From Russia With Gloves: My Surreal Journey as an MMA Commentator Before Investigative Journalism

Ten years ago, I found myself in the most unexpected role of my career—calling fights for a Russian MMA promotion backed by oligarch money. Little did I know this strange detour would become the prelude to my life as an investigative journalist.

The image shows what appears to be a fight night atmosphere—bright lights, tense anticipation, and that unmistakable energy that fills an arena before combat. It takes me back to those surreal nights when I was perched behind the commentary desk, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding in the cage.

When Russian Oligarchs Play MMA Promoters

Looking back, it was a wild time in the MMA world. The UFC wasn’t yet the global juggernaut we know today. Regional promotions were popping up everywhere, especially in Russia, where oligarchs were funneling their millions into combat sports as the latest status symbol.

I wasn’t an investigative journalist then. Just a guy who knew enough about armbars and triangle chokes to sound convincing on a microphone. The promotion—I’ll keep its name to myself for now—flew me to Moscow monthly to call fights alongside a rotating cast of Russian co-commentators who spoke varying levels of English.

“Just talk about the fights,” my producer would tell me. “Don’t worry about anything else.”

But there was always plenty else to worry about.

The Bizarre World Behind Russian MMA Curtains

What happens when you mix martial arts, oligarch money, and post-Soviet business practices? A fever dream of combat sports that would make Dana White’s head spin.

Some things I witnessed:

• Fighters showing up with entourages that looked straight out of a gangster movie
• Last-minute opponent switches with no explanation
• Judges scoring fights in ways that defied physical reality
• Promoters counting stacks of cash backstage with no attempt at discretion
• Elaborate afterparties where the line between celebration and intimidation blurred

The Fight Night That Changed Everything

The turning point came during an event in St. Petersburg. I watched as a young Dagestani fighter demolished his opponent—a late replacement who clearly had no business being in the cage. Backstage, I overheard a heated conversation in Russian, which my translator later reluctantly explained was about how the replacement had been “convinced” to take the fight on short notice.

That night, I stopped seeing myself as just a commentator and started paying attention to the stories beneath the surface—the power dynamics, the money trails, the whispered conversations.

I began taking notes. Asking questions. Following threads.

From Commentary Booth to Investigative Desk

When I returned to the States, I couldn’t shake what I’d seen. I started writing about it—first as blog posts, then for small publications. I dug deeper into the business practices, the fighter contracts, the ownership structures of these promotions.

One story led to another. One source introduced me to the next. Before I knew it, I wasn’t just covering fights anymore—I was investigating the entire ecosystem around them.

My time calling Russian MMA events had accidentally prepared me for investigative journalism in ways I never could have imagined. I’d learned to spot inconsistencies, to read between lines, to follow money and power to their sources.

What This Means for Today’s MMA Landscape

The MMA world has evolved dramatically in the decade since. The UFC’s $4 billion sale, the rise of competing promotions like ONE and PFL, and increased regulatory scrutiny have professionalized the sport. But beneath the surface, many of the same issues persist—fighter pay disparities, opaque business practices, and questionable connections.

When I watch fights today, I can’t help but see them through both lenses—as a fan of the technical beauty of combat and as someone who knows what might be happening behind closed doors.

Lessons From My Accidental MMA Education

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my journey from the commentary booth to investigative reporting, it’s that the fight game has always been about more than what happens in the cage. The real stories—the ones that matter most—often unfold where cameras aren’t rolling.

For fighters stepping into regional promotions today, especially those venturing into international waters where regulations may be lax, my advice is simple: Ask questions. Read contracts. Know who you’re working for.

And for fans: Enjoy the fights, appreciate the athleticism, but remember that combat sports have always existed in the shadowy borderlands between legitimate sport and something else entirely.

The Fight Continues

My days calling fights for Russian oligarchs are long behind me now, but the lessons from that strange chapter have informed everything I’ve done since. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I’d stayed in that commentary booth, if I’d just “stuck to the fights” as my producer advised.

But I suspect the journalist in me was always there, waiting for the right moment to step into the cage.

Source: Based on content from The Guardian