On Nov. 14, 2020, the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow played host to the ‘Battle of Champions’ combat sports event – a multi-discipline event featuring kickboxing, karate, Sambo, and jiu-jitsu competitors.
The event was a rare opportunity for fans to enjoy a combat sports event in Moscow since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. And while there were eight fights taking place that night, the most significant bout took place outside the ring when one-time UFC fighter Adam Yandiev sucker-punched Russian MMA fighter Sergei Kharitanov in a brawl that led to the latter’s hospitalization.
The dispute reportedly stemmed from a 2 million ruble debt (approx.