NEMIROFF behind the scenes
#1

There are duels, which story begins long before the command “Ready. Go!”, there are clashes that have overgrown the legend, even before they start. That’s not all! A historical start of this year's Cup, was not sure to the end, and it already aroused emotions, betting on and expert opinions already appeared. Zoloev was invited to the Cup several months earlier, for several reasons. Firstly, the organizers reached information of increasing form, and secondly he expressed a great desire to come and fight with Rustam Babayevem in -86 kg class. Another reason of the pressure on Zoloev’s arrival was a fight with his older brother Babayev. Fans came across on the net for videos that show Khadzimurat and Rustam in an informal battle, somewhere at the side table, in Canada, in 2008. In fact there has never been a material of the whole, only one amateur recording.

Who will be stronger, Zoloev or Babayev, whose experience dominates over a rival? This confrontation was groomed for “a hit”, on one of the key moments of the Cup. However a problem appeared,... A few months before the competition it turned out that Zoloev lost his current sponsor. The visa was already ready. The closer to the event, the worse it was getting. Was the planned clash not going to happen? Not for us such problems! Igor Mazurenko did what he could, the Russian Armsportu Association (RAA) referred positively to the case and booked a ticket. At the last minute sponsors ready to cover the costs of Zoloev’s arrival were found. It seemed the troubles were over.

Only with Khadzimurat, always weighing about 75-76 kg rang and said that because of the confusion of arrival, he could not prepare himself for a performance in the -86 kg category. But he stressed emphatically that if he only meets Rustam in the open, he will do his best, to prove who is better.

So there was already a guarantee that Zoloev will be at the Cup. But the winners of -78 kg class do not have the right to take part in the open category. Igor Mazurenko as the main organizer may, however, in appropriate cases, make an exception. This case was highly justified, Zoloev walked through his weight easily and he did not even manage to warm up. Igor was sure that he wil handle in the open.

Comments after two “walks”, ie easy wins of Babayev and Zoloev in their categories have not faded yet and the evening, and the royal right hand open category was coming…
What will happen? This also could have had an enormous significance for the duel Zoloev vs Rustam. If both of them get tired before killing themselves with more powerful opponents their clash could lose a lot on this. Fate turned out to be kind to the show! They have met already in the first fight. Who wins, has a chance to climb high in the open. But who will be the one?

Some experts bet on Rustam because of his greater weight, experience and cunning. Those who bet on Zoloev were rather directed by sense. A hall froze ... They stood opposite each other, Rustam, as usually, with a powerful concentration of the immobile face, maximally tfocused. Zoloev was looking at the hands entwined. A historical moment. The statistically interesting moment , the first one in this story. Both men together weigh 162 kg, only one hundred sixty-two kilograms, more than one player brought such a weight on the open class stage alone.

The hook in the hook

Rustam decided not to look for troubles, not cavort with the technique, just to use his famous hook and beat his opponent to the side, knock out from the center of the table. After such Babayev’s technique every hand until then was lost. This time, to the amazement of all, the enemy endured his attack. And that’s not all! Babayev’s hand was the one that did not move at all.

 Zoloev was holding and looking for a position good to counter. He was countering and we saw Rustam in the position to which only John Brzenk forced him before. It’s hard to imagine, but it was really happening in our face! Just a few more seconds and Babayev began to commit elementary errors, he was spreading the angle and leaning back. The end, that's it! Zoloev wins!

Babayev’s lost fight with John was significantly longer, than the one with Zoloev.
All sponsors and everyone who helped him in his start in the Cup feel that they participated in the creation of history (and this is not the end ...).

A new champion was born!

Zoloev hailed ‘a dark horse’ at the beginning of the Cup in becoming a New Champion after the fight. Rustam Babayev suffered a struggle, both physically and mentally, though he did not look like that. After all he was the third in the left open. Now, on Saturday, he was the last one, a place he has never ranked since the beginning of his career at the table. This is a characteristic of the Cup, for some there are moments of a sudden promotion for others bitter defeats. Rustam is still young so there are no concerns about his sport future, but for sure it was a painful defeat, one of the most difficult to accept in his career.

That's not the end!

Once all the spectators realized that a new champion was born, Denis Cyplenkov and Normunds Tomsons from Latvia approached the table. Cyplenkov literally tore off an opponent from the floor. In the next fight, the Litwin dealt with the representative of the United States Todd Hutchings. I do not know whether I really saw what happened, but the powerful Modestas Grigaitis bitten a piece of magnesium after entering the stage and was chewing it while approaching the table. He attacked from the top and easily won. The representative of Kazakhstan Dmitriy Trubin defeated Russian - Sergei Patrikeev.

The time for the next Fight of the Night came. Battle of the Two Worlds in the full sense of the words. The American Jerry Cadorette is almost twice heavier than Zoloev. The World Cup table has never seen a fight of such competitors between whom the weight difference was so big, and while both were already really experienced and had an international recognition. Many experts gave Zoloev’s chances up as a Bad job. Were they right?

They set themselves just as David vs. Goliath. They set off! Jerry went in the same way as Rustam before, in the hook. And the first surprise! Zoloev’s hand stopped this attack.They were standing, resisting, Jerry Cadorette could do nothing. Powerful nose was grabbing the air, his face was becoming red. Jerry did not understand how was that possible. Literally he got mad with surprise. He started to push. He moved with his elbow, the elbow liftem up from the armrest. Jerry’s foul. The American did not agree with this, he spread his powerful shoulders and strated to shout something to the referees. Thanks to the camera the struggle could be replayed and we have already known, the verdict is correct.

Resumption of the fight. Jerry in the same way, but even more sharply, dynamically. Again with no effect! Zoloev calmly, the same tactic to withstand. How to hold such an opponent? Zoloev knew how! Jerry was getting weaker and something that seemed impossible happened. Lighter by almost a half Zoloev countered, changed the technique from the hook to the top, broke the enemy, opened his fingers and won.

Only now everyone, who took part in Zoloev’s arrival to the Professionals’ World Cup can enjoy. Not only he won his categories, not only he determined the result of the battle with Rustam in his favour, he also effectively resisted to the most powerful American. If after this year's Nemiroff World Cup players from the USA look a bit different to the issues of their domination, the reason will certainly be what
Champion Zoloev did with Jerry.

PeSzy