Russian MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko has confirmed that he parted ways with athlete Nikita Mikhailov following a series of disciplinary issues, culminating in an unannounced three-month trip to Thailand and ongoing absences from team activities.
Speaking in an interview on the Ushatayka channel, Emelianenko explained that the split was not the result of a single incident, but rather a pattern of behavior that undermined team discipline.
According to Fedor, Mikhailov had gradually begun distancing himself from the team, frequently leaving without notice and missing scheduled commitments.
“Nikita started spending more time away from the team and began leaving without informing anyone,” Fedor said. “The final straw was when he went to Thailand for three months without telling us. He simply left and didn’t show up for the meeting.”
That episode ultimately forced Emelianenko to make a firm decision about Mikhailov’s future with the team.
“I told him, ‘Nikita, I’m sorry, but you’ll have to continue your career without us,'” he said.
When the topic of Mikhailov training with former UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan came up, Emelianenko made it clear that he had no issue with the move itself. In fact, he openly supported athletes seeking better opportunities, as long as they communicated honestly with their team.
“The fact that he’s training with Petr, a high-level athlete, is not a problem,” Fedor said. “If Petr can offer him something better, then he should go train with him. I told him that directly. I’m not holding anyone back. If an athlete can grow somewhere else, I’m only in favor of it.”
Instead, Emelianenko emphasized that the real problem was Mikhailov’s repeated failure to respect team structure and commitments. He revealed that there had been multiple warnings before the Thailand trip ultimately sealed the decision.
“He missed several training camps,” Fedor explained. “Not because there weren’t enough sparring partners, but because Nikita simply wasn’t there. If we’re a team, then we have to be together. When there’s a training camp, you must be present.”
Fedor also noted that Mikhailov initially resisted the decision to leave, but by that point, the situation had already reached a breaking point.
“He didn’t want to go at first,” Fedor said. “But once a team invests in you, pays salaries, organizes camps, supports your career, you can’t just disappear and expect everything to continue as normal.”
Despite the split, Emelianenko made it clear there are no personal grudges. However, he stressed that the standards for being part of his team are non-negotiable.
[Editor’s Note: Quotes have been translated and edited for clarity and readability.]
