In 2015, former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum signed a lucrative deal to become an ambassador for a mixed martial arts fight club headed by Ramzan Kadyrov.
The incident marked the first time that a UFC fighter had established a relationship with the Chechen dictator accused of well-documented human rights abuses, including forced disappearances, torture, summary executions and an ongoing purge of Chechnyaâs LGBTQ+ community.
As the official representative of the so-called Akhmat MMA fight club, Werdumâs responsibilities included regular visits to Chechnya, training the dictatorâs chosen fighters, and promoting the club on social media and at UFC events.
During an episode of Brazilian podcast Podpah, Werdum recalled how his decision to promote Kadyrovâs fight club during a UFC event led to him being gifted a Mercedes Benz.
âSo I represented Akhmat Fight Club for three years,â Werdum said. âSo whenever I say something, it was always Akhmat Sila. I was the presidentâs MMA representative, right? Then I fought in the UFCâŚSo Iâm in the fight, fight is over, I won, I gave the interview and when Joe Rogan was leaving, I took the mic and said âAkhmat Sila.â
âMan, when I said âAkhmat Sila,â I got off the octagon and the president called me on FaceTime, âWerdum, I really liked it! Akhmat Sila! When you come home, go wherever you want and buy the car you want, I want to give you a car as a gift.â I said, âNo I canât take it.â âYes you can, take the car you wantâ⌠I went to Mercedes. I stopped by Mercedes very quickly.â
Akhmat Sila is a battle cry popularized by Kadyrov that translates to Akhmat Power. It is a propaganda slogan that is utilized by Kadyrov loyalists to honor Akhmad Kadyrov, the Chechen strongmanâs father who was killed in 2004.
Werdumâs affiliation to Kadyrov has raised concerns about prominent UFC fighters associating with a warlord with a long list of human rights abuses to his name. However, when the Ufc was asked about the relationship in 2015, the organization stated that âUFC fighters operate as independent business partners, not employees, and that subject to their contractual commitments to UFC they are free to conduct business and to participate in activities as they choose.â
The dude is a cold blooded murderer. No one should associate with him but unfortunately a few fighters do.
Had Me at Dick Tator
Id associate with him for a Benz
beep
I wish he would gift me a handshake
A Kia Sport is all that I would needâŚ
Honestly with where im at $350 would do as well lol
I donât know if that was supposed to be funnyâŚbut I chuckled nonetheless!
Mercedes is Mercedes