It's almost too awful to believe.
But this is legitimate footage of young children competing under mixed martial arts rules in front of a baying Chechen audience, with seemingly little to no protection.
Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov hosted an MMA event this week at which professional fighters, many well known, competed in a large cage at a show in Grozny, Chechnya
Unfortunately, it was not just consenting adults like World Series of Fighting flyweight champion Magmoed Bibulatov or former Bellator fighter Magomedrasul Khasbulaev, who took to the cage as Kadyrov also set up bouts for his three young sons.
The below clip from the World Fight Championships of Akhmat (WFCA) show the eldest of Kadyrov's sons, Akhmad, win his fight via TKO. According to
Bloody Elbow's Karim Zidan, the young boy is just 11 years old and weighs 30 kilograms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE01WQ-szVg
Kadyrov's other two sons, ages 10 and 9, won their bouts by decision on the card that has since drawn massive criticism.
MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko, who heads of the MMA Union of Russia, condemned the event.
"What happened at the tournament in Grozny is unacceptable and, moreover, cannot be justified," Emelianenko said.
But, shockingly, some are actually in favour of allowing children to compete under these rules, with top UFC lightweight Khabib Nurmagomedov siding with Kadyrov, according to Zidan.
https://twitter.com/ZidanSports/status/784002516895854592
Kadyrov, who has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, watched the bouts from cageside alongside his henchmen, known as the "Kadyrovtsy" and celebrated his kids' victories on
social media.
"We will find out about this situation, and request information on it," said Russian Deputy Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov.
