Questionnaire

Do you have any motto, some root principle you are following?

My motto is "Fortune favours the brave", but I've got no time for principles, I have to train a lot.

What is mixed fighting for you in the first place: a lifestyle or a means to gain money?

For me Mixed Fighting is first of all my favourite job into which I hurl myself. This is my way of living.

What would you do if you weren't participating in mixed fights?

I've never thought about any other kind of job.

How do you get prepared for a fight, what mood do you need to be in? For instance, Yulia Berezikova has to get angry and, quite on the contrary, your brother tries to calm down and relax.

I train a lot and before a fight I keep my emotions under control and try to do what I know.

What fighter would you like to meet in the ring?

I can't name a particular fighter. I want to fight the best ones to prove that I'm stronger.

Tell me how your parents treat your and Fedor's choice? They must be really anxious when you're fighting?

My parents are proud of me and always support my choices.

In your opinion, what can be done to promote MMA in Russia? Why is it less popular in our country than in USA or Japan?

There should be a better media coverage of everything that concerns the fights. It is a noble, beautiful and spectacular kind of sport. In fact, I think that we should try and promote harder a healthy lifestyle in our country.

Which books were the most memorable for you or influenced your worldview? What would you recommend as a must read book for everyone?

I would advise to everybody to devote more time to history because the person who doesn't remember, doesn't like, doesn't know their history is no good. But I like classics as well: Pushkin, Lermontov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and philosophy of Michel de Montaigne.

What would you recommend to those starting their career in professional Ultimate Fighting, what should they pay special attention to?

To the beginner fighters who would like to fight as professionals I'd advise to pay attention to their physical conditioning.

What is spectators' support for a fighter in general and for you in particular?

Everything I do in the ring is for the public, for my fans. And my fans for me are most vital!

Are you a patriot? How do you express your citizenship?

Of course I am a patriot! I love my homeland! My country! To be Russian is an honour for me.

Some professional sportsmen switch to big-time politics after reaching a certain success (e.g. Karelin, Fetisov, Kasparov). What do you think about it and what sports principles should our politicians stick to in your opinion?

I think that we really lack such worthy people as Karelin or Kasparov in our everyday life as well as in politics. I believe the politicians should not forget about the hopes people put on them and the confidence they are given.

During the "Russia vs. USA" Championship you spoke to the President. Can you tell what were you talking about?

The President Vladimir Putin congratulated me on my victory. He liked my fighting, wished me luck and success. He said that I have a nice kick.

You got in with Yevgeny Diatlov during his preparation for the "King of the Ring" project. What do you think about such sports shows? Would it be possible to create a similar show based on the Ultimate Fighting?

Any promotion of sport is a high enough rate. And when celebrities perform the viewer's interest for such competition is doubled. And I really admire E. Diatlov! For his whole life he's been playing the guitar, acting on stage, he's never done martial arts and after a month in a boxing room he reached great result. A man of talent has many gifts.

Russia has won the right to conduct the Winter Olympics in Sochi in 2014. Do you think it can reflect positively on the promotion of sport and, in particular, Mixed Fighting?

I congratulate all the Russians on the victory giving us the right to conduct the Olympic Games in Sochi!

Many people are interested in your tattoos and their origin. It is, on the one hand, history, but on the other your image. What can you tell about them?

Tattoo is my hobby!