Meat grinder. How Russia fell in love with bloody sports

Here, people swallow blood, break bones, and lose consciousness, stars become famous in a matter of weeks, and any conflict threatens to escalate into a brawl. Bare-knuckle fights, pop MMA, and YouTube brawls have become a phenomenon that irritates many, but is familiar to everyone. Millions of people eagerly follow the fate of street fighters, bloggers, celebrities, and desperate athletes who enter the ring for money, hype, and thrills. Journalist and fight industry researcher Alexey Alekhine talks about how bare-knuckle fights became a national sport. “Meat Grinder” is a fundamental and dashing chronicle of the world of modern martial arts, which, as if under a magnifying glass, reflects the absurdity, chaos, and cheerful savagery of Russian life.