Nurmagomedov is an icon of Russians in the boxing ring - Photo: UFC
There is ample evidence to suggest that the Russians are one of the most powerful nations in the world when it comes to boxing ability.
Within the MMA arenas of major organizations like UFC, ONE, PFL, and Bellator, there are currently 16 Russian fighters holding championship belts. This number is only surpassed by Brazil and the United States.
At the Olympics, including the Soviet era, Russia has won 24 gold medals, second only to Cuba and the United States. However, in wrestling, Russia has won 93 gold medals, far surpassing the second-ranked United States with 57 gold medals.
Why Russians are so strong in the ring is a fascinating topic that has long been debated by sports scientists . Russian boxers are seen as a formidable opponent to African-American fighters from the United States, Brazil, and Cuba.
Nurmagomedov after defeating McGregor - Photo: UFC
Interestingly, most of Russia's most prominent boxers come from Dagestan, a federal entity located in the North Caucasus region (southwestern Russia).
Khabib Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as Russia's most successful fighter of all time (with an undefeated record of 29 MMA fights), also hails from Dagestan. Other notable figures such as Islam Makhachev and Magomed Ankalaev are also from Dagestan.
Biological characteristics
Why are the people of Dagestan so strong? Their imposing physique is one of the primary factors. Data indicates that the North Caucasus region has the highest average height for men in Russia – 1.79 meters, more than 3 centimeters taller than the national average.
But this is just an insignificant factor, because both professional and amateur (Olympic) boxing systems divide fighters into weight classes.
Dr. George P. Chrousos, an endocrinologist at the National University of Athens (Greece), commented: "People from mountainous regions tend to develop a lean muscular physique, with naturally higher-than-average testosterone levels due to the constant stimulation from stressful living conditions and lack of oxygen."
Dagestan people grow up in harsh living conditions - Photo: PN
And this is considered one of the important biological traits that give the people of Dagestan their fighting spirit.
A study by the Russian Academy of Sciences (2020) on the population of the North Caucasus showed that over 67% of people have high cheekbones, a square jaw, and short limbs - long torso. This is considered the ideal body type for wrestling and sambo.
Furthermore, the common blood types O+ and B+ are also very common among Dagestans, associated with fast-twitch reflexes and the ability to recover from impacts.
Another study by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Moscow Institute of Biomedical Sciences also showed that Dagestanis have a lower leg-to-body ratio, leading to a lower center of gravity, increasing stability when grappling, locking, and controlling objects on the floor.
Geography and Culture
Dagestan is located on the eastern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, with many areas at altitudes of 1,500-2,000 meters. Living in such an environment increases oxygen absorption, which in turn helps boxers develop better respiratory capacity, stronger hearts, and greater endurance.
Furthermore, the high mountainous areas with thin air help increase red blood cell and hemoglobin density, thereby extending effective combat time.
Furthermore, the simple, somewhat ascetic lifestyle of the Dagestan people further encourages them to pursue martial arts.
Prominent fighters from Dagestan - Photo: UFC
Most people in Dagestan follow traditional Islam (Sunni), so they do not use stimulants or alcohol, leading to long-term health of the liver, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.
The Dagestan diet, while naturally flavored, possesses characteristics of professional martial artists; specifically, they restrict sugar and starch intake, while consuming plenty of natural protein (goat meat, yogurt, whole-wheat bread).
Ultimately, the Dagestan people have an extremely long-standing culture of warfare. This land, situated on the eastern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, bordering the Caspian Sea, was once part of the ancient Silk Road network.
The image shows Nurmagomedov wrestling with a bear when he was an 8-year-old boy - Photo: SCREENSHOT
"We were born in Dagestan, we grew up on the Silk Road. Fighting is in our blood," said Nurmagomedov. The wrestler, nicknamed "the Russian Eagle," is famous for having his father train him to wrestle bears when he was just 8 years old.
Sociological data from the Gallup Institute indicates that 89% of Dagestan men begin practicing martial arts at age 7, and 64% choose combat sports (sambo, judo, wrestling) as their specialty. An unofficial statistic suggests that Dagestan has up to 50,000 professional wrestlers, representing 1.5% of its population.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-nguoi-nga-gioi-vo-20250602064631314.htm
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