Alexei Yatsenko, president of the ASA League, explained why the organization made the decision to part ways with Marat Balaev.
"The decision was not personally mine. There was a meeting in Krasnodar. Mairbek had the last word. With such high competition [in the ASA], Marat Balaev risks being handicapped. Given the level of the fighters and his age, Marat would be left injured," the functionary said.
Marat "Motivator" Balayev was the ASA featherweight champion.