It's not right to boycott Paris Olympics, says recently released UFC fighter amid opening ceremony backlash
The 2024 Paris Olympics have lately set the socio-political realm abuzz. Overseen by the IOC (International Olympic Committee), the multi-sport event has faced criticism in multiple aspects such as its opening ceremony and the measures adopted against Russian and Belarusian athletes. An MMA fighter, who competed in the UFC at the time, recently addressed the situation.
After the Russia-Ukraine war commenced in Feb. 2022, the US-led NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and other intergovernmental international bodies have enacted several sanctions against Russia and its close allies like Belarus.
The economic and political sanctions aside, sports have also been affected. Russian and Belarusian athletes are currently allowed to compete in the Olympics only as 'Individual Neutral Athletes' without their anthems/flags. Meanwhile, multiple Russian sports organizations have boycotted the Olympics, citing discrimination and racism by the IOC against them.
Besides, as seen below, the Paris Olympics' controversial opening ceremony drew condemnation for hurting religious sentiments.
Speaking to Telecomasia.net before UFC 304 (July 27, 2024), then-UFC flyweight Muhammad Mokaev discussed the Olympics and more. The Dagestan-born UK resident often trains with Russian freestyle wrestlers to help prepare for his MMA fights.
Mokaev seemed to suggest that boycotting the Olympics isn't the right decision, as he feels the athletes would suffer the most. Alluding to the Russian Wrestling Federation stating that it won't send its wrestlers to the Paris Olympics, Mokaev stated:
"I don't think it's right to boycott the Olympics. If a team refuses, then all sports should refuse. To single out wrestling and say they won't go, it's ruining the careers of athletes. For them, the Olympics is like a fight for the UFC title for a fighter. This opportunity comes once in four years. The only one who could go was Shamil Mamedov, but he wasn't allowed to."
Muhammad Mokaev shares take on Shamil Mamedov's withdrawal from 2024 Paris Olympics
According to Reuters, the IOC claimed that of 36 Russian athletes who were permitted to compete, 20 refused the offer. As reported by Russia's TASS, Russian amateur wrestling savant Shamil Mamedov had accepted the offer to compete at the Olympics but suddenly pulled out due to recurring injury issues.
Dagestan's Mamedov is a highly-accomplished freestyle wrestler who won the Russian Nationals in 2023 and 2024. Speculation has abounded that Mamedov's sudden withdrawal from the Paris Olympics might have been influenced by the political at other factors at play.
On that note, elsewhere in the aforementioned interview, Muhammad Mokaev was asked if he believes Shamil Mamedov's pull-out from the Paris Olympics was truly due to injury issues, Mokaev replied by simply saying:
"I do."
The undefeated Mokaev also spoke about wanting to win his UFC 304 matchup and then competing for the title. Mokaev defeated Manel Kape via unanimous decision at UFC 304 on July 27, 2024, and was thereafter released from the promotion.
Reports indicated that Mokaev, who's lately courted trouble outside the octagon, wasn't released merely due to his grappling-heavy fighting style, but because of multiple reasons.