ACA heavyweight champion American Tony Johnson told SE that he apologized to Russian Mukhumat Vakhaev after their conflict during a cross-interview.
The interview took place on Wednesday. Presenter Alexei Makhno recalled that Johnson had previously called Vakhaev and another ASA fighter Alikhan Vakhaev boyfriends. Vakhaev demanded an apology from Johnson, but he refused to apologize. The interpreter then told Vakhaev that the American had threatened to kill him in a cage. After that, the Russian fighter got up from his chair and hit Johnson with his palm. The American fell, after which the athletes were separated.
“We discussed this moment with him,” Johnson said in an interview with SE. He thought I said his brother was homosexual. And I certainly didn’t call his brother that. I understand that for a Chechen this is very disrespectful and unacceptable. For this I apologize. But there is still such a moment that he does not understand my language. And I realized that it was a language barrier. So I said, “Look, I didn’t call your brother gay. I meant that he supports you.” We’ve already gotten over it. Understood, and it’s all behind. I apologized because this is disrespectful. It is unacceptable to say this when it comes to relatives and friends. I apologized because he thought I said his brother was homosexual. We’ve got it all figured out.”
“I apologized to him right after the fight. This moment was not shown on video. Told him, “I didn’t mean that your brother is like that.” Chechens are different. They perceive everything a little differently, ”added the American.
Vakhaev, in an interview with SE, in turn, confirmed that Johnson had apologized to him. They shook hands, he said.
Johnson and Vakhaev will fight in the main event of the ACA 132 tournament, which will be held on November 19 in Minsk. Johnson has 15 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw and 1 no contest. Vakhaev has 10 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw.
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