No-rules fighting wins Russian hearts

Russia's latest sporting sensation

By Steve Rosenberg BBC News, Moscow

In a smoky Moscow night club, two young fighters wearing sparkly silk dressing gowns walk towards a boxing ring in the middle of the room.

They leap over the ropes. They are ready in their corners. Seconds out. The battle begins.

It's like on the street. People like to watch something really happening. I think that's why it attracts people

Kirill Orlikov, promoter

Fists start flying. Then everything else. Legs, knees, even heads. Anything goes.

But then this isn't the sport of kings.

It is no-rules fighting: the latest sporting sensation to hit Russia from the West.

Each blow, each kick is echoed by a bongo band in the corner - their 'jungle beat' is the perfect accompaniment to this carnal combat.

Suddenly one of the fighters falls to the ground, and is peppered with punches.

The ringside crowd are on their feet cheering. One woman who has been sipping cocktails at the back leaps up and starts screaming, "Hit him! Hit him!"

Mainstream challenge

In most parts of the world, these kind of contests would be shrouded in controversy.

But in Russia, no-rules fighting is challenging for a place in the sporting mainstream.

'Cobra' is down at the gym every day

For the first time it has been given airtime on Russian TV.

Fighters like 'Harry Potter', 'Buddy' and 'Tarzan' are set to become household names. Russian viewers are already revelling in the spectacle.

"Maybe because it's real," promoter Kirill Orlikov told me.

"Because it's like on the street. People like to watch something really happening. I think that's why it attracts people."

Right spirit

'Harry Potter' was, sadly, unavailable, so we were taken to meet another ultimate fighting star - 'Cobra' - in his Moscow gym.

This is a sport for real men. It's tough and it's beautiful. But you've got to have the right spirit inside you

'Cobra', fighting star

'Cobra' bears an uncanny resemblance to Sylvester Stallone.

He is a kind of Rocky without any of the rules. Cobra is down at the gym every day trying to perfect his craft.

Mind you, it is not easy finding a sparring partner brave enough to train with him.

"This is a sport for real men," Cobra informed me. "It's tough and it's beautiful. But you've got to have the right spirit inside you, that's what it really takes to win."

Cobra invited us to a Moscow stadium to see him in action.

It was the most high-profile no-rules fighting competition in Russia so far. A real chance for Cobra to let that spirit shine.

Biggest attraction

Mind you, the evening got off to an unorthodox start.

In a country raised on regulations, 'no-rules' sport is a winner

The warm up act was a pop singer in sequins with a rendition of Love Me Tender and My Way. Very moving.

Then in marched an army of ice cream ladies brandishing their lollies, ready to keep the audience fed.

As for the fighting, Cobra was centre stage - floating like a butterfly, and pummelling his opponent as if there was no tomorrow. Not surprisingly, he won.

Apart from the spectacle, and the show, perhaps the biggest attraction this sport holds for Russians is this: that in a country raised on regulations, a sport which suddenly lets you break all the rules in the book has to be a winner.