Russian UFC champion Islam Makhachev met with Vasily Shestakov on February 18 at the International Sambo Center, located at the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow.
İdman.Biz reports that Vasily Shestakov, head of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), announced the appointment of Islam Makhachev as the official ambassador of sambo.
At the meeting, the athlete was also presented with a commemorative badge of the organization and a jacket with his surname, name, and patronymic.
V. Shestakov stated that the participation of the UFC champion in the development of sambo could contribute to the inclusion of this sport in the program of the Olympic Games.
According to him, Islam Makhachev is a shining example of how sambo opens the way to the highest peaks in world sports. His career, from victories on the sambo mat to the UFC championship, is a source of inspiration for millions of people.
The FIAS leadership highly appreciated Makhachev's contribution to the popularization of sambo and presented him with the honorary title of "Sambo Ambassador in the World."