Manager Ali Abdelaziz Talks His Connections With Chechen Dictator
MMA has a tricky relationship with Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, to say the least. Few have a more direct connection with him than Ali Abdelaziz.
Abdelaziz manages a large portion of the MMA’s top athletes. From Khabib Nurmagomedov and Frankie Edgar, to Henry Ceudjo and Kelvin Gastelum, there is no doubt that Ali is one of the most successful managers in MMA.
However, as successful as he may be, Abdelaziz is not without controversies. His relation with the aforementioned Kadyrov bleeds over into his fighters as well. Khabib is notorious for being close with Kadyrov, as well as Frankie Edgar having met with him recently.
The reason this is controversial is because a recent attack on the LGBTQI community by the dictator’s country of Chechnya. Recently, there have been media reports of over 100 individuals were interrogated and tortured by police, in connection to their sexuality. Several have been reportedly killed due to these tactics.
Ali Abdelaziz recently went on the MMA Hour and discussed his connection to Kadyrov. Luke Thomas pressed him for answers for his relationship with the dictator.
“Listen, human rights said that in Iraq a lot of people were sexually abused, but I don’t believe — listen, at the end of the day, I don’t know. It’s politics, right? And I know people mix politics with sports all the time. And I think Russia has sanctions and the United States has sanctions against Russia. I think we hear it on CNN.”
Abdelaziz then went on to refute reports from media outlets on these events.
“A lot of people say a lot of s–t. Right? I don’t know what this man in Chechnya thinks about gay, not gay. But the whole thing is, I don’t know nothing about it, because I don’t believe anything the media says. I don’t see it with my eyes, I don’t believe it.”
MiddleEasy does not claim to know everything going on with this situation. The mix of sports and politics is never easy. However, as a human being, it is still important to bring up human right errors, especially when they connect to the sport that brings this community together. No matter what Ali Abdelaziz does or does not believe, the MiddleEasy Monster desires for everyone to be treated equally, and with love.
