Denis Cyplenkov and Andrey Pushkar, the best of the best in world armwrestling. Their fight had a lot of promise, but the audience were not happy with it.

The loud jeers at their fights told the whole story. Denis Cyplenkov justified the situation with strategy. But is giving up the hand really a strategy, or just escaping fight?

We decided to ask Denis’s coach – Kote Razmadze.

This year’s Cup was very exciting, we saw a lot of great fights. The fans had a chance to witness many tactics. What is your opinion on giving up the hand?

Those two fighters know each other very well. Pushkar took on Denis many times and lost. Only sometimes, when Denis’s arm was tired, everyone joined in on the action. This happened in 2011, when after a hardcore Babayev – Cyplenkov bout, Pushkar took first place left-hand in the Cup. I think those hard bouts weakened Denis.

Don’t you think being a champion makes you have to fight, not just threaten others to give up? Modestas was that kind of man, he gave Denis all he had before the disruption, Denis didn’t beat him with one move.

Yes, Modestas Grigaitis has a long forearm, hard for Denis, hence the fight took a while. He proved that you can take on the beast.

So why is it that some took on the fight, and some just gave up from the get go?

Those who do not put up a fight know that they can’t win, that they’re just going to hurt themselves.

Above all they want to place well in their category. Because of the 2 fails system they can go to B group, with one loss, and still get far. Dave Chaffee and Modestas Grigaitis took on an opponent they didn’t know well enough to fear him, to give up.

But the competition is all about fighting! The hero of the tournament, Prudnik, fought Zoloyev and many other hard opponents, and yet still went on into the OPEN category. Not only that, he took second place weighing 86 kg, as Pushkar said - he was the only guy who’s arm he really felt. That means he’s ready for many fights. He’s not just prepared for Pushkar or Cyplenkov, like many others. Seems to me it’s enough to just take on the fight.

Agreed, but Denis is not hard enough to take on long fights. He stepped out of the OPEN so as not to loose with weaker opponents, it was better for him not to fight.

Iza Małkowska