Frightening and kind

Mikhail Gazaev came to the editorial office with a picturesque bruise under his eye. He earned him at the European Championship in mixed combat martial arts, which was not so long ago in St. Petersburg. “This is my second bruise in my whole life,” admitted the fighter, who has become the champion in this tournament, “and he has already gotten away almost completely. Everything is quickly healing, so it has been going on since childhood.”

And since childhood, it was possible to play sports. From the age of 10, his father gave Misha to the freestyle struggle section. He explained to his son that sport is not only maintaining the form.

It is important for the boy to be able to protect himself. In the homeland of Gazaev, in North Ossetia, when the boy is born, the duty of his father is to raise a real man out of him. And the task, I must admit, was made brilliantly.

At school, Misha until the 9th grade studied "excellent." Then, however, he missed some lessons. Maybe because the teachers did not like it, or maybe the eldest brother imitated, who, used to run away from classes. But still received the certificate without triples. He entered a law faculty, from the third year he studied in parallel at another university at the faculty of physical education and sports. In a word, he did not waste time in vain. It flew by unnoticed. The result is at 23 years old two higher education and amazing achievements in sports.

Mikhail Gazaev is a master of sports in freestyle wrestling, at the World Cup won bronze. But God gave him a second chance - to try himself in mixed combat martial arts. And the athlete, of course, took advantage of him. The European champion became rapidly. He wants to achieve other heights - to become a world champion in several versions at once. In the near future he plans to perform at the same time at championships of different levels and freestyle wrestling (Olympic sport) as part of the team of the Chelyabinsk region. I would like to believe, and then champion medals are waiting for him. This coincides the desires of Mikhail, and his coach Alexei Burdziev, and the head of the project Valery Polishevsky. With this coincidence, great athletes are probably growing.

Misha is the leader of the Chelyabinsk Club of Mixed Martial Arts and the freestyle wrestling REM-93. Superezh-philosopher, very reasonable and wise for years. Other guys are equal to it. Despite the impressive dimensions (height 187 cm, weight - 120 kg) and a formidable appearance, he is very kind and decent, he will not offend anyone in vain. It is also surprising how much the veneration of the elders is brought up in it. So, for example, the first to start eating, if there is someone at the table at the table. A striking, rare attitude to today, and it fascinates. “A low bow to the parents of Mikhail Gazaev for raising his son!” Says the mentor of the fighter, the president of the club Valery Polishevsky. “The title of“ European Champion ”is their victory. By the way, education and decency are one of the club’s criteria when selecting fighters. The high -class athlete is not an indicator. It is important to be a person.”

Today, a very great interest in the world in mixed martial arts, and the club gives the fighters the installation - to be the first and the best. In addition, the task is to give the massiveness of this sport, to distract young people from drinking alcohol and drugs, to propose playing sports, which is healed by society. To this end, sports sections are opening in the cities of the region, where classes will conduct the champions of the REM-93 club.

... There is a sports belief: you will shake - you will lose. Misha was no exception and also did not shave before the European Championship. What only added frightening factors. By the way, his friends were present at the competitions. They can be called passionate fans, fans even. Many are athletes in the past or present. And eyewitnesses noticed that Fyodor Emelianenko himself was ill for Mikhail, who was present at the tournament. The legendary fighter, multiple world champion, president of the Federation of Mixed Martial Arts of Russia (MMA), adviser to President Vladimir Putin in sports, member of the Olympic Committee of the Russian Federation. In early 2013, he will come to Chelyabinsk, where the Russian Mixed Martial Arts Championship will be held. The choice is not accidental. The fighters of the Chelyabinsk club REM-93 participate in many competitions, the Governor's Cup is held in the capital of the Southern Urals. The results of all these competitions are monitored by the sports community. Fedor Emelianenko has long drew attention to the successes of the South Urals. Organization and efforts aimed at developing mixed martial arts in the Chelyabinsk region, mood and prospects did not go unnoticed. The “last emperor” will communicate with the leadership of the region, appreciate the level of preparation for the Russian championship and hold a master class.

Mikhail does not believe in the signs of fate, but knows for sure: whoever wants, he will achieve. I have been convinced more than once that if you want it very much, everything conceived came true.

-Tell me honestly, and humanly, not sorry for the enemy’s European European Championship in the final? He also sincerely wanted to become a champion ...

- There is such a wise phrase: in the ring we are enemies, and behind the ring we are friends. Not sorry. He had the same chances of victory, but someone had to be stronger.

- And about your personal life, you can ask you a question?

“My beloved girl is a sport,” Mikhail laughs. - To be honest, I am monogamous in everything and in my personal life too. At my age, it is embarrassed to be lonely. There is a girl who is devoted, I generally do not like to deceive. A loved one is always there, you can always consult. But to start a family, I think it is too early. I thoroughly approach these issues. You must first create a base. I live on the principle of: build a house, give birth to a son, plant a tree and ... become an absolute world champion in all versions of mixed combat martial arts.

Tatyana Stroganova
Photo by the author.