Perpetual Power Cycle: Why Russian politicians gift UFC fighters luxury cars

There’s an emerging trend in MMA: pictures of Russian and North Caucasian fighters standing awkwardly in front of luxurious vehicles with captions that show their appreciation for the “gift” they have just received. Fighters publicly thanking unsavory politicians and shady oligarchs; rich men funding extravagant gifts for star national athletes.

Most recently, UFC lightweight contender Khabib Nurmagomedov was gifted a Mercedes AMG GT by one of the wealthiest men in Russia: Dagestani billionaire Ziyavudin Magomedov, who was once interested in purchasing a stake in the UFC.

“At my arrival to Moscow, I was hosted by Ziyavudin Magomedov,” Khabib said in an Instagram post showing off the vehicle. “He congratulated me and made this present. Thank you very much Ziyavudin Gadzhievich for everything you doing for this sport. It’s a big pleasure.”

Khabib wasn’t the only fighter who was bestowed with a new luxury vehicle this week. Fellow UFC fighter Mairbek Taisumov, who hails from the neighboring Chechnya, was also gifted a brand new Mercedes by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. The somewhat infamous head of the Chechen republic often spoke of Taisumov in Instagram posts, and it was a matter of time before he gifted his fellow countryman for his sporting achievements in the UFC.

A photo posted by Mairbek Taisumov Official (@taisumov155) on Apr 24, 2016 at 1:53pm PDT

Yet why do politicians and oligarchs feel the need to shower fighters with expensive cars?

It appears to be an informal reward-based system, where top athletes receive bonuses for their achievements. It is particularly common in the North Caucasus, where masculinity and combative success is marketed as essential traits. Sambo specialists, wrestlers, and boxers are considered some of the greatest representatives of the nation, and were elevated to stardom through their international victories.

Some like 2000 Olympic gold medalist wrestler Sagid Murtazaliev, have been elevated to the political sphere. Murtazaliev became the director of Dagestan’s pension fund and a United Russia party deputy in the legislative assembly.

Kadyrov is a self-proclaimed MMA hobbyist and founder of the Akhmat MMA fight club and promotion. His habitual gift-giving is taken from his …

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