Nurmagomedov is a Russian icon in the ring - Photo: UFC
There is much evidence that shows that the Russians are one of the most powerful nations in the world in terms of boxing ability.
In the MMA arena system of major organizations such as UFC, ONE, PFL and Bellator, there are currently 16 Russian fighters holding championship belts. This number is only behind Brazil and the United States.
In the Olympics, including the Soviet era, Russia has 24 gold medals, behind only Cuba and the United States. But in wrestling, Russia has 93 gold medals, far surpassing the second-placed United States with 57 gold medals.
Why Russians are so strong in the ring is an interesting topic that has long been debated by sports scientists . Russian boxers are considered to be the opposite of African-American boxers from the US, Brazil and Cuba.
Nurmagomedov when he defeated McGregor - Photo: UFC
Interestingly, most of Russia's most prominent fighters come from Dagestan, a federal entity located in the North Caucasus region (southwestern Russia).
Khabib Nurmagomedov, considered the most successful Russian fighter of all time (with a 29-fight unbeaten record in his MMA career) is also from Dagestan. In addition, prominent names such as Islam Makhachev, Magomed Ankalaev... are also from Dagestan.
Biological characteristics
Why are Dagestanis so strong? Their large size is one of the first factors. Data shows that the North Caucasus region has the tallest average male height in Russia - 1.79m, 3cm taller than the average male height in Russia as a whole.
But this is only an insignificant factor, because the professional or amateur (Olympic) boxing system is divided into weight classes.
Dr. George P. Chrousos - endocrinologist, National University of Athens (Greece), commented: "People from mountainous areas tend to develop lean muscular physiques, with higher than average natural testosterone levels due to constant stimulation from stressful living conditions and lack of oxygen".
Dagestani people grow up from harsh living conditions - Photo: PN
And this is considered one of the important biological characteristics that create fighting qualities for the people of Dagestan.
A study by the Russian Academy of Sciences (2020) on the population of the North Caucasus showed that the proportion of people with high cheekbones, square jaws, and short limbs - long torso accounts for more than 67%. This is considered the ideal body type for wrestling and sambo.
Not only that, the common O+ and B+ blood types are also very common among Dagestanis, associated with fast-twitch muscle reactions and the ability to recover from impact.
Another study by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Moscow Institute of Biomedicine also found that Dagestani people have a lower leg length to torso ratio, which leads to a lower center of gravity, increased stability when wrestling, locking and controlling on the floor.
Geography and culture
Dagestan is located on the eastern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, with many areas at an altitude of 1,500-2,000m. Living in such an environment increases the ability to absorb oxygen. As a result, fighters develop good respiratory capacity, a strong heart and greater endurance.
Not only that, the high mountainous area with thin air also helps increase the density of red blood cells and hemoglobin, thereby helping to prolong effective fighting time.
Besides, the simple and somewhat stoic culture of Dagestani people further encourages them to pursue martial arts.
Outstanding fighters from Dagestan - Photo: UFC
Most people in Dagestan follow traditional Islam (Sunni), so they do not use stimulants or alcohol, which leads to keeping the liver - nervous system - heart healthy for a long time.
The natural diet of the Dagestani people has the characteristics of professional martial artists, namely they eat a diet low in sugar and starch, but high in natural proteins (goat meat, yogurt, whole grain bread).
Finally, Dagestan has an extremely long history of fighting. The land lies on the eastern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, close to the Caspian Sea – once part of the ancient Silk Road network.
Image of Nurmagomedov wrestling with a bear as 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, who is known as the "Russian Eagle" and is famous for having his father train him to wrestle bears when he was just eight years old.
Sociological data from Gallup shows that 89% of Dagestan males have practiced martial arts since the age of 7, and 64% have chosen combat sports (sambo, judo, wrestling) as their major. An unofficial statistic shows that up to 50,000 Dagestanians are involved in wrestling, accounting for 1.5% of their population.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-nguoi-nga-gioi-vo-20250602064631314.htm
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