Ovechkin at kick-boxing tournament in Moscow
From LifeSports.ru, June 6, 2010:
The world champion in kickboxing Batukhan after a stunning fight with a rival from Portugal promised to teach Alexander Ovechkin how to fight.Source: www.lifesports.ru/news/26953/
"I am not a coach, but I can show to Ovechkin how to connect in a blow so it wouldn't be wasted," says Batu Hasikov. "Sasha is a big guy and I think if you teach him some techniques, he could handle any tough guy in the NHL. I am very grateful to hockey players that they came to root for me in this principal fight."
Last night Batu Hasikov took revenge on the Portuguese Ricardo Fernandez, sending a Superman into a knockout in the third round.
The Champion's belt was handed to Batukhan by Washington's forward Alexander Ovechkin, who came to watch the bloody spectacle.
Ovie just returned from Turkey where he went on vacation to rest after a hard season. He literally came from the plane to root for the Russian athletes. Ovie attended the fight in a company with a beautiful brunette and a whole retinue of his friends. But his best friend Alexander Semin was not there.
Update: According to Japer's Rink the guy on the right has tattoo in Hebrew. Pretty interesting, Ovie is Orthodox Christian, Batu Hasikov is a Buddhist and this guy has Hebrew connection. Russia officially recognizes 5 religions: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Catholicism. And our reader Benjacamo comments: 'The guys arm reads: "God is always with me"'
The famous hockey player followed the proceedings on the ring all the time without taking his eyes off. And it was worth it. In addition to the main fight for the title of world champion in kickboxing (WAKO-PRO) between Batu Hasikov and Ricardo Fernandez, the audience saw seven more fights on the various martial arts: mixed fighting, boxing in the heavyweight division, combat sambo and K-1.
As of Batu Hasikov, for him this fight was a matter of principle. Last fall Batukhan lost the title to the Portuguese at his historic homeland in Kalmykia. He was not only a participant, but its organizer. To get revenge on Fernandez was to defend his honor.
And look who else was there! The wife of Ivanushki's Andrei Grigoriev-Appolonov. She is where Ovi is. She went alone to Cologne, Germany to root for team Russia and lived in the same hotel where the team stayed.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_jcFwXlyQy9g/TAvYC8QbjOI/AAAAAAAABqk/mHHR0dXsboc/s720/IvanushkiWife.jpg")
"I have nothing to defend," said to Russian newspaper "AiF" Maria Grigorieva-Appolonova. "They write about our love affair with Ovechkin for two years after we showed up together at our friend's birthday party. And no matter how much we can deny it, people still do not believe that we have just friendly relations. I went to Cologne to root not only for Sasha. Besides him my second cousin Alexander Semin plays for team Russia. By the way, Ovechkin doesn't have a girlfriend right now, and Russian girls have a chance to take a vacant spot."
Second cousin? ...hmmm
Batu 'Batu Khan' Hasikov started in Kyokushinkai Karate where he received his first black belt. Batu Khan is one of the most famous Kalmyk fighters and the only representative of Kalmykia with the champion belt in professional kickboxing.
From Wikipedia:
The Republic of Kalmykia is a federal subject (a republic) of the Russian Federation. It is the only state in Europe where the dominant religion is Buddhism. It has also become well-known as an international chess mecca, due to the fact that its President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, is the head of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
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30 comments:
Seeing Ovie clean up really shows how young he still is! I expect much more to come from him!
I thought the same thing! I like him better here than the wedding pictures. I like him shaggy, but he looks so lovable clean... and wearing a Caps hat! He is Loyal... and I love it!
Yes, it is interesting that the musician's wife is a cousin of Semin's. I hadn't heard that detail before. It seems the media doesn't believe a male and female can just be good friends. Nothing I have seen has shown them to be more. Just more attempts to stir things up. So where was Semin?
If he just got back to Moscow, was the wedding in Turkey then?
TJ,
(Going back to the new dog) If a German shepherd basically has the same name as the Ovechkin's, then what do the Russians call an English sheep dog?
Ovie looks great in these pics. I love the fact that he's wearing a Caps hat. He also wore a Caps helmet at the WC, at least during the Team Russia practices. This tells me he is loyal to the Caps even when playing for Russia or doing things with his Russian friends. Maybe this means he enjoys playing in North America for the Caps at least a close second to playing for his country. Russia will always be #1 for Ovie for sure.
Aww, where was Semin? Wasn't he supposed to be there?
Either way, good to see Ovie looking good and what looks like bottom teeth! lol
...also, I'm not sure if him learning how to fight better is good or bad o_O
Now I REALLY can't wait until next season! GO CAPS!
I think Ovi realizes he's going to have to fight next season, being the Captain and all. Not that he's gonna be a fighter, but he realizes that there will be times where he'll need to, and he wants to be ready.
Hmm, the haircut isn't bad, certainly an improvement from the over-long hair he still had at the wedding. It will probably look better when it grows out a bit. I like it when the front has a slightly layered shagginess like just before the playoffs a year ago. It framed his face well, had a bit of personality but still looked business-like.
And he should never grow it so long that it hides his pretty eyes!
The guys arm reads: "God is always with me"
I hope whoever suggested Ovie might be fighting next season was joking. This is absolutely the worst thing for him to do as Caps Captain and star player. Not only would he risk injury, it's a terrible example to set for his teammates. Don't go there Ovie.
As for why Semin wasn't at the kickboxing tournament, I can think of two reasons for his absence. One, Ovie said he wouldn't take his girlfriend to events to keep his private life private, LOL! Yes there's the wedding, but that's a couples kind of thing so it's the exception to the rule.
The other reason is more serious. I noticed a post on Japers' Rink about a Caps trade rumor involving Semin for a star goalie. Of course this could all be blowing smoke speculation. But if true and Semin is aware of it, perhaps he wants to stay more under the radar for public events. The wedding was a private event for friends so that wouldn't count.
Also if true, I wonder how Ovie will react if Semin is gone from the Caps.
@BobbyG
I could say what I'm imagining (of Ovechkin's Reaction) but that might cause me to laugh and cry too hard, at the same time.
Annnndddd:
>>"As for why Semin wasn't at the kickboxing tournament, I can think of two reasons for his absence. One, Ovie said he wouldn't take his girlfriend to events to keep his private life private,"
LOL.
Some photos of Ovi from World Championship
http://gabriela-arsenie.blogspot.com/2010/06/study-of-ice-alexander-ovechkin.html
@BobbyG, with all due respect, I am serious about Ovi thinking he'll need to fight next year. First, it would NOT set a bad example for the team--if anything it's sort of expected of him--it would be FOR the team.
I realize you're worried about injury and I'm right there with you, but I really do believe that he knows he'll have to get into at least one or two fights next season. Heck, he wanted to fight Downie and was ready for it if Bradley hadn't of stepped in. Ovi just needs to be sure he fights the right guy--not a punk like Downie but a top player like he is. If Ovi is gonna sit for 5 minutes, then he'd better bring a star player with him.
But what's the point of having Ovie sit out for five minutes and having a higher injury risk? I see no point, gotta agree with Bobby G.
Well, I can see the need for Ovie to fight once or twice since he is a target. There is nothing wrong with learning how to fight since the more you know, the better prepared you are to protect yourself. Since he is a superstar he will be protected most of the time from fighting, but if, on the odd occasion, he is in an altercation, then having a reputation of being able to handle yourself in a fight could be the best deterrent.
At one point (last season?) Ovie mentioned he might ask Brashear for pointers. I don't know if they ever had sparring lessions.
Oh, right. Ovie feels he needs to defend himself and get into a fight for the team. And I suppose a kickboxing tournament is the proper place to learn how to do this? If Ovie gets into it next season, I see not only the possibility of a very serious injury but also a slew of suspensions and fines coming down on him. With all due respect to those who disagree, IMO this is definitely NOT the way to behave and lead by example as a team Captain. I also seriously doubt it's expected of him.
If Ovie really wants to get back at an opposing team for dirty play against him and his Caps teammates, the way to go about it is to make them pay by scoring power play goals, not sullying his reputation and his skills by morphing into a goon. My respect and admiration of him will take a nosedive if he goes this route.
And let me be very clear about this. On this subject I am definitely NOT joking.
BobbyG, I don't think I can name one captain who HASN'T gotten into a fight. It has nothing to do with sullying his reputation. There is nothing "dirty" about fighting as long as you do it correctly: taking off the visor, squaring up, making sure the opponent is also ready (see Crosby for jumping that guy off of the faceoff on what NOT to do in a fight). Honestly, the only captain who I don't think hasn't fought is Lidstrom. But Lidstrom also doesn't hit. I guess you haven't read the many articles questioning Ovi hitting players but not being willing to fight. Do you really want Ovi to be seen as afraid? We all know he's not, but that's what they're saying.
I understand about the risk of injury. But there's a risk of injury in just about anything you do in hockey. If you don't want Ovi injured, do you want him to stop hitting, too?
To end, I really don't understand why you'd think that it would ruin his reputation. If anything, it would HELP his reputation. As I said, MANY are questioning his hitting but then not being willing to fight. A clean fight would not harm his reputation at all. Anyhow, it's not for us to decide, Ovi will make the decision. And I'd be willing to bet that I'm right that he'll get into one or two fights this season. But if I'm wrong, I have no problem manning up to it.
I should add there nothing goonish about a fair fight. When he was prepared to fight Downie, he took off his helpmet and dropped his gloves. He was completely ready for a fair fight--but Downie is a cheapshot player and that's why Bradley stepped in. If Ovi had been fighting say Iginla, then I'll bet Bradley wouldn't have stepped in. Downie is the type of "goon" who would bite Ovi's ear.
Perhaps I haven't made myself clear, or I misunderstood what some posters have said. All I'm saying is, if a kickboxing tournament is the place where Ovie hoped to gain "pointers" about how to defend himself, he picked the wrong location. Defending yourself in the heat of battle during a game, the way it was described in subsequent posts, that I can live with. The earlier posts made it sound like Ovie will make a habit of seeking out fights, which I'm totally against. If my interpretation was wrong, then please excuse my error. I don't want Ovie initiating fights just for the sake of fighting someone. The idea of Ovie using the violence of kickboxing as a template is repulsive to me.
It's this bloodthirsty kind of fighting that goes on in kickboxing that I'm totally against. Sticking up for yourself and your teammates is all right so long as it doesn't involve intent to injure your opponent. That sort of behavior does not help your team and will sully your reputation. That's where I hope Ovie draws the line and does not cross. He's too good a player for that sort of thing.
I have no fear that Ovi will ever make it a habit of seeking out fights. That is not what I ever said, and I don't ever see Ovi even thinking about making fighting a regular part of his game. He knows he's more important to his team on the ice and scoring---but, there will probably come a time next season where he'll have to drop the gloves.
@BobbyG,
No, no, no. :) None of us are in favor of him seeking out fights. We just hope he has whatever advantages possible in case he's in a fight.
As for the MMA, it was the winning fighter who said he could teach Ovie kickboxing and who remarked that Ovie could be good at it. Of course, much in kickboxing wouldn't be good with skates on. ;) I wouldn't mind Ovie picking up some boxing skills and holding/gripping techniques. Some hockey clubs bring in boxers to work with the entire team.
Also, I don't think he went to get "pointers" but more for his interest in the sport and the fact he was invited to be there.
I'm no fan of him becoming a fighter, but it'd always be useful to know how to protect yourself from some of the bigger guys in the league he might come up against.
Let's be honest, he can't do any worse than Semin, so he should be just fine.
OK, I admit now I misunderstood or misinterpreted where this thread was going. I thought some were in favor of Ovie fighting just for the sake of fighting so I was wrong in that assumption.
I have no problem with Ovie defending himself or a teammate in a fair fight on occasion. He just has to pick his spots and appropriate player and time.
I wasn't aware that Ovie is perceived as "afraid" in some circles because he hits but doesn't fight. Personally I don't agree with this opinion, but if Ovie feels he has to justify his style of play by dropping the gloves, who am I to argue with him? Just as long as he doesn't plan to make kickboxing his after hockey career--or worse, his during hockey alternate career--I'm OK with it LOL.
@A: "he can't do any worse than Semin" ROFL! Thanks for taking this discussion in a new direction of humor. It was getting a little heavy here.
Yes, there is increasing grumbling about how and how often Ovie hits, but won't "answer the bell." Some idiots say he is scared, weak, and lets others do his dirty work.
@O, yep and Don Cherry is the leader of the pack with the grumbling. And then you can add just about every Canadian media person to the list after Cherry and then throw in a few American ones as well.
I apologize in advance to those who worship at Don Cherry's shrine, but IMO he's an idiot. He made a federal case out of Ovie's 50th goal "stick on fire" celebration too. I think Cherry is PO'd at Ovie because he isn't Canadian. That, or Ovie refused his offer of a man date LOL!
If Cherry and the Canadian media are the morons responsible for accusing Ovie of being scared or weak for not fighting, then the Great 8 should consider the source before he decides whether or not dropping the gloves is necessary.
I don't think he's scared. He hits because it's them or him and it's very much a part of a lot of players game. He fights when he needs to, but he's more about actually playing than fighting. Which IMO is what hockey is or should be about.
That cool guy with the tatoos is a famous rapper called Geegun +)
Greetings Johann Schumacher/Kim Min Joon
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