“I am very happy for this man, for this great fighter,” the Russian specialist said in an interview Sport24. “It’s not because of the fact that he converted to Islam. It’s understandable that he embraced Islam, it’s a nice feeling. The fact is that when he was dying in front of his eyes from alcohol addiction, nothing helped him to leave that and live sober. We know he’s a great fighter and an outspoken person – when people like that start living sober, it’s a huge joy for me personally. I’m happy that this man is doing well and has moved away from that filth”
“I have no doubt that he converted to Islam. It doesn’t happen that he went to Medina for Hajj without accepting Islam. One hundred percent of all Muslims go there. It can’t be different there. I myself recently returned from Medina – I flew through the same person through whom Alexander flew there. We wanted to meet, but it didn’t work out, he arrived later. The main thing is that there is no harm from him for society. Now he will be useful for society – that is the most important thing”
Earlier, Alexander Emelianenko, who has been undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction in the Iman rehabilitation clinic in Ingushetia for the past six months, published on social media a series of videos from Saudi Arabia, where he visits the “Mosque of the Prophet” in Medina and takes the Arabic name Abubakar.