The Gorets head coach Musail Allaudinov talks his fighters’ success in M-1 Selection 2010 Grand Prix

Musail Allaudinov is an MMA veteran in the past and currently he is the head coach at famed Gorets, one of the best Russian gyms, whose fighters won the last year’s M-1 Selection Russia team competition by defeating Red Devil in the finals. Allaudinov was full of confidence every single time his students entered the stage on February, 26 when the opening round of M-1 Eastern Europe 2010 Grand Prix was held in Saint Petersburg.

I want to emphasize that I’m not the only one responsible for tutelage of the Gorets* fighters. Beside me, there is Sukhrab Magomedov (muay thai), Ramazan Magomedov (wrestling), Shamil Alibatyrov (combat sambo). In my opinion we have a very strong and experienced coaching team that is capable of helping our athletes reach any goals.

In the lightweight Grand Prix our team is represented by Shamil Abdulkerimov, who’s European and World kudo champion.

In the middleweight we have Magomed Sultanakhmedov, World kickboxing champion.

In the light heavyweight we’ve chosen Ibragim Khalilov. In M-1 Selection 2009 he used to fight in heavyweight division but we decided that dropping down in weight is optimal for him.

Still some changes were made, right?

Yes, they were. Magomed Magomedov was supposed to make the lightweight bracket. However, he had to withdraw with an injury. It’s really unfortunate as we had great plans for him this year not only in M-1 Selection but in one more MMA international tournament as well. Moreover, one of our best fighters, light heavyweight Khanilav Khanilaev chose to stop his professional career. Anyway, we are gunning for the win here. We’ve got a great stable of excellent fighters; every one of them is capable of making it at least to the finals of his respective Grand Prix.
After the first round of tournament was over, Musail Allaudinov looked slightly disappointed. His lightweight Abdulkerimov was bested in what became the Fight of the Night. Ibragim Khalilov lost in a highly competitive light heavyweight match up after depleting his gas tank. Only the Gorets middleweight warrior was successful that night as Magomed Sultanakhmedov knocked his overmatched opponent out and proceeded to the semifinals. Allaudinov: “Our main goal was to try as many fighters as possible. Of course a win is a win, that’s the best case scenario we always strive for. But some of the guys are still a work in progress, so to them this experience of fighting at the world stage is extremely valuable”.