—What adjustments have you made for this fight?
I have been training with my teammates since September. The training was brutally intense. Each member of our team is in perfect fighting condition, ready to win.

—Please tell us your thoughts on your opponent?
He’s a big guy, with powerful offense. I need to be faster than him, find his weak points and make him pay.

—When you accepted this offer to fight for Rizin, what was your feeling at the time?
I haven’t fought in MMA for 5 years, so when this offer came around, I had no reason to say reject it. This is my chance, and I really wanted to fight in Rizin.

—How did you spend those 5 years outside of MMA?
I started MMA when I was 18, but to be honest, at the time I was thinking of quitting MMA. For those 5 years I was out of MMA, I was putting my all into Combat Sambo. In those 5 years, I became a 5 time European Champion, and a 5 time World Champion.

—What kind of presence does Fedor have?
It doesn’t matter if he is in Russia, or anywhere in the world, he is the man. He is responsible for the incredible growth of MMA in Russia, and no one will ever beat his record. He is my mentor, my coach, and my best friend.

—What do you want to show the fans the most when you fight?
I want the audience to enjoy themselves, to be excited when they watch me fight. I want to put on a spectacular fight and I believe in myself that I can win.