He couldn't fight in the Turkish championships, and so he couldn't qualify to this year's Europeans or Worlds. This is why we won't see Farid Usmanli at these two important events. But he is not going to quit armwrestling. Will he fight at the PAL event?

- I am going back to training, I am in good shape – assures Usmanli. - I am preparing for the Zloty Tur and, if I get a chance, I will fight in the Vendetta.

- Our doors are always open for Farid – says Igor Mazurenko, organizer of Vendetta in Vegas and Zloty Tur. - Farid already took part in a project realized by PAL, back in 2003. His most controversial fight was with Travis Bagent, in May 2006. He lost most rounds by fouls.

We have written about the Bagent – Usmalni fight in 2014, on armpower.net: - "Throughout the whole fight Travis played a game, the rules of which were made by him. After the fight, Farid said: “Travis Bagent is a clever fox! Out of the six rounds, he let me fight only once. His cunningness annoyed both the referees and me, and it all led to him winning by my fouls. I was very distasteful for me, but on the other hand it made me want to fight him again. Right now I can declare: I will meet him at the table and I will show him who's strongest”.

Farid started training armwrestling in 1998, when he was 17 and wanted to compete with his mates. He won his first world champion title in Japan in 2005, when he won double gold in left and right arm. That year he alsow went to the Nemiroff World Cup for the first time. In April 2006 he received an invitation from WAC, with Dave Devoto as leader, to fight in Las Vegas.

There, in the final fight, we've put up quite a show with John Brzenk – recalled Usmanli in an interview for armpower.net in 2014. I still watch those fights on YouTube, I had great power back then.

Farid Usmanli haven't always fought for Turkey. Until 2009 his country was Uzbekistan, and his name was Usmanov.

- In 2008 I moved to Turkey; I am of Turkish origin, although I was born in Uzbekistan and I have lived there for a long time. I knew that by starting in the Turkish national team I will get a refund of costs and money for medals, which was great for me. I got my citizenship in 2009 and fought as a Turkish citizen at the Europeans and Worlds in 2010 – says Farid.

Today Farid Usmanli is considered by PAL as one of the most talented contestants in the world, an elite member of the organization. Maybe we will see him in Vendetta in Vegas this year.

im