A huge market, not just for MMA, but for anything and everything. And Russian fighters being so well represented in the UFC, that gives everything a well-needed push. But, Eagle is also doing events in the states, and, I am not sure how much space they will have regarding the USA viewer. The US landscape is notorious for not really being so accepting of anything but their own products.
Russian federation is a big country and it's normal for them to have many top fighters in all competitions around the world.
Big news I heard today about most famous Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko is that he is asking for Ryan Bader title rematch for his MMA retirement fight!
This will be spectacle show for Bellator if Scott Coker and both fighters accept this deal.
Now that's more like it. Something worthy of Fedors retirement. Hope they can finalize the deal.
Also, Rizin hosted their annual new year's event. I am not that familiar with the fighters that are usually connected to Rizin, but here are some results.
Kai Asakura vs. Hiromasa Ogikubo — Ogikubo def. Asakura by unanimous decision
Roberto Satoshi Souza vs. Yusuke Yachi — Souza def. Yachi by submission (triangle choke) at 3:30 of Round Two
Yutaka Saito vs. Mikuru Asakura — Asakura def. Saito by unanimous decision
Tenshin Nasukawa vs. Takanori Gomi — Draw
RENA vs. Si Woo Park — Park def. RENA by unanimous decision
Ayaka Hamasaki vs. Seika Izawa — Izawa def. Hamasaki by TKO (elbows and punches) at 2:50 of Round Two
Koji Takeda vs. Beynoah — Takeda def. Beynoah by submission (armbar) at 4:12 of Round Two
Kyohei Hagiwara vs. Hiroaki Suzuki — Hagiwara def. Suzuki by unanimous decision
Shoma Shibisai vs Hideki Sekine — Sekine def. Shibisai by TKO (punches) at 2:09 of Round Two
KOUZI vs YA-MAN — YA-MAN def. KOUZI by majority decision
Shibatar vs. Yuta Kubo — Shibatar def. Kubo by submission (flying armbar) at 3:35 of Round One
Shinobu Ota vs. Kazuma Sone — Ota def. Sone by TKO (soccer kicks and stomps) at 3:55 of Round Two
Yuki Motoya vs Kintaro — Motoya def. Kintaro by unanimous decision
Hiromasa Ogikubo vs. Naoki Inoue — Ogikubo def. Inoue by unanimous decision
Kai Asakura vs. Kenta Takizawa — Asakura def. Takizawa by unanimous decision
Kota Miura def. YUSHI by TKO (punch) at 3:00 of Round One