Russia Part 1

Note: This was written last weekend, while I was in Russia but did not have access to the internet so this is not going on right now. It is already over and I will either update this entry with results or create an entirely new entry.

So I’m sitting here in my hotel room in Russia with absolutely nothing to do besides finally update this blog so here we go. I’ll start out with what I have done in Russia so far and then I will make another entry detailing what I have been doing in Thailand all this time since my last full update.

So I left for Bangkok Tuesday night at around 5:30 and arrived there at about 6:30 and waited around to meet the rest of my team (the rest of the fighters that were fighting in the same event as me; we are all representing Bangkok Fight Club). We all met up at around 9:00 and went through security and all of that stuff that goes along with flying on a plan. Our flight for Seoul, South Korea left at around 11:00. It was about a 5 hour flight and we waited around the airport in Seoul for about 3 hours. I have to say, Seoul’s airport is very nice. It is very clean, there is free wifi, and there are even designated places to go and sleep if you choose to do so. The other airports should take note. Anyways, after our layover there we then boarded our flight for Khabarovsk, Russia at about 10:30 A.M. The flight from Seoul to Khabarovsk was about a 3 hour flight. Upon arriving at the airport we were told that before we could get off the plane every single person had to get their temperature checked by a quarantine officer. The weirdest part was that they took everyone’s temperature rectally using the same thermometer for everyone. It took forever. That isn’t exactly true. They had this crazy thermometer that she just pointed at our forehead and it gave her our temperature instantly. After that little ordeal we then went through customs and gathered our belongings where we were met by a bunch of Russian media. There were photographers and a news crew there to get shots of us. Another fighter from Australia named Ross and I also got interviewed by the news crew, through a translator of course.

That is another thing I forgot to mention. While we are all representing the same team, all of us are from different parts of the world. Here are the countries represented by our 9 person team: United States, Canada, Sweden, Australia, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Slovakia, and France. Quite a collection of countries if you ask me.

Anyways, so far a lot of the week has just been waiting around. The only thing we have really done besides go and train a couple of times is we took a short tour of a couple of the main areas of the city. Along the city there is this massive river called the Amore River and on the other side you can see China. It is pretty crazy.

Earlier today after the training session, which was mainly compromised of everyone making sure they were down to weight for the weigh in which was earlier this afternoon, I was waiting around for everyone else in the lobby of this gym. We were told that at 12:30 we would leave and go to another place for the weigh in and the press conference. Well, while I was waiting there a group of Russians working there came up and got me and told me it was time for the press conference. Daniel, the Spanish fighter, and I were the only 2 of us there. Everyone else was off doing something else. What this press conference consisted of is a ridiculous amount of Russia news cameras and reporters asking Daniel, the governor of Khabarovsk, Don “The Dragon” Wilson (apparently he used to be a badass kickboxer and has been in a bunch of movies. I’ve never heard of the guy personally but I can tell you this, he loves to talk about how great he is), and I questions. I really didn’t like it to be honest. I’m not there to be in the spotlight, I’m there to fight but I suppose as I move up the ranks as a fighter, that type of stuff also comes with the territory. After that was over we then met of with the rest of the team and went to the weigh in for the weigh in and a bunch more pictures.

We fight tomorrow night at 6:00 P.M. I believe. It should be a pretty good time. The event has 9 fights and I am fighting 8th. Lucky me. More waiting around I suppose. After the fights I know there is some huge after party where I am told there will be a bunch of Russian hookers. I think I’m going to pass on the after party since I have a beautiful girl named Rebecca waiting for me back in Chiang Mai plus any of you who know me, know that drinking really isn’t my thing. As for the rest of the trip besides the fight, we will be leaving here on Monday. I’ve heard that we will be going with the Russian military or something like that and shooting some crazy guns. That should be a good time before. I have never actually shot a gun before. Yes, I am from Iowa. I’d also like to add that Russian food is absolutely terrible. There is an absurd amount of salt on all of the food. It makes it uneatable to me. It is, hands down, the worst food I’ve ever had. Also, Russia is just a miserable place to be. Everyone here seems like they hate their life and there is this never ending gloom that appears to be hanging over the country. If you have never been here as I’m sure most of you haven’t, you’re not missing out on much. If you’re thinking, “Oh, I think I’ll go on vacation in Russia,” just don’t do it. You’ll be pissed about it. I would much rather be in Thailand any day. Anyways, that is enough ranting for right now. I hope everything is going well for everyone else and be on the look out for my next entry soon.