Även om det var över åtta år sedan deras sista gala anordnades gör de sig påminda när deras fighters går matcher i andra organisationer som UFC. När Fedor Emelianenko meddelade omvärlden att han skulle göra en comeback förväntade sig de flesta att det slutligen skulle bli UFC. Att comebacken skulle ske i Japan överraskade många.
Likt Pride FCs storhet en gång i tiden vill deras forne VD Nobuyuki Sakakibara också slå på stort med sin nya organisation. I en intervju berättar han om sitt beslut att rekrytera Emelianenko:
”I am extremely pleased to be able to introduce a new platform for mixed martial arts in Japan. And it is a great honor for me that Fedor chose our organization for his return. I think we will be able to create a great show.”
”The name of the opponent is not currently confirmed, but Fedor said he was willing to go against anyone. Now we have a lot of fighters from around the world who would like to challenge Fedor. But we would like to select a fighter who will mean something for the future of mixed martial arts.”
I nuläget finns det inte mycket information om vad som kommer att ske under nyår. Sakakibara ger några ledtrådar med att en av länderna han kommer satsa på är Ryssland:
”The event with Fedor’s participation will be the first in our series of tournaments. I think about how to form an entire platform where the best fighters from around the world could fight and compete. We would like to create something entirely new and exciting. We would like to invite not only the most famous fighters, but also young talented guys. I know that there are thousands of young men in Russia, who have not yet fought on a global level. And I’d like to see on our platform some unknown Russian talents presented around the world.
”One of the reasons why Fedor decided to return to the sport is with us, is that he wants to create a platform for young people in Russia who would follow him.”
Sakakibara nöjer sig inte bara med ryska fighters utan kommer även försöka att se till att Rysslands president Vladimir Putin kommer att närvara på nyårsgalan:
”I really want to ask [Putin]. If it means that I have to talk with the Japanese government, I certainly will. It would be very nice if President Putin was able to visit the show. I think that the return of Fedor is a great and serious decision. I would like to see more people from around the world watch the first fight of his career after its resumption.
”If I need to make every effort to invite Putin, I’ll do it.”
