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Russia’s MMA Union shaken by death of 16-year old fighter

It was reported that during one of the tournament’s bouts, a 16-year-old fighter from the Arkharinsk district sustained a heavy blow to his head and died later in a hospital’s intensive care ward

MOSCOW, June 5. /TASS/. Russia’s MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Union may strip its regional branch in the country’s Far East of its license to hold bouts after the reported death of a 16-year-old fighter during an event on Sunday, a source close to the situation told TASS on Monday.

The tournament was held in the Amur Region’s city of Belogorsk on June 4. Belogorsk Mayor Stanislav Melyukov reported on his Telegram channel late on Sunday that during one of the tournament’s bouts, a 16-year-old fighter from the Arkharinsk district sustained a heavy blow to his head and died later in a hospital’s intensive care ward. Both underage fighters did not wear the required open-face headguards.

"Following an investigation, the MMA Federation of the Amur Region may be stripped of its license," the source said.

Russia MMA Union’s press office disclosed to TASS that the tournament in Belgorod was not an officially sanctioned event.

"This tournament was not on the unified calendar," the press office stated. "It was not scheduled for 2023."

Another source in Russia’s MMA Union told TASS that the referee who oversaw the fight would be stripped of his professional license.

"His Russian MMA Union license has already been suspended," the source said. "Following the investigation, the judge will be stripped of his license."

Dmitry Kuteka, the local sports minister of the Amur Region, told TASS he would be taking a number of safety measures to ensure the well-being of athletes at tournaments following the tragic death of the teenage fighter.

"Investigative bodies are finding out all the circumstances," Kuteka said. "As soon as we understand everything, we will make a decision about how to keep such things from happening in the future and how to keep athletes and participants in sporting events safe," he said.

Yevgeny Zlivko, the president of the MMA Federation in the Amur Region, said that he was now a suspect in the death of the young fighter as part of a criminal case launched by the Russian Investigative Committee on June 5.

"I have already been questioned by investigators. They have initiated a criminal case and I am being held responsible. I’m hundred-percent sure," Zlivko said.

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