Word Series of Fighting vice president Ali Abdel Aziz talks to BloodyElbow about kickstarting a flyweight division with Magomed Bibulatov and his interest in a co-promotion with Akhmat MMA in Chechnya.
World Series of Fighting's signing of flyweight prospect Magomed Bibulatov last week was the latest in a slew of Russian fighters to venture across the world to compete in the United States. The recent trend of talent emerging from Russia, as well as the North Caucasus region is partly due to inevitability; the cream will always rise to the top.
However, the recent increase in the Dagestani population on the UFC and WSOF rosters is also due to the influence of two men, both of whom consider themselves instrumental to the development of talent from the region, Dominance MMA owners Ali Abdel-Aziz and Rizvan Magomedov.