At a glance
- YouTube channel launched in January 2013 by Mikhail Kraimer
- Describes itself as a science-minded and entertaining video magazine
- Telegram news channel covering the UFC, ACA, ONE, PFL and Fight Nights
Overview
Vestnik MMA, written "Вестник ММА" in Russian, is an independent YouTube channel launched in January 2013 by Mikhail Kraimer, a native of Saint Petersburg. The name translates to "MMA Herald." The channel calls itself a science-minded and entertaining video magazine about mixed martial arts, and everything it publishes is in Russian.
The project runs on two platforms. YouTube carries the longer videos and event coverage, while the vestnik_mma Telegram channel posts news throughout the day. That split lets you follow breaking news on your phone and save the long-form content for YouTube.
What you'll find
On YouTube, you get event coverage and post-fight interviews. The channel follows the main promotions Russian fans watch: the UFC, ACA, ONE, the PFL and Fight Nights. Interviews recorded right after fighters leave the cage capture their reactions while the event is still fresh. For a single event, you get both the tournament coverage and the fighters' own words.
On Telegram, the channel posts short updates on results, fight announcements and fighter quotes. The feed is public and can be read without an account through Telegram's web preview in any browser. It is the fastest way to keep up with the Russian circuit between videos.
Why follow
Vestnik MMA has been running for more than a decade, which makes it one of the oldest Russian MMA channels still active. The Sports.ru report on how YouTube reshaped Russian MMA media lists it among the outlets behind that shift to video. Its coverage of ACA and Fight Nights opens up promotions that English-language media rarely cover in depth.
The stated tone blends news and entertainment with an effort to explain the sport, in line with the channel's science-minded description of itself. If you don't speak Russian, YouTube's auto-generated subtitles and Telegram's translation feature get you most of the way.
MMA Official's take
Vestnik MMA is for fans who want to follow Russian MMA beyond the UFC, especially ACA and Fight Nights. Start with the post-fight interviews from the most recent event on YouTube, then subscribe to the Telegram channel for daily news.
If you already follow Russian fighters in the UFC, the channel is a good way to spot the next ones coming up through the domestic promotions before they make the jump. It also helps you put names and faces to fighters you see on regional cards.