Kharitonov: “I was ready to fight Emelianenko for free”

Russian MMA fighter Sergei Kharitonov told SE that at the tournament of his friends in Belarus he was ready to fight Alexander Emelianenko for free.

Negotiations on organizing a fight between Kharitonov and Emelianenko became known in November. According to Kharitonov, they were unsuccessful, as Emelianenko requested too high a fee. Emelianenko, in turn, said that Kharitonov asked the organizers to pay him with casino chips.

– What is the story that you asked your friends to pay your fee for the fight with Alexander Emelianenko in chips?

– Alexander Emelianenko can talk anything. I asked for some chips there, not chips … To the guys who wanted to organize this fight, I said: “Guys, if you ask me, I will be happy to punch this guy in the face for free. Is free! Is free! For other organizations, it will cost money. And I’ll perform for free.” I’m not lying. I say: “If you are ready to organize, negotiate with him.” And he asked for some fabulous fees. They say: “Gray, it is impossible to talk to him. He invents there, writes some numbers. Well, he or Azamat Bostanov (manager of Alexander Emelianenko. – Approx. “SE”) – I don’t know, one of them. I don’t know who they were talking to, but they wrote some incomprehensible figures there.

– And now these negotiations continue?

– I do not know. I told the guys: “Agree, and I’m ready to fight for you for free. For others, it will be worth the money. And for you, because we have friendly relations, I will do everything for free.