OK guys, I just read "Stories from the Road" with Pat Militech, and it was pretty interesting, especially about the Chechen/Russian guys. One mentioned was named Karimula Barkalaev. He finished his career 11-1, his last fight being a loss to Dave Menne by decision. My question is this: has ANYONE ever heard of this guy? If so, why did he quit fighting? Anyone know anything? Thanks in advance! ***EDIT*** Here's his stats from FF: http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Karimula-Barkalaev-1836
I've heard of him idk why he retired tho I Remember Gilbert biting him and he and Arona got into some beef in Abu Dhabi back in the day iirc
I think he got thrown in jail in Abu Dabi after he got into a scruff with Arona at ADCC. Suposedly he hasn't fought since. Also the Menne decision was fishy but I don't recall the circumstances.
Ah, Giblert, that little scamp! ( I know, I know, it wasn't Giblert... ) And Fightfinder says he's from "Dagestan, Georgia." Now I'm no walking atlas, but last time I checked, neither THE Dagestan nor any other Dagestan has ever been located in Georgia, so...
Ok, just waded through the Russian section of the MMA interwebz, and the most recent post in a forum (from 2013) says: "Karimula Barkalaev is currently the director of the Republic of Dagestan's State Budget Institution 'Sports Complex named after A. Aliev'." Whatever the fuck that even is. Sounds like he got a sinecure for being a fighter. No one else seems to know why he stopped fighting, though. Same things mentioned: the thing with Arona in UAE, Gilbert Yvel biting him...
